Talon (Uncompromising #1)(68)
“I’m so sorry.”
“Wasn’t your fault.”
“It wasn’t yours either.”
I bit back what I wanted to say and continued. “I couldn’t afford Naval Academy so I waited till I turned eighteen and enlisted.”
“You didn’t get put into the system?”
“My birthday was less than month after she died. I was workin’ and payin’ the rent on our shit apartment and I told the social worker I was enlisting. She pulled some strings and the state left me alone.”
“That must have been lonely.”
“Nothin’ lonely ’bout Recruit Trainin’.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
I shrugged. “In answer to your first question, I became a hospital corpsman because I have a thing ’bout tryin’ to save people. My turn. Why’d you come knockin’ on my door that day?”
“You’re charismatic.” She said it as if she were telling me what the weather was, no emotion.
“I’m not sure how to take that.” Despite everything that had happened tonight, I was starting to relax around her.
“Exactly as I said it. You’re outgoing and you were nice to me. I guess I thought you seemed like someone who helped people.”
It should’ve been a compliment but she’d used past tense and charismatic was a fucking pussy compliment. Any asshole who smiled could pretend to be charismatic. Serial killers were charismatic. I watched the street signs then slowed as I turned down Candle’s street. Checking my mirrors, I scanned the neighborhood for anything looking out of place.
“You didn’t take that as a compliment.”
I pulled into the driveway of a small house that was a few yards from the beach and glanced behind us. “No, I didn’t. Stay here.” I pulled my 9mm out of my thigh holster and handed it to Siren. “Shoot first. Aim to kill. Back in a sec.”
She took the weapon. “Talon?”
One foot out the door, I hesitated.
Eyes red and swollen, her face tearstained, Siren looked at me, really looked at me. “I came to you because I liked you.”
I could have told her I knew she didn’t trust me. I could have asked her why she’d gone back to him. I could have told her I was furious she’d offered herself to him a second time. I could have told her that despite being pissed as hell at her, I still wanted nothing more than to kiss her but I didn’t. I was tired of bleeding tonight. I tipped my chin and got out of the Challenger.
No car in the driveway, the house dark, I wasn’t sure Kendall had waited for me but she opened the door before I could knock.
“Guess I’m finally on the receiving end of Talon-the-Hero.” Kendall hoisted a large bag over her shoulder.
“Not in the mood, Kendall,” I warned.
Kendall glanced at the car and smirked. “I should’ve known you weren’t exclusive.”
“Cut the shit and get in the fuckin’ car.”
She sauntered to the Challenger, dropped her bag by the trunk then got in the backseat.
Cursing under my breath, I put her shit in the trunk and scanned the street. I slid behind the wheel and glanced in the mirror at Kendall. “Is Candle’s address common knowledge?”
She looked at her manicure. “No clue.”
“Great,” I said sarcastically, backing out. I didn’t see anyone when I’d approached but his street was a fucking funnel. We could easily get ambushed.
None of us spoke until I’d cleared the neighborhood and I was halfway to the highway. Then Kendall opened her fucking mouth.
“So, how’s your boyfriend, Nicole? Last I heard, you were back shacking up with Mr. Domestic Abuse.”
“Kendall,” I roared.
“He’s dead,” Siren said calmly.
Kendall didn’t bother apologizing. “No shit?”
“Drop it,” I warned.
Kendall wouldn’t shut up. “Well, that changes things, doesn’t it?”
I pulled over, got out and slammed my seat forward. “Out of the car, right now.” I glared at Kendall.
Taking her sweet time, Kendall stepped out.
I slammed my door shut and got in her face. “You open your fuckin’ mouth and say one more goddamn word ’bout Randy or Stone or any other fuckin’ LC, I’ll leave your fuckin’ piece-of-shit ass on the side of the road. You do not get to sit in my car, on my good graces and treat her like that. You hear me?”
She saluted me, she fucking saluted me. “Yes, sir.”
I walked to the trunk, pulled her bag out, dumped it on the ground and got back behind the wheel. Without a word, I floored it.
Siren looked behind us. “I don’t think—”