Stolen from the Hitman: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance(128)

Not a moment too soon, because a shotgun blast rings out, enough to mow down anyone that’d be standing there and leave only a bloody pulp.

“Get back!” I say, pushing her to the wall out of the way. The doors on the other side now, I can’t reach across to close it.

I hold back and wait, but there’s not much more to do. I could take Alicia to the other exit, but there’s a good chance if they found this hideaway, they’ve staked out that exit too and are just as ready there.

Their impatience pays off for us, though, when one of the men comes to the door. I grab his wrists, hit him in the face, and step out into the doorway, using his body as a shield. Another shotgun blast fills the building, but the meaty thug in front of me absorbs the blow with a pained, dying groan.

I raise my gun over the dying man’s shoulder and fire. One shot is all I need again, and the shooter is down, never to get up.

I toss the corpse in my arms into the garage, and another man shoots for it, his itchy trigger finger anxious and aiming for the first sign of movement. These men were sent here to kill me, not capture. Gregor isn’t playing games.

But that one moment of distraction is all I need, and I slip out, shooting down the man that just plugged the corpse of his comrade. He fires off a shot as he sprawls back against the wall, short one eye. But that bullet of his goes astray.

“C’mon,” I say, grabbing hold of Alicia with one hand as I take us out to make way for a car.

I’m hoping luck is with us, and there I see it: another thug waiting by the stolen car we got here in, and I realize that there must’ve been something in Vasili’s vehicle used to track us down. Of course. Another amateur mistake, but one I couldn’t have avoided in my condition at the time. I’ll blame myself later.

Instead, I take fire at the goon, able to take him out before he can pop off a shot at all. Alicia starts to rush towards the car but I stop her.

“No, we’re not taking that one,” I say, but she furrows her brow and looks around at the empty parking garage.

“Then what?” she asks, sleek black gun in hand.

I take her by the hand and guide her around a brick wall into a hidden nook. It’s so simple, but so hard to see. The human mind is easily tricked by such optical illusions. There, waiting for us, is a plain black car that I keep at the safe house in case of need. Just another little precautionary method. And a relatively cheap one, as far as they come in my line of work.

“Get in,” I tell her, and she rushes around to the passenger side.

As I move to get into the driver’s seat a gunshot rings out, and I freeze.

I missed something. Someone. They got the drop on me.

I look up and see Alicia’s face, the world moving as if in slow motion. Her expression is one of horror. Fright.

I can feel my heartbeat. The mistakes are catching up with me. I’d let myself be led astray by feelings, and it’s cost me. Not just my first mistake of over a decade, not my second, my third. Now… this?

But as she lowers her gun, I hear the sound of a heavy set man’s body hit the pavement and realize—it’s not mine.

I turn around and see that from out of the shadows, the killer behind me slumped down dead. Or nearly so. Her aim was far from perfect, and that chest wound wasn’t guaranteed to do him in. I finish the job for her, and hope it clears her conscience.

“You saved us,” I tell her in soft praise. “Now get in!” There’s no more time to waste.

So much has happened. And the beautiful young woman I rescued from death has faced more than any woman should ever have to. I start up the car and we tear out into the garage. It’s not until we’re about to exit onto the street that another goon pops his head out, and I blow it off of him from out my window. The guy coming up behind him is victim to my fender. Probably not dead, but when he hits the pavement, he won’t be up in time.

We’re moving on down the road, and I realize...

She’s right. She’s no safer with Leon, not now. Leon’s dealing with his own shit, and I know there’s going to be guns there, too. Besides, if she’s going to be sticking with me, then I’m going to have to get used to her butting her cute nose into my business.

“New plan,” I say firmly, trying to steady my mind. To bring that killer instinct to full focus again, checking all points around me, making sure we’re not being followed.

There’s no more room for mistakes, not from me, not for her. Together, we’re going to have to prove ourselves stronger than Gregorovich and his army. If she and I have any hope at a future, then this will have to be how it is, and we’re going to have to be better than I was when I was alone.