look him in the eye. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Why?”
Rather than reply, she leaned up and brushed her mouth over his. A surprise. “Sorry because you can’t be allowed to remember.” The needle from before finally made its appearance, jabbing into his side. He reeled away from her and yanked it from his skin. Too late. The contents had been emptied.
He frowned. “What did you do?” She worked in a lab, had she injected him with the bubonic plague?
“Just a sedative so you’ll stop talking.” She grabbed his hand and held him in place.
“I can’t sleep. I have to—” His thoughts were sluggish, meaning he blinked a few times as she poked the back of his hand with a second needle.
“Wass dat?” he slurred.
“Something to make sure you forget.”
Chapter Five
Portia barely managed to grab Ted when he slumped. Given his size, she couldn’t do more than make sure he didn’t slam his face off the pavement. The rest of him, though…it crumpled in a limp heap because she’d sedated his ass. She had to. The reasons were too many to count. Talk about the worst freaking luck in the world. Running into Chen, of all people.
How? What were the chances? She’d lived here for years and never suspected that one of her biggest enemies might be nearby. She hated the man and had roundly cursed—after she’d gotten over her panic—when she found out that he’d lived after getting shot in the head.
Chen didn’t deserve the privilege of living. The man was utter scum. Not bad enough that he’d kept her prisoner, he used to gloat about it, too—saying the nastiest things. Detail what he’d do to her body when Ronin tired of her being his wife. If Ronin ever heard, he’d have gutted Chen himself. But the bastard never uttered his threats anywhere near the cameras watching or the microphones listening. A clever feat given how many of them there were.
So many eyes and ears spying on her. Once she became aware of Ronin’s penchant for voyeurism, she’d learned to notice their presence.
They were everywhere.
But Chen knew a few spots where he could speak freely. And to add insult, Chen was also the one person Ronin never questioned. When she complained about him, Ronin would get that dark look in his eyes. The one that reminded her to tread carefully. “He would never betray me.”
Given their bond, she had no doubt Chen would have done anything to regain Ronin’s approval. He’d have called Ronin and announced his discovery the moment he had her secured. If she’d not acted, Ronin would have found out that she was still alive. Would have learned about the twins. That couldn’t happen.
Chen had to die.
The thought hit her inside the dojo, the second she recognized Chen. The question was, how would she kill him? Unlike some of the other moms, Portia didn’t often have hands-on missions. They preferred her coming up with interesting solutions in her lab. Recipes with unique delivery systems to fake accidents. Pricey accidents, and only if the target proved worthy.
Killer Moms discriminated when it came to clients. And given their success rate, people paid. That money kept Portia and the girls safe. But earning it meant letting go of some of her morals.
The younger kid, Eddie as Chen called him, walked ahead with a lanky slouch, his pants sagging in the ass. Would it kill him to get the right size or wear a belt? So unattractive. And stupid, too. She could see why Chen called him a fucktwat.
Chen had not really changed much. His hair was longer and hung over his forehead, and his face had a few lines in it, but he retained the same arrogance as always as he strutted beside her. He oozed smugness, certain that he had her beat. After all, Macey was just a woman. Harmless. Meek.
I’m not Macey. I’m Portia.
Portia never ducked her head, never promised subservience. Never took shit. Not anymore. She made her own choices, and she knew how to stop people who would hurt her.
She’d killed worse than Chen, but she’d have to tackle it right if she wanted to escape clean. Portia allowed Chen to keep his grip around her upper arm and followed his quick march that led her around the building.
The kid held up a key fob, and lights flashed on a car parked in the alley. A rather dark back street where pavement met garbage. Bags dumped beside dumpsters overflowing, mostly because there were those who went through