“I couldn’t help it that he was in the elevator with me when she texted.”
“So you told him.” It wasn’t a question. Oleander knew me well.
“It will benefit all of us to be properly armed.”
“We usually are.”
“More can’t hurt.”
I arrived in the garage for the third time that day. The first was to see Forest off to work. The second was about an hour ago when Jordan and I rode down. Here I was again, waitingfor our boss to arrive while his Maserati was already idling, and a Navigator pulled up a minute later. Oleander didn’t bother getting out. He’d drive behind Jordan.
Another Navigator pulled in front of Jordan’s car. Raiden exited and stood by it, eyes sharp.
The elevator opened to reveal Jordan, Lane, Reghan, and Vincent. Today should be fun.
We got into the vehicles, me with Oleander, and were on the road. The drive was short. This particular buyer was just outside East Dremest. They lived in a big home on a smaller plot of land. Given how close the houses were, they really put each square foot of the home to good use. I’d been here before, thankfully. That was an edge I’d use to my advantage.
With us out of the vehicles, Vincent knocked on the door, which quickly opened. A man on the other side invited us in and then showed us to a room down a long hall. I didn’t like any of this. The deeper we went, the more we’d have to fight through to find an easy exit.
The buyer stood near a window, sweat beading on his forehead. It was my time to shine.
Without looking at Jordan—I knew my role and didn’t need to check in with him—I walked to the man and said, “Levi, good to see you again.” I made sure to keep my body language relaxed and my tone of voice on the softer side. This was what he was used to from me. If I gave an inkling that I thought he’d be trouble, he’d run.
Levi tried for casual, but his voice shook ever so slightly. “You too.”
“Are you feeling okay? You seem to be sweating more than normal.” He was a bit of a sweaty guy to begin with. Jordan made him very nervous.
“Fine. I went for a run before you got here. I’m still hot from that.”
I hummed and walked behind him, taking my time at his back. He was vulnerable with it to me. I could hurt him in a flash. He’d be down within seconds. “You wanted to speak to Jordan about cancelling your deal with him. Why?”
“I’ve decided to retire.”
“You’re what, forty? That doesn’t sound right. Try again and this time give me the truth.”
“You know what? It’s fine. I’ve changed my mind. I’ll keep the contract.” He suddenly stepped forward, two long strides until he wasn’t in front of any of the windows in the room.
My eyes met Oleander’s. A second later, I dropped to the ground as he threw Jordan down. A bullet shattered the window, hitting the wall across from where I just stood. Reaching for my leg, I pulled out the knife and stabbed Levi in the fleshy part of his calf. That was the best I could do, given where I was.
Levi buckled to the floor, trying to reach for me like I’d help him. I was the one who stabbed him!
“Who do you work for?” I asked as another bullet came through the window then another. I pulled the knife out and stabbed him in the shoulder.
Raiden had Lane pinned to the floor, his body covering him. Oleander was over Jordan while Reghan was nowhere to be found. My guess was he was sweeping the house.
I pulled the knife out and held it to Levi’s throat, blood running down the hilt to my hand. “Who told you to bring me here?” When he didn’t answer, I dug the blade into his flesh, a line of crimson dripping from where it was. There was no doubt this was all meant for me.
“I can’t. I won’t.” He hardened his resolve.
Reaching up my sleeve, I was about to withdraw a syringe when Levi jerked back, away from my knife. He stood quickly and moved to the window. That was the end of him. Multiple bullets hit him in rapid succession.
They’d planned this to get me here, to draw me out so I could be removed. But I wasn’t. I was still alive. Levi was down for good.
It was another day where I was no closer to figuring out who was after me, yet I had blood on my hands. Too bad I wasn’t the one to kill Levi. He was just a puppet, a body to bring me here. It didn’t work this time and wouldn’t any other. I was staying alive, and I was going to find whoever the fuck tried to kill us.
22
FOREST
