Sammie steps forward without flinching, gun steady. “I could end you, but that would make me no better than you.”
Viper looks up at them, face twisted with hatred. “This isn’t over,” he spits.
I lean down and warn, “It is if you wanna keep breathing.” Then I nod to Bullet. “Get him outta here, before I let her finish the job.”
Bullet and Crank grip Viper under the shoulders, hoist him up, and when he screams out in pain, I’m vindicated.
I get up in Viper’s face. “This is your one and only chance ‘cause if I ever see any of you in AC or Jersey again, this job will be finished.”
Shady and Fist keep their guns trained on the Dogs until they’re swallowed up by the darkness.
I’m at Sammie’s side in seconds, gripping her wrist. “You could’ve been killed,” I growl into her ear.
She shivers, and I wrap my arm around her, then ease the gun out of her hand and pass it off to Ace. “It’s over, babe. It’s finally all over.”
Epilogue
One Month Later
DEUCE
Ace is chowing down on a stack of blueberry pancakes, sausages and home fries at the diner, while I nurse lukewarm coffee. He waves his fork, laden with pancakes and dripping with syrup. “You don’t know what you’re missing here.”
My stomach rolls at the thought of eating all that food. “Not hungry.”
“I don’t know why. It’s been a month. Viper’s out of commission.” Ace stuffs pancakes in his mouth, then forks up some home fries. “I heard the fucker still can’t ride. Sammie sure did him good.”
“She sure did.”
“The Dogs are back in Philly,” Ace adds. “We got the insurance claim for The End, and the guys already started working on the Royal Flush.”
I take a sip of my coffee, then push it away. “Sammie’s still just going through the motions, and it's eating at me. I know she’s not sleeping good cause she sits up half the night, and forget about anything else in bed.” I pull a face. “Plus, she’s hardly eaten.”
“Shit, brother, that’s rough.”
“It’s not just about the sex, although my dick isn’t happy. It’s more about her.”
“You two decide anything about the money yet?” Ace asks.
“Nah, it sits in the corner of the room like some huge elephant she refuses to see. Just another thing she won’t talk about.” I drag my fingers through my hair. “And that’s another thing. She settled the score with Viper, she’s not wearing the monitor, and with all that money, she could go anywhere, so every day I expect her to just vanish without a word.”
“You have to remember she’s a civilian, and plugging someone with a bullet ain’t her usual.”
“I tried to get her to talk afterwards, but she shut me down.”
“So, try harder. I never knew you to give up on anything you really want. I guess the big question is, how bad do you want her?”
“Pretty damn bad and it’s fuckin’ killin’ me.”
Ace waves his hand at me. “Looks like you’re both suffering from the same disease.”
“We’re not sick. We’re . . .” I let me words trail off ‘cause I don’t know what the fuck is wrong, and it’s driving me batshit crazy.
“Sure you are.” Ace grins. “You’re lovesick.”
“Get the fuck outta here with that shit.” I shake my head. “Stupidest thing I ever heard come outta your mouth.”
Ace stabs a piece of sausage. “What else could it be?”
