Wasted Lust - JA Huss Page 0,96

that.”

“What?” I look around and every face is turned to me. I know the men. I’ve seen them in pictures. James Fenici and Merc, whatever his real name is. “Hey,” I say, starting to get nervous since both these men, and the women with them for that matter, are Company assassins. “I have never seen this kid before.”

James walks over and plucks the envelope off the table. “Where did you get this?” he asks the little girl. She shrugs and no answer comes forth.

“What’s going on here, James?” Sasha is confused, as am I, and she steps back from James and leans into me a little. I appreciate the gesture.

“I’m not sure yet, Smurf. Merc and I got a text this morning that said to come here immediately. Luckily Harp and I were off the coast of Oregon and I still have pilot friends with planes in San Fran. These six don’t say much.” He gestures to the frightened girls still pressed up to the bathroom vanity. “Of course, only one has any idea,” he says again, this time with irritation. “But I’m pretty sure they’re Company.”

“Fuck you,” the teenager spits. “You don’t know shit about me.”

“You don’t know shit about me either, sister. So shut your trap until I figure this all out.” James looks at Sasha. “See what I mean?”

Sasha smiles and then turns to the little girl with the book. “What are you reading?”

“Little House in the Big Woods. But it’s not for me. It’s for you.” She holds the book out to Sasha, who looks at James and lets out a long breath before accepting it. “He wrote something in the front, but it’s in cursive and I don’t read cursive.”

Sasha takes the book and opens it to the front and starts to read. “‘You didn’t lose it, Sash. Your childhood is right here in this book. You can take it back anytime you want and all you need is a story. Love, Nick.’” She holds it to her chest for a moment, her eyes closed. And then she looks up at me and smiles. “He set this up. He set all of this up. Read the letter, please. Read it. I need to know why.”

“What happened, Sasha?” The blonde woman with James steps out from behind him. “What happened to Nick?”

Harper Tate, I realize. Nick’s twin sister.

Sasha hugs her and starts to cry. “I’m sorry, Harper. I swear to God. I’m so fucking sorry.”

“Shhh,” Harper says, smoothing down Sasha’s hair. “It’s OK. Just tell me what happened.”

I grab the letter out of James’ hand and rip it open. I don’t want Sasha to have to tell this girl she killed her brother. Ever. I know she’ll have to eventually, but I can buy her some time at least.

Dear Jax,

You have every right to hate me. Everyone in this room has every right to hate me. But I want you to know I did my best.

The girl with the book is my daughter, Lauren, and I’m giving her to you.

Because she’s Company. And if I’m dead right now and you’re standing in that hotel room, my plan worked. I killed a lot of people to get to this place. A lot of Zeros and these girls are the last of them. Be patient as they adjust, especially Angelica. She had it the worst and will need some time.

I met a girl a while back. Just some girl in Miami one weekend when I was there doing a job. And she kinda grew on me. I got attached. I got careless. And I never thought about the consequences until it was too late. I was in love with her and she was carrying my child.

I sent her away to keep her safe. But she died during childbirth and it wasn’t even a murder. Of all the ironic ways for her to die, that had to be it? God is cruel.

I didn’t find out what happened for months. It took me that long to get the courage to try to see the baby. I knew I had to walk away and never look back. I had to stay far, far away from that baby. Never claim her as my own. Never see her grow up. And that’s when I decided if I had to give her away, I might as well make it count.

I’m not sorry for killing your little brother. I am sorry that he was a pawn in a dangerous game and he paid for it