“It’s too fucking quiet,”Carnage says, nudging me with his arm from our position on the rooftop. “It’s Saturday night.”
“I know. Something’s up. You think they got tipped off somehow?”
My phone buzzes before Carnage can answer me. I look down at the screen to see our group chat lighting up.
Phantom: Look alive, boys. Black SUV en route.
“Fuck yeah.” Carnage tucks his phone back into his pocket. “Let’s make some losers bleed.”
It’s always a wild ride working with Carnage. I don’t get to often, but when I do, it’s never dull. He didn’t get his nickname by being subtle and low-key. In fact, he got it after taking out three guys at the same time. They were so unrecognizable when he was done with them that they could only be identified through dental records.
Headlights light up the dark alleyway behind the drug house, and seconds later, an SUV stops by the back door. The doors open and five men exit. From here, it’s hard to tell muchabout them, but I don’t really care anyway. They’ve got six trained killers breathing down their necks.
It was my call to get to this job quickly so I could focus on dealing with Cashmere’s problem.
Colson.
He said to call him Colson.
The last thing I wanted was to be in the midst of something with him and then have my brothers need my help. Better to clear the obstacles first.
My phone buzzes again and I pull it from my pocket to read the text.
Ghost: Eyes on them from the east. They don’t appear armed.
Whisper: Front of the house is dark too. No party inside. This might work well.
Me: We’re coming down.
I bump Carnage’s arm. “Let’s roll.”
We head to the fire escape, making our way down as the men disappear inside the house. Carnage grabs my arm, pulling me back.
“Driver still inside the car,” he whispers, seconds before there’s an explosion that throws us back several feet.
The car speeds off, leaving tire marks in its wake, and the house before us is engulfed in flames.
“What the fuck?” I scoot back, looking to my left to check on Carnage.
He sits up, a little blood on his forehead from where he hit the ground. “Jesus Christ.”
My phone is going nuts, but I don’t check it. We have to get out of here. We get to our feet and take off running back to the car we parked a few blocks away. Once we’re safely inside, I grab my phone and swipe the screen open to our group chat.
Wraith: Fucking hell. Check in, everyone.
There’s a string of messages from the guys, but Carnage and I were closest so they’re waiting for us.
Me: We’re good.
Whisper: Let’s get the fuck out of here. That was a hit if I’ve ever seen one. There’s more at play here than we knew.
Carnage starts the car and pulls into traffic just as a fire truck and a police car whir past us. Residents from surrounding homes flood the sidewalks to see what’s going on.
“No one is walking away from that,” Carnage says, glancing in the rearview.
“No way.”
Me: Anyone tell Shadow yet?
