“We’ve killed four people already, all of them saying the same thing, maybe–” Yani said.
“They’re full of shit,” Dorian said. “Their story is bullshit.”
“So you’re just going to keep killing them?”
“Got a problem with that?” Dorian said, leaning in. He would not be questioned. They were called hisSecondsfor a reason. Because he was and would always be number one.
“No, not at all.” Yani backed down, and together they turned back to the survivor.
“I suppose you have the same story,” Dorian said.
“I swear,” he panted. “I’ve never seen these guys before in my life. They raided the boat, killed our guys and our suppliers, and took the shipment.”
Dorian pointed to the dead bodies. “That story didn’t work out too well for these guys, did it?”
“I swear,” he cried out again, dropping his head to the floor. The breeze was getting cold as the sun slowly set, quickly setting Dorian’s patience with it.
“Feds?” Yani asked, addressing Dorian.
Dorian frowned, answering honestly. “No one in Ridge City would be stupid enough to steal from me. And we’ve greased the feds. No way no one’s seen these guys before.”
“It’s the truth! There were four guys. New! One of them snuck onto the boat and led the rest. He set the boat on fire! I swear!”
The survivor fell onto his hands, beginning to cry.
Dorian narrowed his eyes, remembering a story from his past that had started very much like this. Like déjà vu had just bashed him across the head. Surely not...
“Four guys, huh,” Dorian asked again.
“Yes!” The survivor smiled. “Four guys!”
Dorian took a breath to consider the story. But just as quickly as the thought had popped into his head, he dismissed it. It was impossible. He had dealt with that threat years ago, it had long since passed.
“I don’t tolerate liars.” Dorian nodded to Yani as he walked away from the terrace. “Kill him. Burn their bodies.”
The survivor cried out for mercy before a single gunshot deadened all other noise.
7
READY OR NOT
MARCH 1991
Adam paused with his hand on the door. Mumbled voices inside his hotel room told him his friends had already arrived. He turned and looked over his shoulder at Mercedes. He’d picked her up early from the mansion, bringing her back to him and them. Where she belonged.
He cocked his head at her, his way of checking that she was ready to go inside. They’d pounce the second they saw her. She had to know it.
She rolled her eyes and nodded. “Yes. Don’t look so smug.”
He couldn’t help it. Having her back felt very much like a giant check in the win column. He gave her a wicked grin, sending all his dirty thoughts to her through his gaze.
Her eyes widened. “And stop fucking looking at me like that!”
Chuckling, he pushed open the door. He stepped inside, probably still looking smug given the confused looks on Dan, Carlos, and Paul’s faces. It wasn’t until she stepped in behind him that their confused looks morphed into hope.
“Mercedes!” Carlos jumped. “You’re here!”
Paul, Dan, and Carlos wasted no time in rushing to her, sweeping her into a group hug. Adam moved aside to let them crowd her, but her eyes trailed him.
