It probably hadn’t been.
Only the TV told the story of the struggle.In the yard was a line of ash, drifting away in the morning breeze.Of course, Nix wouldn’t leave a mess; he was too good for that.He raked his fingers through his hair.He needed to find Nix before his family did.
* * *
Nix had beenon the run for over six months, but today was the first time he’d been as afraid as he had been that first day.The first time he’d felt utterly alone since Zinnia had ordered him away.
He’d tasted what it was to live the life he’d always wanted, to have a partner who knew him.He treasured those moments, even though they were razor blades that cut him every time he breathed simply because now he knew what he was missing.And what he’d never have.
As tempting as it was to call Lance and go running to him, that would put Lance in danger.Over coffee and breakfast—he no longer watched every dollar because he knew his life would run out first—while waiting for the library to open, he’d come the conclusion Lance hadn’t called in reinforcements for the simple reason Scott would’ve known he wouldn’t be sleeping in the bed.
The first thing Nix would do before calling in help would be to update the intel.
Lance hadn’t.
That didn’t mean Lance was safe, though.He was probably being watched.Lance did have a collection of weapons.Breaking in and taking a few clips would give him a bit longer, but he couldn’t find the will or want to extend his time.He’d make a bloody mess and call it quits.There was no point in dragging out the inevitable.For all his threats, now the rage was gone, he just felt sick.
All he had were the six bullets in Scott’s gun.He wasn’t going back to Melbourne, but he liked the idea of Mirabella sweating on his return and believing he was a single-minded killer intent on revenge.
But he would kill any Orlan who came after him.
There would be no mercy offered.
His phone rang, and he checked the number before he picked up.The knife in his heart twisted.He wanted Lance’s optimism, his arms around him telling him it would all work out fine.That they’d figure it out and unmake this mess.This time, he’d try harder to believe him because the alternative was his ugly reality.
He forced himself to be cool and calm as though he was in control not spinning out on black ice.“Hello, Lance.”
“Nix.”Lance’s voice was rough, but Nix couldn’t let him get beneath his skin.It wasn’t love; it had been lust and hope.And it had been enough.
It had been everything.
It hurt like busted love.
He’d put himself in the center of too much destruction to not know what that felt like.He didn’t trust himself to say anything, so he sipped his coffee and pretended he was fine.
Everything was fucking fine.
“I didn’t set you up, Nix.”
But he knew what had happened.No doubt Mirabella had called Lance straight after calling Scott and reaching him instead.“How can I believe that, Orlan?”
He believed Lance but needed to push him away.
“I packed.I’m ready to go.”
Nix closed his eyes.If they’d run last night, they’d have had a small head start.Maybe they’d have managed another week or two.“I doubt he was travelling alone.”
“I reported the breach to the Reids.They haven’t granted permission for them to be here.”
“I doubt they’ll do much.They don’t want to be involved, and I don’t blame them.”He needed to pick the location of the next fight.Somewhere he didn’t have to spend too much time cleaning up.And somewhere with a little more class than a granny flat out the back of someone else’s house.If he could kill another Orlan and take their weapon, he’d get a few more bullets.He could draw this out a bit and make the Orlans bleed.That was what he was good at.It’s what he’d spent the last nine years doing, the only difference this time was that no one was giving him orders.
He hated that he was being dragged back into the life he’d walked away from.
Fucking Mirabella had played him, and he’d fallen for it, proving he was a killer at heart.Maybe that was all he was good at.But Lance had seen something else in him, and he’d liked that.He’d almost believed he could be the person Lance deserved.
“I won’t drag you down with me.Go home.Live.”
Lance gave a dark laugh.“I can’t.I have to bring you in or take your place.”
