A
part of me saw her as a delicate beauty that needed protecting. But
she wasn't a flower that gets torn apart in a storm; she was the
storm.
Before
it’s over, someone will die.
Attacks
are coming from all sides: arrests, sabotage, picketing, even being
framed for murder. Who is the invisible force behind it all?
And
what secrets has Joe Bishop been keeping about both Adriane’s and
Alec’s pasts?
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“I
just need you to surround the building and make sure all of Malleus
goes where they’re told.”
“Ground
rules?”
“None.”
He
sneered, the happy kind. I’d just told him he could beat the shit
out of any of them if he wanted.
I
waved one of the guys in the back to come forward. He was a local
small-time con artist, extremely personable when he wanted to be. He
came up to me. His smile looked like Prince Charming.
“There
are a few people living in the building who are not connected to
Malleus. I want you to mark their door so El Parros doesn’t mess
with them. And inform them that most of their neighbors are being
evicted and to please stay inside and lock their doors.” I gave him
a sheet of labels on which I’d written “PROTECTED.”
Still
smiling that smile, he took the labels and the list of apartment
numbers and headed inside.
I
sent the thugs to surround the building, and once Prince Charming
came out, I sent in El Parros to start evicting.
Only
a few minutes later, they started streaming out like cockroaches. The
first one out the door bolted for the fence at the back of the
apartment building, and then he stumbled forward and fell face first
into a dirty patch of grass. No one seemed to have noticed where
Vincent had gone, the third-story laundry room window of the
neighboring building. The rounds in the rifle were just rubber; they
wouldn’t kill anyone, but the gun packed enough force to knock a
man down and the rounds hurt like a motherfucker.
The
next man out tried to run as well, until a rubber bullet made him
smack into the side of the building.
“Over
there!” Vlad commanded and pointed to the middle of the road, and
the rest of the cockroaches followed as ordered.
Carlos
came out of the building and across the street to me. “That’s all
of them, bitches, too.”
“Did
you come across any children?”
“No
kids. Just a few crying in the protected apartments.”
I
glanced around to be certain Garrison still had the local uniforms
busy elsewhere and then walked over to where Malleus was gathered in
the middle of the street. They were closely surrounded by El Parros
and the others.
Everyone
focused on me as I stood in front of them.
I
addressed Malleus. “You’re leaving town. Now.”
“Right,”
a guy with red, spiked hair scoffed.
I
nodded slightly toward him, and a rubber bullet made red-spikes smack
into the asphalt.
“I
suggest the rest of you look around,” I said. “Anything seem
unusual about your company?”
They
glanced around at their herders—sneak thieves, con artists, drug
dealers, enforcers, and El Parros. Several of them raised their
eyebrows. This group didn’t usually associate in general, let alone
work together on a job. “Any idea what would bring such a group
into this unlikely alliance?”
A
young man in a dirty white T-shirt raised his hand.
I
managed not to roll my eyes and just looked at him.
“You,
Mr. Kaden.”
“Very
good. You get a gold star.” I started walking casually around the
group. “How many of you are from this city?”
Several
of them slowly raised their hands.
“Then
you’ll know quite clearly what happens when you cross a Kaden.
Anyone care to explain to the class?”
“We
ain’t never crossed you,” dirty-white-T-shirt said.
I
gave a slight nod, and a well-placed round hit him in the thigh and
knocked his leg out from under him. He yelled out in pain.
I
squatted next to him and spoke calmly. “I suggest you shut the fuck
up before I make you bleed.”
He
pressed his lips together, and pain etched itself in his face as if
chiseling rock.
I
stood and continued slowly circling the group. “You will leave
town. Tonight. You will not return. You will not maintain any
relationships with anyone in this city. You will not even discuss
this city. I have informed all of my contacts that you are not
welcome here, and they are to demonstrate that if they see you.” I
stopped walking and faced them squarely. “I have authorized them to
use whatever means of demonstration they find most effective.”
Vlad,
El Parros, and most of the others sneered.
I
started walking away, toward my car. “I’m giving you five
minutes’ head start before my contacts begin demonstrating.”
Running
footsteps sounded from behind me. They yelled at each other to get
out of the way. My enforcers laughed as they watched.
About
the Author
M.S.
Kaye has several awards and published books under her black belt. A
transplant from Ohio, she resides with her husband Corey in
Jacksonville, Florida, where she tries not to melt in the sun. Find
suspense and the unusual at www.BooksByMSK.com.
To
receive news on upcoming releases, sign up for email updates on her
website.
