“I drove like a bat out of hell, racing back to the city. At the time I had a graveyard shift at a supermarket, restocking the shelves. I made sure to wave to the manager on duty and speak to a couple of other employees.
“At two-fifteen in the morning, while I was hard at work, the Johnson’s house exploded, killing everyone inside. I kept waiting for the police to speak to me, but they never did. It had been nine years since I had lived there, maybe they didn’t connect the dots.
“After that, I found underground fight rings. The explosion helped take a little of the rage away, but the fights were where I could really let go. And slowly, over time, it started to dissipate.”
“How did you start working with the Charon Group?”
“Ryan was at a few of my fights. He’d been watching me for a while, and eventually, he caught up with me after one and offered me a job. After I saw what the Charon Group does, I was all in, and have been here ever since.”
“And what exactly is your role?” I ask curiously.
His eyes sparkle as they meet mine in the mirror, and the corner of his mouth lifts into a smirk. “I’m the expert on anything that goes boom.”
Chapter 15
Dutch
Fourteen Months Ago
Thisfuckerisplayinggames with me. Over the past month, he’s bounced from one foreclosed house to another, managed to kill two more people right under my fucking nose, and is now running down an alley, all but encouraging me to follow him.
Fuck my life. Do I follow? Will I be his next victim if I do?
A shiver works its way through me, goosebumps erupting on my arms. I can’t say I wouldn’t allow myself to be his next victim if it meant those strong hands on my body. My infatuation with Cruz has grown into a full-blown obsession. Contradictory feelings clash and war with each other; need versus duty, desire versus my orders to bring him in.
And now? Someone leaked Cruz’s name and crimes to the news. His picture isn’t out there, but every news station in the tri-state area knows his name and people are scared.
It’s exactly what Agent Spalding didn’t want, but I can’t do anything about it now. I just need to decide; do I let him continue whatever it is he’s doing, or bring him in?
Raising my eyes to the heavens, I mutter a curse, then chase down the alley after him, gun raised.
Chapter 16
Dutch
Thecarisquietafter Kian’s confession, and I watch out the window pensively as we cross the Manhattan Bridge into Brooklyn. “Almost there,” Jase says, and the mood seems to lighten.
After a few turns, Kian points at a four-story building coming up ahead. Gawking like a teenager meeting her favorite band member, I stare out the window at the monstrosity before me.
A huge pair of cone-shaped breasts encased in a gold bra stick proudly out of the front of the glass and steel building. The bra straps sweep upward, and the company’s name,Gaming Like A Virgin, rests between them, with the logoPlayed For The Very First Timejust underneath it in cursive font.
My eyes are wide as we drive past, and I even lean forward to look up as we head into the underground parking. “Okay, what is this place?”
Kian hops out of the car and moves the seat forward so I can get out. He grins down at me and winks. “Trust me.” I narrow my eyes at him, but he doesn't fall for it. Dammit.
Jase takes Kian’s hand, and we begin to walk toward the elevators. As we approach, I spin around with a gasp when I hear one of the sound effects from Mario Brothers. A few steps closer, and there’s another one. Jase chuckles when I jump and I smile back sheepishly. Maybe if the assholes told me what this was, I wouldn’t be so surprised.
When the elevator doors open, we’re treated to a blue and purple lighted space, with four options presented to us.
Mario Kart (Parking)
Ready Player One (Level 1)
Finish Them (Level 2)
Just Dance (Level 3)
Jase presses the button for level one, and the doors swish closed. I’m beginning to get an idea about what sort of business this is, and my inner nerd is waving her hands around in excitement. That bitch better stay under wraps, or I’ll have to send the bullies in to deal with her.
