I’m still ready to go, but disappearing now would put my name on top of the hitlist. No one walks away from Christian Sergio. I’m not sure what the fuck I should do next.
I need a plan. I can’t go to Christian and question why Dove is on the list, not without giving myself away.
I’ve never questioned the people on the lists he gives me because, honestly, I’ve never given a fuck about any of those people. But I don’t just give a fuck about Dove, she is my entire fucking world. I exist because of her. If anything were to happen to her… every muscle in my body tightens, and for one brief moment, darkness overtakes me. No. I won’t let anything happen to her. I’ll kill them all, every single one of them.
Exiting the app, I move to my contacts and scroll through them. The way I see it, I’m going to have to grab one of Christian’s men and torture them until they tell me everything they know.
I’m already going to be number one on his shitlist when he finds out in three days that Dove isn’t dead. Killing one of his men isn’t going to hurt me anymore than not doing the job, so I might as well fucking do it.
Hitting the green call key, I bring the phone to my ear. The phone rings three times before Billy’s deep voice fills the line.
“Hey, fucker!” Fucker? Who does he think he is talking to?
Swallowing my dislike for the guy, I ask, “Hey, Bill, want to grab a drink?”
“You know I can never pass on a chance to have some whiskey or beer.”
I’ve never heard a truer statement in my life. Billy is half-drunk all the time, and when he isn’t drinking, he’s beating his wife.
“Let’s meet at Oscars in about thirty?”
“I’ll be there, Zane.”
I hang up the phone without a goodbye. Billy is an easy target since he is nothing but a tech guy. That’s what he does for the mob. Finds out information through hacking computers and cellphones. If anyone is going to know something, it’s going to be him.
Clicking back into the app on my phone, I allow myself to check on Dove one last time. She’s still sitting on the couch, immersed in her book. Without thought, I find myself stroking the screen, wishing I could touch her, taste her, feel her body against mine. I want her so badly it almost kills me. Not yet. I tell myself.
Closing the app once more, I shove my phone into my pocket and drive in the direction of Oscars. Since the hit was placed, I’ve been more cautious, looking over my shoulder, carrying an extra gun. I can’t risk something happening to me and then Dove being put at risk because of it. I’ve worked so hard to get where I am. Worked my ass off to make sure Dove had the life she deserved, and now it’s all crumbling around me.
Part of me hates myself for what I’m going to have to do while the other part of me wouldn’t have it any other way. Dove is the one and only person I’m ever conflicted over. I refuse to hurt her, but my obsession with her can’t be sated. I want her beside me. I want to be inside her whenever and wherever I want. For the first time ever, I want to be able to let go completely, but with only her.
Pulling into the shitty bar’s parking lot, I suppress the thoughts of Dove and me sharing a future together. That can’t happen if I don’t get the answers I need. Which means… I need to let go. As easy as flipping a light switch off and on, I let my emotions go. Getting out of the SUV, I walk across the parking lot, the rocks crunching beneath my boots.
Walking inside the bar, the sound of loud music, laughter, and glass breaking greet me. I spot Billy in the corner of the room, looking like he’s already had a few too many. Perfect, it should make it easier to get him to talk. I don’t want to waste all my time on him.
“Hey, buddy,” he slurs as I walk up to the table. As soon as I take a seat, a waitress wearing a low-cut tank top appears by my side.
“Hey, handsome, what can I get you?” she asks in a sultry tone, utterly unaware of