Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
We had been pulling out when DJ asked me to bring her here to pick something up for LaSalle. I guess Czar took notice that I wasn’t heading for the hospital using the same route as everyone else.
Whatever he needs to talk about must be pretty important. I step out of the car and walk to meet him in front of his SUV. The first thing I note is the concern in his blue eyes.
“What’s up? What’s that look about?”
“Remember that body you asked me to look into about a year or so ago when those cops came sniffing around?”
“Aye, you said nothing came up. Just some lowlife.”
“Yeah, at first glance, that would be true. I came by as you asked about a week ago. There was a guy sort of lurking around. I didn’t think anything of it at first.
“He was old enough to be my dad. I took him to be harmless. However, this other dude showed up, and he started taking pictures of the pub. The first dude sees him and drags him out of the car.
“You told us not to make ourselves known or obvious when we come around, so I held back and watched. He dragged the guy into the alley and beat the shit out of him, then threw his body in his own trunk and drove off.
“I shrugged it off since you did tell me she has bodyguards, I thought maybe they were back. Then Andrei gets a visit from your NYPD boys while I’m there. They were asking after one of his guys and they mentioned the dead guy you had me look into.
“They think the two murders were connected because—get this—body number one had just started working for Andrei the day before he was killed; body number two had only been with him for two weeks,” he explains.
“You’re just telling me this?”
“Brooklyn, come on. You know how much shit is on my plate. Listen, I’m not finished.
“I took a picture of the guy they’re looking for, but I can’t find anything on him. He’s like a fucking ghost. The only reason I connected any of it to DJ is because you said her name was found on the first vic’s body. I can’t say what the connection with him is, but you know we don’t believe in coincidences.”
“Aye, there’s no such thing around here. I’ll keep an eye out and inform the others to do the same.”
I look down at my watch and then back up at the pub. What’s taking her so long?
Boyle
I’ll admit we’re never going to get another opportunity like this. Deja always has someone with her. We never even got close to her in Italy.
Sending that lad all that information about Deja backfired. It’s been over a year, and he’s been killing off our guys. I’m still annoyed about that.
I work hard to get them in the right place—and then she sends them in to get killed, like getting them jobs with the Russian mob is so easy.
We lucked out tonight, and we have guys on the way to make sure this job is completed. I will say, I could have been wrong. Things have been looking like they might turn around.
Her connections are never in lack and that has gone a long way for the cause. The Alliance has pissed a lot of people off. Some who are willing to pay to see it fall apart. We are taking the money and doing the jobs to get to our ultimate goal.
“Hello, Deja.”
She turns to me in surprise. I swing the bat I’ve taken from behind the bar and hit her in the head. I was warned not to give her a chance to put up a fight.
As I stand over her, I grin. If I can’t have her, no one can. Our lives could have been so much different if she had only stayed away from O’Brien.
Everything was fucked after that bonfire. If she hadn’t been flirting with O’Brien, I never would have gone to see Oland and my family would still be alive.
“Hurry, light cocktails. We need leave before he comes looking for her. Men on way, they will hold him off while place burns.”
I nod and go to light the rags she stuffed into the alcohol behind the bar. When I get to the final one, I light the rag and toss the bottle a few feet away.
We then run for the back door to get away. Once in the car, I’m grabbed by the back of my neck. The excitement rolling off her is enough to make me hard.
I want to get her back to the hotel and fuck her until the sun comes up. My chest feels tight. I thought I would be happier to know Deja is gone from this earth and Cole O’Brien can never place a hand on her again.