Hard to Get (Killer of Kings Book 4)(16)

Only Shadow knew better. There was no going back, no happily ever after.

“You know Boss has me do a thorough background check on all his staff, right?”

Shadow narrowed his eyes, leaning over to rest his elbows on his knees. “What are you trying to say, Maurice?”

“Some of the reports say you’re a sociopath. That you have an attachment disorder so severe that you can’t function in normal society. Others call it PTSD.”

He ground his teeth. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Boss thinks you’re getting too close to one of your neighbors.”

“My personal life is none of Boss’s business. Or yours,” he said. “How about you do your fucking job and leave my past where it belongs? If you haven’t noticed, it’s been a long time since I was a little boy at the mercy of the system.”

His blood pressure rose to the point he could only hear his heart pounding in his ears. He usually kept his cool, but his past still managed to piss on his life and warp his thoughts. Shadow had been forced to watch his mother’s health deteriorate for years. Even in those final months, she refused to get medical help. Holed up in their tiny apartment, in the seediest part of the city, it had been just the two of them. When things got desperate, he resorted to stealing to bring food home. And painkillers. And cigarettes. He’d only been nine years old.

Then the years of foster care. The brutal beatings, the starvation, the lack of any affection. He’d gone through all the stages of hell until there was nothing left but emptiness.

He survived on the streets from thirteen onward, another miserable chapter of his fucked-up life. The more he reflected, the more his muscles tensed. When Maurice cleared his throat, Shadow realized his hands were in tight fists, his knuckles turned white.

“I just wanted to say that a report can’t define you. Sometimes they’re not worth the paper they’re written on.” Maurice gave him a little smile, then turned back to the monitors. “Ah, there we go.”

Maurice expanded an image. It was a small, insignificant tattoo in the web of his target’s thumb and first finger.

“What is it?” Shadow asked.

“Looks like the infinity symbol.”

“What a piece of shit. Are you sure it’s on the original? None of his doubles have it?”

“I’m sure, Shadow. This is what I do all day. Every day.”

He nodded, still reflecting on Maurice’s words. Shadow had always believed the poison the social workers fed him. It was one of the reasons he kept to himself, convinced he was a monster. Maurice’s declaration made him think.

“Why’d you mention that stuff about my reports, anyway?”

“Look, Shadow, I know all the dark stuff, from the foster system to your tours of duty. But, I also know what you do Thursday nights. I know about the shooting at the bar. You think you’re the devil? The devil doesn’t care about anyone but himself.”

He stood up, tucking the 9mm on the coffee table in the back of his pants. “Thanks for the information.” Then he got up to leave, his hand on the door handle. “Boss give any contracts on the girl?”

“No, but Killian’s his right-hand man these days.”

“Take care of yourself,” said Shadow, leaving the apartment. Once outside in the hallway, he leaned against the wall and scrubbed his hands over his face. He lived by himself and stayed away from other people to avoid this type of emotional overload. His memories were weaknesses he didn’t need to relive.

At least Riley was safe for now. Maurice was right—if Killian found out Boss put a hit out on an innocent woman, there’d be hell to pay.

He headed out to the downtown core. According to his recon, the target had an appointment with a banker at 3:00, but it could be more smoke and mirrors. Shadow sat in his SUV and watched the entrance of the bank with his binoculars. As boredom settled in, he massaged behind his neck with one hand and checked his Rolex. A couple minutes to three, two cars pulled up in front. He waited to see who would step out after the rear passenger door was held open. When he spotted Chains driving the lead car, he tossed his binoculars and bolted from his vehicle.

Did Boss have more than one guy on the job or was Chains backstabbing Killer of Kings? Either way, his day just got more fucked up. He called Boss on his cell as he walked along the sidewalk, weaving in and out of suits. Shadow hated crowds.

“You finished the job early?” asked Boss.

“Good one. Since you have your finger on the pulse of the city, you know the answer. What I need to know is why Chains is driving around with my mark.”

“I don’t remember saying it was exclusive.”

Shadow growled his irritation. “He’s going to blow his cover if he makes a move on the wrong guy. Maurice said he has a fucking army of body doubles.”

“Chain is infiltrating on the down low. Nothing to do with your mark. I like to have eyes and ears everywhere. Just worry about getting your contract fulfilled.”

“I’m on it.”

Shadow shut off his phone and shoved it in his pocket. He had to get close enough to see the tattoo before he could take out his mark. It wouldn’t be easy. As he approached the two idling cars, he glared at Chains, sitting in the driver’s seat. He’d only worked with Chains briefly while they were handling the Dead Angels MC clean-up, but Shadow preferred to work alone.