For a second, James thought the man would jump off their roof for the one below. It wouldn’t be a fatal fall but there was no way it wouldn’t hurt. It would also behard for them to reach him without finding a ladder or going back inside to get to the stairwell that serviced the middle building.
He could try the escape, but it would cost him. And judging by the drops of blood they had been passing on the way there, he was already paying the price from Rose’s earlier hit.
The man must have run the risk himself. He stopped near the edge of the roof.
Rose yelled out again for him to drop his weapon.
He didn’t, but he did lower it to his side.
“Be careful,” James urged again.
Rose kept her aim on the man and stalked forward, slowly walking at an angle as she went, as if making a half circle behind him. If he turned around to shoot, he would waste time adjusting his aim because of it. James followed her, trying to stay as quiet as possible while also staying close enough to Rose in case he needed to act.
Rose continued to watch the man. James eyed his gun.
“You’re hurt,” Rose said, voice carrying with authority across the shrinking distance. “Put the gun down and we can take you back inside for medical treatment.”
The man barked out a laugh.
His words carried with just as much ease.
“You know, I called him an idiot.”
James and Rose had made an arc around the man so now they stopped at the edge of the roof as well, just with several feet between them. The man stayed facing the edge, his profile showed his gun at his side and blood dripping down the same arm. Even though he had laughed, there was no smile there now.
“Who?” Rose asked.
“Damon Tillman. The man who was supposed to kill you but apparently didn’t.” The man laughed again. “I understood why he wanted to kill you, even if I thought it was a waste of time, but the way hewantedto kill you? Making a fool ofyouby showing everyone that the little action star could die as fantastically as the way you saved everyone else. Ilaughedat him for that. I really did. It was such a waste of time, such a waste of resources and money. And yet…” He sighed. “Now I wouldn’t mind something grand to take you out too.”
James balled his fist.
He didn’t move, though.
He was acutely aware of Rose’s body language.
James hadn’t lied to her the night before. He didn’t want her to stop being Wildcard Rose. He didn’t need that from her or for her. She was who she was.
James didn’t need her to give up anything to make space for him.
He was already at her side, ready.
And he wanted it to always be like that.
Especially in the tough spots.
So James stayed his steps and waited for her move. The second she did was the second before he did too.
“You’re talking like you didn’t have any part in the attacks against me,” she called out. “I find that hard to believe.”
The man didn’t bother even looking their way.
“Why would I take revenge on you?” he asked. “Revenge costs money, patience. Emotional torment. It’s a waste. I don’t even get out of bed unless I’m gettingpaid to do it and you think I’m going to budget men with guns and car bombs?”
He shook his head.
“Love is nice but money? Money is life.”
He lowered his head.
