Page 31

4 DAYS LATER: CHICAGO

Aknife flies, but it hits the other side of the room, and I roll my eyes. “If that’s the best you got, I’m going to rethink my offer,” I state as I step out of the shadows behind them, pressing the syringe into their neck. They drop, but Mishka steps from the shadows and moves them to the couch in the middle of the room.

They stare at me, eyes wide, face slack.

They want me dead, but fear sets in as recognition hits. Excellent. I got everything right with this look. The only look any of them will ever see.

“Ah, you do recognize me, then? Wonderful, then we don’t need to do the whole introductions thing. Pain in the ass if you ask me, isn’t it? Now, we have two options, and …” I check my watch. “Yes, we have about fifteen minutes before the drugs wear off and you’ll come back swinging. Though I’d like to point out, I’ve seen your fighting lately, and you have been slacking. Better get on that.”

If looks could kill …

I beam. “Yes, that’s what I need right there. Keep that spirit, and we’re going to do great work. Well, you, me, and the others who join us. I’m getting ahead of myself. I do that.”

I can feel the annoyance rolling from Mishka behind them in waves. Whatever, he can get over it. I do things in my own time.

“You see, I’ve been keeping tabs, and you have something I want. Something you and I are going to work together on to accomplish a common goal.” Their mouth moves, but nothing but a gasp of air escapes. “Don’t worry, I’m the only one who’s figured it out. You’ve been very careful, and that’s exactly what I require. You go after pedophiles, and that, you see, is my specialty. But you’ve been sloppy. Do you know how many of your messes I’ve had to clean up to keep you from being exposed? Or those you work with?” I scowl.

Another work of their throat, but only a few more gasps of air leave their mouth.

“Don’t bother trying to speak; you can’t for another … eleven minutes. Now, normally, I get pissed off when I have to do the cleanup work, but we have a mutual goal, and you’ve handled a few things that I didn’t have time to, so you get a pass. But that will end. We share a goal, and that includes neither of us getting caught. Because I don’t have to tell you what happens if it does. Everything you’ve built, gone. Those connections, gone. Your sister …”

I let the threat hang, and the rage and fear in their eyes blaze.

My smile is cold, sharp. “Well, we both know what will happen to her. You’ve pissed off a lot of people. You and your teams. She’ll be the first target. Working with me, with the team I’m assembling, assures her safety. And yours as long as you cooperate. Though, I think we’ll both agree this is going to be an excellent opportunity. How would you like to go after some of the worst pedophiles in the world? Go after the men that hurt anyone you ever cared about, and finally deliver the justice you’re seeking?”

They give a small jerk of their head.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. You see, I’ve decided that my profession—you see the worst of the worst in the world—but you also see the potential to keep it in check. We can’t rid the world of all of the scum, but we can do our part. That’s where you and your networks will come in. We keep the darkness in the world in check, and we get rid of the ones we deem worthy of death. And you have a particular skill of finding these fuckers once a target has been located.”

They blink once then twice and stop fighting. Curiosity burns.

Gotcha.

Triumph fills me, but I don’t let it go. Instead, I lean forward and say, “We’ll talk about it once the drugs wear off, but I’ll give you this to think about.” I pull the photo out of my pocket and show it to them.

Their eyes widen just enough; the fury and shock quick, followed by determination.

I smile. “I found him. He’s evaded you, but not me. And he’s yours to finally do with as you please. Call it a goodwill gesture and a sign of what we can do.”

Getting to my feet, I leave the photo on the coffee table and walk away. I move to the wall by the window, out of view of anyone trying to peer in, and watch them as they come back to themselves.

They jump from the couch, putting distance between us, and pull the gun we never took from them. They’ll never kill us both, but they could try.

They look at me then Mishka, saying nothing.

I just smile, casual and unconcerned. “You can try and kill us, but we already have guns on you, and we’re faster. Trust me, I checked.”

“How did you get in here?” they rasp, voice hoarse and cracking.

I snort. “Child’s play. You really need to get better at your security. I mean, really, cameras and scanners? What the hell? I thought you were supposed to be a military whiz? And a hacker? Please. I got past in seconds.”

Their eyes narrow. “You really think insulting me is the right way to go here when I have something you want?”

I shrug. “Manners have never been my strong suit. And what you have is something I can get elsewhere, but yours is more developed than the others.”

“How the fuck did you find out about any of this? We’ve been fucking careful?”

“It’s my job to know. And like I said, you got sloppy. You’ve been doing this for years, but you’ve also gotten complacent. And you know it. The cops are circling after that last one. Detective Sharp has a reputation that precedes him, and he isn’t going to stop looking for you.” I lose my smile and bite out, “Especially when you’re stupid enough to leave behind the fucking knife you used covered with your fucking DNA. Do you know the shit I had to do to make sure that didn’t get into evidence? I hate that shit. You owe me.”