1
Nex.
December 23rd
Was he really asking me to take a job right now?My mind was already on spending the next week ignoring fuckers like Gabriel which wouldn’t be hard considering most of the people I worked with would be occupied.
“I have plans,” I asserted in annoyance.
“It’s Christmas. What type of plans could you possibly have? No wife, kids, or family. Most of your time is spent working, or at Tempt Me, and even with that, you only fuck women from the clubinsidethe club. Whatever plans you have can wait. You’re the best option, Nex.”
I would have been offended but there was no point. All the things he mentioned about my life were accurate, but also by preference, even the absence of family. I had no regrets. I was wealthy, stress free aside from this type of bullshit Gabriel was dumping on me last minute. Unlike most, I lived by my own terms.
“I’m theonlyoption.” My stoic expression collided with his anxious one but he remained silent while I added, “Unless youwant to piss off your guys or hire someone who will cost you more time and money when I have to clean up whatever the fuck you need handled because they fucked it up.”
His expression tightened. Gabriel raked a hand over salt and pepper hair before a pair of concerned, chestnut-hued eyes that matched his skin tone shifted away from me and slowly found their way back. Unlike his hair, the low, trimmed beard on Gabriel’s face was jet black, dyed of course, to assist with hiding his true age. He brushed his fingers over it and nodded stiffly. “Then you understand the position I’m in.”
“I do, which means this will cost you.”
“I always pay…” he gritted.
All my clients paid and paid well. They understood the consequences of crossing me and also didn’t like getting their hands dirty. I lived for that shit.
“You do, but consider what I’m about to charge my holiday rate.”
“Holiday rate? You don’t celebrate the fucking holidays; so taking this job is not an inconvenience.”
I didn’t celebrate Christmas, or any holiday for that matter, but I appreciated that the people who paid me to do their dirty work did. Their distraction with family meant I could sit in my apartment doing absolutely nothing for at least a week. Instead of explaining myself, or arguing a point that didn’t have a damn thing to do with this job, I moved on.
“My price is my price. You want me or not?”
He brushed a hand down his face. “Yes.”
“Who is he?”
“She, not he.” I frowned at Gabriel as he lifted a phone, swiped a few times, then mine pinged with a notification. Once I had the device in hand, I pulled up the social media link Gabriel sent and scanned through the posts.
“This is Merrick Malone’s sister.”
“I’m aware.”
“Why the fuck are you hiring me to handle a Malone? I thought you guys had a mutual understanding with staying out of each other’s way.”
“You don’t askwhy, Nex. That’s not your thing. You only ask how much I’m paying.”
He had a point. The why didn’t matter. A job was a job.
“I don’t harm women.”
“Neither do I,” he asserted. This I already knew, which was why I considered accepting the job. Gabriel had a lot of blood on his hands but never innocents. Whoever he hired, if I declined, might not be as humane. “I only want to send a message. Malone is not untouchable. His family isnotuntouchable. He needs to understand that pissing me off is a stupid move to make.”
“What’s the plan? Kidnapping isn’t my forte unless the end result means a permanent disappearance.”
“Take Ciana. Hold on to her for a few days. You can scare her up a little, but she’ll be returnedunharmed.”
I snorted at the quiet threat. He knew better than to push his agenda too far but even his subtle threat was toeing the line of an insult which would not fare well for this guy.
“Adjust your fucking tone, Gabriel.”
