Up in Flames(56)

Fuck, fuck, fuck. I needed a plan. “What do you want with me?” I asked, facing my fear. I had no other escape.

Franco ran his thumb over his chin in a tight pinch that I remembered and hated. “The same thing I wanted the last time we met, bella. Take me to meet Daddy Dearest,” he said, in the demanding smooth drawl that made me want to spit in his face.

Kiro. He wanted to meet Kiro. He wanted a drug connection with Kiro that would give him some power I didn’t understand or want to understand. All I knew was that Franco had most of the music industry in the U.K. in his back pocket in the drug world that had made him a wealthy man. He now wanted into the U.S. market, and he wanted my father as his ticket in.

When he’d found out who my father was, he’d come after me to charm me before showing me the ugliness of his world. Once I’d realized how deep into his life I’d sunk, it was too late. Running from him had been terrifying, but with Rush’s help, I’d gotten away.

“Kiro doesn’t use anymore. I told you that.” Which was true. He’d cleaned up and started spending all his time with his wife, Harlow’s mother, who was completely dependent on constant care because of brain damage caused by a car accident years ago.

Franco laughed, throwing his head back as if I were hilarious. I waited until his insane laughter ended. “I’m serious. He’s not even touring anymore. Haven’t you noticed that?”

Franco leaned closer to me, and I swallowed hard, trying not to whimper. “I don’t give a fuck. I want you to introduce me. That’s all I’m asking, Nanette.”

“No,” I replied, without thinking through how he would react to my refusal.

His hand wrapped around my upper arm as he jerked me against his body until his face was in mine. “Yes, you will, or I’ll take you inside this house and slice off one long, pretty finger at a time while you scream and bleed all over the expensive floors. When you finally have had enough, I’ll get it from you and end your pathetic existence with a single bullet. Right”—he placed his middle finger on the spot between my eyebrows—“here.”

“Step away from her, or I’ll put a single bullet through the back of your motherfucking head.” Major’s voice came from nowhere, and for a brief moment, I wondered if I was actually dreaming all this. The vomiting? Franco? Major? This was all getting more unbelievable by the moment.

Franco’s eyes narrowed. He glared down at me as if this was my fault. I was as confused as he was. Major wasn’t supposed to be here. He’d run off and left town more than a month ago without a good-bye. Not that I’d expected one. I hadn’t left things with him on good terms.

Franco moved, and I screamed as a shot was fired, just before Franco cursed and turned away from me to face Major.





Major


Franco’s gun fell to the ground as he grabbed his bleeding hand. I was a sure shot. If I wasn’t, I’d never have fired that close to Nan. Knowing he was about to press a gun against Nan had been the only warning I needed to stop his ass. I wasn’t waiting for a better time. The arrogant fool had come here alone. Thinking he didn’t need his bodyguard and a posse of firearms surrounding him.

Bad move, Franco. Bad fucking move. I might have been reassigned by DeCarlo, but I wasn’t giving up that easily. I’d gotten a lead on Franco once he entered the States, and I knew he would be headed this way. So I waited. This was my assignment, and I was seeing it through.

Franco shoved Nan back one-handed, with enough force to cause her to fall. That pissed me off. She hadn’t done shit to this coldhearted bastard. So when he turned to face me, I aimed at his shoulder. I didn’t want to kill him easy. I preferred that he bleed to fucking death in pain with the several bullet holes I placed in him. The man had raped young girls and sold their bodies to the highest bidder. He deserved a painful death for what he’d done.

“What the fuck?” he roared as he faced me.

I didn’t reply. I shot his right shoulder, and he cursed and fell back on his ass from the impact.

“OHMYGOD!” Nan screamed as she scrambled backward.

I looked toward her for one second and gave her a nod to assure her before shifting my attention back to the man on the ground. He’d reach for his phone soon, and I needed to make sure I shot that, too. No help was coming for Franco. Not today.

Walking slowly toward him, I watched as he held his shoulder with his bleeding hand and rolled back and forth in pain. It was entertaining to watch. I never thought of myself as a cruel, hard man, but when faced with someone who deserved death, I realized I enjoyed meting out the punishment. Captain had been right when he’d said I was cut out for this.