“Some said you were killed. Others said you ran away like a coward from a mission and left your unit to die.” I kept my voice neutral.
He stared unblinkingly at my face. A deep, dark rage filled his green eyes, before the shadows cleared and he smirked once again. “I know you. Mosul. The rape house. Did you get them?”
“Yes.” It was all I said, not needing to explain further, or expect a thank you from the guy for saving his life.
“Good. I hope those fuckers rot in hell for what they did. And all that other shit you’ve heard about me are lies. I didn’t run away, and I didn’t leave my unit. They left me for dead after I saved their asses.”
“You said Merrick sent you. How did he find out about the hitters today.”
“I caught wind of a few individuals who want you and your demented throuple dead. Now, you do you, boo—I’m the last person to tell anyone how to live their life. But dude? You have a perfectly good pussy in that house, why would you go after ass too?”
“Really? I’m standing there, bleeding out from a bullet hole in my leg, and you’re asking me about my sex life,” I said flatly.
A single eyebrow winged up before he shook his head. “You’re standing.” His eyes focused on my bloody leg.
I nodded. “Okay. Now why did Merrick really send you here? I could have handled things on my own.”
Bonner chuckled. “Yeah right. Merrick told me that you’d need back up. And from the looks of it, I got here in time—but you have to let Merrick know that I didn’t shoot up his home. It was those other fucktards,” Bonner said as he kept staring at my leg.
Then it hit me. It wasn’t the other killer who shot me. “Why did you shoot me?” I growled.
“Because it was the only way for you to hear me out before you put a bullet in my head,” he explained with a shrug.
He was right. I would have shot first—then asked questions—if I’d had the chance. I still didn’t believe him… But then, why would he lie? Bonner currently had the advantage over me.
“Alright.”
“Call him. Merrick won’t lie,” he insisted. “He sent me here knowing you needed help. And tell him I didn’t shoot his house up.”
“You want me to call Merrick right now?” I was slightly put off. “If I don’t, you’re going to shoot me? Again?”
A scary yet genuine smile slid across his face. “If I wanted you dead, Moss, you wouldn’t be breathing right now.” He extended a hand. “My friends call me Boom.”
“I know.” I glanced at the extended hand—like I was going to take it.
“I get it. You don’t trust me. Yet.” He pointed to the bullet wound in my leg. “Got to say, from my vantage point, I’m glad I didn’t nick an artery.”
“At least it’s clean through—” A roar tore through the air, and my heart ratcheted up at the anguished cry coming from the house.
“Krew.” I limped back toward the house, leaving Bonner standing in the field. I wasn’t usually so careless, turning my back on a killer, but there was a good sixty percent chance that the man was talking truth and wouldn’t shoot me in the back.
When I finally reached the back door of the house, a naked Krew stumbling out, defeat cresting his face. His skin was ashen and his eyes were filled with tears. The blood from his shoulder wound left tracks down his chest.
“Krew,” I uttered, fearing the worst. “Where’s Regi?” I glanced around, but she hadn’t followed him out. “Talk to me.”
He blinked. Then again. More teardrops streamed down his face. “She’s… But now I know why she hates me,” he whispered, his voice taut with agony.
“What? She doesn’t hate you.”
Krew’s eyes were filled with such anguish and heartbreak that the news had to be horrific. “The day we took that joyride with Teke, and he…” Krew sucked in a harsh breath and let it out. “We separated from Regi.”
“Yeah, so we could lead the cops away from her, so she wouldn’t get into trouble with them, or with her parents,” I added, knowing by heart how that day had gone irrevocably wrong, and how it had changed our lives forever.
“Teke followed her and—” Krew dropped to his knees. “I’m going to find him and kill him myself, Deck.” And a bellow tore from his mouth.
“Baby, slow down. I’m not understanding you.”
My words penetrated and Krew finally looked at me. His eyes scanned my body before they widened in shock. “Oh fuck—you’re shot.” His hands covered the top of his head and he crumbled to the ground. “I’m sorry, Deck—for everything. My brother—everything.”
