into a ponytail. The other items in the closet are strategically placed clothes, pantsuits with jackets and feminine looking blazers, but they are just there to hide what I needed them to. I slip a burner phone out of the pocket of a plain black blazer and slide it into the hoodie pocket before slipping a small handgun from another. I check the chamber, then flick the safety on and shove it in my pocket too.
Making my way into the bathroom, I check out my face in the mirror and see my eye is already puffy and turning purple at the edge.
I let my eyes drift lower, taking in the ripped jeans and baggy hoodie and shake my head ruefully. Seems you can take the girl out of the gutters, but you can’t keep her away from trouble.
I sigh and shake it off. There will be time later for a pity party.
Moving back to the kitchen, I pop two more pain pills to help numb the throbbing in my face before I spot my gun and knife on the counter. Kai must have placed them there before he left. I was so mad at him I never even noticed.
Picking up the knife, I check it over and slide it into my back pocket before picking up the gun and dropping it inside a food bag I find in the bottom drawer.
I shove that into the wide pocket of my hoodie too and head out the door.
The new carpet is down now, and the guy who is finishing up stands at my approach, his eyes widening when he takes in my face. Walking past him without a word, I head to the elevator just as he hurries to catch up, a bag of tools in his hands.
“Wait,” he yells out, so I hold the doors open as he almost plows into me in his hurry to catch up.
I slip the gun from my pocket into his bag as he moves to stand beside me and offer him a tiny nod.
“I’m so sorry. I have an emergency call. I’ll be back to finish the job tomorrow,” he says loudly, making sure any listening devices pick up his voice loud and clear.
“No worries.” I offer him a small smile before turning away, making it seem like he is just another regular everyday guy. Only in my world, there is no such thing.
Trevor here is the guy in charge of my cleanup crew. I knew he would stick around until I returned because he always does, never leaving a scene until I’ve spoken to him and let him know every single place I’ve been and every little thing could have possibly come into contact with. There is a reason his cleaning company is one of the most expensive crews in the country, and it sure as shit isn’t because of his ability to dust and vacuum. If you have a crime scene that needs cleaning, you call Trevor, it’s as simple as that.
He’ll get rid of the gun for me because I can’t take the risk that Zodiac or Kai hasn’t used it to set me up. After all, it’s what I’d do.
Stepping out of the elevator, I walk toward the main entrance, finding Danny and Baker waiting just outside the door for me.
Danny takes a look at my face and growls, but he doesn’t speak, just flanks one side of me as Baker does the other, making sure I’m protected as I climb in the car that’s waiting.
As soon as I’m inside, I release a deep, relieved breath.
“I really hate this shithole,” I grumble. Ironic how I prefer the streets to a penthouse.
“What the fuck happened?” Danny asks quietly, looking like he’s trying to rein his temper in.
“Not here. Take me home.”
“On it,” Baker answers from the driver’s seat as he pulls out into the busy flow of traffic. I lie back and close my eyes.
Chapter Thirty-Four
I wake with a gasp, sitting up too quickly, which makes the world spin a little. It isn’t until I realize I’m home and in my bed that I relax and my breathing evens out.
Pulling back the deep purple comforter, I see I’m still wearing the hoodie and jeans from earlier, but my feet are now bare. A glance at the glass bedside table shows my gun and knife, so I swing my feet over and stand, cracking my back as I stretch out the kinks. My thick plum curtains are drawn, but the absence of light