My jaw clenched.
Really?
I took a few extra turns to be sure. They stayed with me. Not subtle, either. Typical Virginia move. She was probably trying to find out where I lived. That's why she'd called me so many times.
I kept driving like I didn't notice, but my stomach burned.
At the next corner store, I pulled in and parked. Grabbed a pack of gum and slipped the cashier a crisp hundred.
"Got a back exit?" I asked quietly.
The young Arab-looking man nodded toward the back, not even bothering to ask questions.
I slid out the back and looped around the building. Came up on the SUV from the side and caught the driver leaning back, scrolling on his phone.
I recognized him immediately. Samuel.
Of course it was him. Virginia's little errand boy. Haitian guy, lean, quick, deadly, always eager to please. He was likeable.
I tapped the window with my Glock.
He froze. Rolled it down just enough to meet my eyes.
"Sam," I said coolly. "You following me?"
"Hey, man," he started, voice tense. "Not personal. Orders."
"It's always personal." I pressed the barrel lightly against his temple. "Go back. Tell Virginia I'm finally taking the out Bael gave me. Leave me the fuck alone."
His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard.
"And if I ever see you behind me again, you know what happens, right?"
He didn't answer.
I stepped back, letting him drive off. I watched him disappear down the block, breathing hard.
Yeah. I was done.
But deep down, I knew the truth. Nobody ever really gets out. At least not easily.
I called Bael and told him what happened. He said he would talk to his mother, and I was officially done. I spent another few hours driving aimlessly to make sure I wasn't followed home. It was nearly six when I headed back. Later than I wanted to. I kept thinking about Jamie strapped to my bed. I didn't want to feel bad about leaving her like that, but I did.
Chapter Ten— Jamie
I stayed still for a long time after I woke up.
It was too dark to see much, so I stared at the ceiling and listened.
The apartment was silent—unnaturally so.
I was used to noise now. Sirens. People arguing.
The man was still here.
Then, just when I thought about him, I heard the sound of the front door opening and closing.
He was gone.
