CHAPTER 1
Montgomery
A stark sweep of humid air hit me in the face as soon as I headed out the door. Puddles reflected the eerie glow of streetlamps, still rippling as the last drops splashed across the wet concrete.
It was late, after ten in the evening, the day long and arduous. Even with the streetlights crisscrossing a pattern of yellowish light across the sidewalk and street, a malevolent feeling lingered from the earlier thunderstorm.
As soon as I was outside, I yanked at my tie, the tight confines suffocating. I’d been in the monkey suit since five in the morning, not only forced to handle the typical day-to-day activities of the Prince family kingdom, but also dealing with a more substantial issue.
Providing a lesson in betrayal.
Fortunately, at least for the asshole in question, he’d lived.
For now.
But I wasn’t in the mood to deal with anyone’s crap. I was exhausted from eighty-hour weeks, craving a tall bourbon without ice and to indulge in a blood-rare steak. At least my favorite restaurant would still be open. In other words, they’d open their doors for their favorite customer. A smirk crossed my face. With as many occasions as I’d eaten at their fine establishment, they should offer me a permanent table and a plaque.
Maybe I’d mention that to the owner.
As I headed to my car, I was surprised at the quiet atmosphere. As if a brutal silence had enveloped the city. With being so close to the French Quarter, normally there were people out enjoying the warmer winter nights. Maybe the vicious storm had changed their plans.
With my key fob in hand, I crossed the street, barely looking in either direction. Only a single car passed. As soon as I was on the sidewalk, I noticed a jogger heading toward me. Not unusual in the least.
When I heard my cellphone, I gritted my teeth, the special tone indicating the caller. Why in God’s name was Alexander working this late? He had a family, a wife who kept him on a short leash, for God’s sake.
Laughing, I shook my head as I yanked the phone into my hand. My older brother and great leader of our family operation believed himself to be the lucky one. Tied down with one incredibly beautiful woman. Frequent sex without a search. Entertainment at home. Forced to devour fabulous home-cooked meals. Yeah. He had a miserable life where I was the lucky one, rarely if ever dating the same woman twice.
Dating? What the hell was I talking about? I barely learned their names.
The jogger was close, almost prepared to pass when I answered the phone. “Why are you working? Let me guess. Catherine is out of town.”
“To hell with you,” Alexander gritted out. “Fine. She’s at a birthday party with her friends.”
In a hoodie, the jogger lifted his head, his eyes briefly penetrating mine. Tall and muscular, he was struggling with the pace. I almost told him that he would be better served behind a video or computer screen. “That’s what I thought. The deal went well. So did the act of punishment. Stop worrying.”
As soon as the unknown young man passed, an oddity struck me. He wasn’t a casual jogger. Running definitely wasn’t in his skill set. While that didn’t mean he wasn’t taking up the form of exercise, the fact he had his hands in the sweatshirt’s pockets instead of using them to boost his stride was a red flag.
He stopped short, and the sudden quiet instead of tennis shoes pounding the concrete was another flag. Very slowly, I turned around. The man had disappeared. Not possible.
“I’ll call you back.” I didn’t wait for my brother’s answer, shoving the phone into my jacket pocket and reaching for my weapon.
There wasn’t a day that went by where I wasn’t burned in effigy. Threats were typical for anyone involved in less than legitimate operations, most with zero merit. However, this time I sensed something was very off.
Movement caught my eye the split second before I realized in the flash of light I’d seen a weapon.
Pointed in my direction.
Pop! Pop!
I threw myself against the building, immediately firing a single shot in the assailant’s direction. He ducked down behind a car. I crouched, taking cautious steps closer.
The third shot hit way too close, pinging off the building behind me.
Additional movement. He was off running.
With careful aim, I fired a single shot just as the fucker was heading around the corner of the building. When he lurched forward, I knew I’d hit him.
Time to finish the job. No one interrupted my steak dinner. I rushed forward, never breaking stride as I rolled onto the deserted side street. A one-way passage with a mixture of commercial and residential buildings.
