Hitman's Revenge (a Forbidden Bad Boy Romance) (16 page)

“
D
o
you think the food is still good?”

My chest rumbled with laughter and I stroked Hazel’s soft tresses with my fingers, wondering how in the hell we would be able to even crawl off of the bed.

I’d fucked her raw. I’d licked at her pussy, wanting to consume every inch of her. And I had taken her every way imaginable: bent over the bed still in those sexy as hell heels I’d paid a fortune for that were worth every fucking penny, then against the wall, slamming into her so hard that one of the pictures had fallen off, cracking the frame. I didn’t give a shit. I’d gladly pay three times as much as I had for this night with her. I’d even taken her on the balcony, her squeals echoing into the night for everyone to hear.

“I’m pretty sure they have a microwave. You want to go check?”

“No not right now,” she sighed, her fingers drawing a circular pattern on my chest. I exhaled, glad that we didn’t have to leave the bed just yet. I was beyond sated at the moment, my body relaxed for the first time in days, and I wanted to enjoy the illusion with her for a few more moments before reality reared its ugly head.

“Can I ask you a question, Jack?”

“Anything,” I responded, my heart hammering in my chest. I couldn’t do this right now. Was she going to ask me to stay? Would I be able to tell her what she didn’t want to hear? Hell, I didn’t want to tell her that. I wanted to continue to live in this illusion, that we were going to go at it like rabbits every single fucking night until I keeled over, but that wasn’t going to happen. I couldn’t give her happily ever after.

“If things were different, like you were an accountant or something, do you think, well, do you think this would have happened?”

“A fucking accountant?” I asked, feeling her smile against my chest. “You couldn’t have chosen something more interesting?”

“Hey! I’m training to be an accountant,” she said she poked me in the ribs. “Just answer the question, Jack,” she giggled. I was glad to hear the playful side of her voice, hoping she wasn’t about to get all serious on me. I just couldn’t deal with it right now. I wanted to cling to the happiness with all my might.

“I can tell you this,” I decided on, trying to keep it as light-hearted as possible. “If you were wearing those heels, I would do anything you wanted me to.” My cock was getting hard at the thought. But I’d said my goodbyes, I had to draw the line somewhere, even though I wanted to bend her over the bed and sink myself deep inside her once more. But it would never be enough.

She didn’t respond but hugged me with her arm and I returned it, knowing it wasn’t what she wanted to hear. I couldn’t tell her that I had always wanted her but never felt I was good enough to touch Nixon’s daughter. I still wasn’t. She was my weakness, the one thing that had always turned my life upside down. I just couldn’t let it happen this time. This time, I was in control. This time, I would walk away for good and let her have her happy ever after with some other asshole who would have the fear of God scared into him if he ever hurt her.

Her happiness was my number one priority; it just couldn’t be with me.

“
Y
ou’re taking
me to a strip club?”

I looked at Jack’s face for any sign that he was joking, but he just pushed me along the sidewalk. The brightness of the day wrought havoc on the pounding headache I had, caused by what I could only presume was dehydration and way too much champagne.

This morning had been extremely painful. We had gathered all our things and walked out of the hotel together, the remnants of the night before lingering between us. Jack had taken me two more times before I fell into an exhausted sleep, the last time so slowly and tenderly that I had tears in my eyes as I clung to him. I knew he was saying goodbye in the only way he could, but it broke my heart that I was going to be without him if his plan was successful.

“This is the best place, trust me,” he said as he opened the door, the smell of stale cigarettes and musk wafting past us. “Just do everything I say, and when I say it, Hazel.”

“Yeah I remember.” I summoned up my courage and walked inside, trying to act like I’d been in a strip club before, which I hadn’t. The interior was dark, the music pumping through the speakers and the girls, in various states of undress, gracing four small stages around the club. It wasn’t busy by any means; a few men and one woman sat at the tables near the stages, more engaged in conversation than watching what was going on before them.

Jack steered me to the bar, where a woman with shockingly blonde hair and enormous breasts was wiping down the counter. She looked up and smiled, shaking a finger at Jack. “I knew it. Go ahead, tell me I was right all along.”

“Hazel, this is A,” Jack replied, “A, meet Hazel. Thanks for doing this. I owe you one.”

“Pleasure is all mine,” A said with a wink. Her eyes travelled all over my body, like she was assessing me. “So you are the one?”

“The one what?” I asked, shooting a look at Jack. Jack chose that moment to look away, his jaw clenched tightly.

“Oh, this is rich!” A laughed, pressing a hand to her chest. “Never mind me, Hazel. I’m just doing what I do best and putting my foot in it. Now, back to business. So are you ready to die today, darling?”

“I don’t have much of a choice, do I?” I replied, feeling like part of me had already died when I’d woken up this morning. Once I put on the performance of my life later today, Jack would be gone, and I would be alone, heartbroken, with no understanding of how I was going to move on past this. “What’s the plan?”

“I’ve already sent a message to Colt. He should be here by the time the club is hopping. We are going to borrow one of A’s special rooms for the meeting. I will outfit you with a fake blood pack, and the moment I shoot you, you will need to activate it, okay? Then you lie still and wait for the bloodbath to finish.”

“Sounds positively the most exciting thing to happen here,” A announced, a grin on her face. “I’m just glad I’m going to be part of taking Colt down. Think of the notoriety!”

Jack ignored her as he looked at me, a hint of concern in his eyes. “You have to do exactly what I say, Hazel. Any change in the plans could kill you, do you understand?”

“What about you, Jack?” I asked, realizing that he was mentioning a great deal about my safety but not his. “Who will have your back?”

“Oh, don’t worry about him darling,” A laughed, placing a hand on Jack’s arm. “Jack here, he can handle himself. The boy is damn near invincible.”

I narrowed my gaze at her. I had seen him become very vulnerable in an instant, and he had a healing bullet wound to prove it. He was good at his job, but he certainly wasn’t invincible.

“Don’t worry about me,” Jack finally said, reaching for my arm. “Come on, let’s get everything ready. I need you out of the spotlight right now.”

I allowed him to lead me past the stages to a series of doors down a darkened hall. Jack threw open a door and walked into a small room painted blood red, fitting for what was going to happen tonight, I thought. There were a few couches and chairs, and I was shocked to see the mounds of condoms that were piled up on the small vanity tables behind one of the couches. “What exactly goes on here?” I asked as Jack pulled a large duffel bag from underneath one of the couches.

“You don’t want to know,” he replied, pulling out a vest and a flannel shirt. “Put this on. The vest is rigged with fake blood. You will have a tiny remote in your hand to activate it when I shoot you. Make sure you keep it hidden, okay?”

I nodded took the vest and looked at it with some apprehension. “Are you sure this is going to work, Jack?”

He sighed and looked up at me, his eyes a steely blue. “It has to, Hazel. I don’t have any more ideas.”

I busied myself with removing my t-shirt, taking the lightweight vest and strapping it to my body. It had to work for both of our sakes. Otherwise, we’d forever be on the run. And in that moment I almost suggested it to him… I would gladly hide away with him, as long as he was by my side.

I
drummed
my fingers on the bar and watched the front door, my body primed for what was to happen tonight. All I needed was for the key players to arrive, and then it would be game on. Hazel was already set up in the room, waiting on me to shoot her. Just the thought, even though it was staged, knotted my stomach. I knew I had to aim well—to make it look convincing and not actually hurt her, but who knew what variables I hadn’t taken into consideration? I was taking a huge risk with this plan, one that could get us all killed, but it was the only way to get her off of the list and to take care of Colt and Romano at the same time.

Since it was his bounty money, Colt had to be involved. Plus, a half million was too much money to not check to make sure the job was done. I knew Colt. He would fucking want to gloat in my face, to revel in my misery at having to kill Hazel. He wanted me to feel the pain he’d felt…

The door opened, and I noted Colt walking through the door, followed by Romano and his two goons. I had put them through their paces a time or two. They weren’t coming without protection, but I had already predicted that. I caught A’s eye from the corner; she nodded to the two girls we had already selected for tonight. Both girls flanked the men and ogled over their muscles. I gave them five minutes tops before their minds would be scattered, and they would forget why they were here in the first place.

“Jack Steele,” Colt said coldly as he approached the bar, his sneer none too friendly. “I should shoot you where you stand for what you did in Miami.”

“If you do that, then you will always wonder if I would go through with this,” I said casually, my rage just barely staying below the surface. “And that’s what you want, isn’t it? Eye for an eye?”

He grunted. “I want to see you break, you little shit,” he said, seething.

I kept silent for the moment. I knew his bastards had hurt Hazel, and I wanted retribution for her and for Nixon, but I had to be patient just a little longer. Any misstep would have this entire place turned into a bloodbath, and I didn’t want that—not yet. A was trusting me to keep my shit together and keep her girls safe.

“But I do wonder… Why this grandeur when you have had her for over a week? You could have killed her at any time. Granted, it wouldn’t have been much fun for me but—”

“I don’t have to explain myself to you,” I interrupted, motioning with my head to the case in his hand. “Did you bring the money?”

Colt looked at me for a minute more, and I held my cool, anticipating every move he was making. “What do you think, Romano? Can I trust him to do the job, or should I just hand this briefcase over to you right now and watch you tear this place apart looking for her?”

Romano looked over at me, his eyes belying the confidence that he was trying to portray in Colt’s presence. What was his deal? Why was he aligning himself with an enemy? Then it dawned on me. Romano wanted Colt’s position in the crime world. He didn’t want Hazel—he couldn’t care less—he craved power, and with Colt around, he would always be second-rate. His eyes widened some as he realized I had figured him out, and he cleared his throat. “I think Jack is serious. After all, money talks to everyone. Better for him to do the deed, anyway.”

Colt nodded in agreement then motioned with the briefcase. “All right, Jack, let’s see if you have the balls for this. I’m betting on not—it’s not easy to watch a loved one die, and certainly not by your own hand.”

I ignored him and pushed away from the counter. I led them into the room where Hazel waited, the sight of her tied to the chair punching me hard in the chest. It had been her idea to muss her hair and smear her makeup, borrowing some of the stripper’s mascara to apply so that it would look like she was terrified.

Right now, I knew she wasn’t acting.

“Hazel, it’s good to see you again,” Colt replied as he leaned against the wall. “I was afraid that you didn’t like the hospitality at my home, but didn’t I tell you that I’d watch you die? And here we are.”

“I hate you!” Hazel screamed looking at all of us. “Just let me go.”

“See now, I can’t do that,” Colt said, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’ve made a gentleman’s agreement with Jack here, and though it would give me pleasure to shoot you both, I’d rather watch him kill you—his beloved Hazel—as payback for what he did to my son.”

I winced, wishing he’d kept his mouth shut. I hadn’t told Hazel for fear she’d think me even more reprehensible.

“Your son?” she breathed, struggling against her bonds. “I don’t understand.” Her eyes swayed from his to mine, imploring me to explain.

Colt chuckled. “Oh this gets even better. He didn’t tell you, did he?” He threw his arms wide.

“That’s enough, Colt!” I shouted, trying to make him stop. She couldn’t know…

“All of this is because Jack stepped out of line and took one job too many. He KILLED my son! In cold blood! Left him for his kids and wife to find!” Colt roared, his cheeks reddening as the anger filled his face.

“Your father’s death is on his hands. The stubborn idiot wouldn’t give him up, and taking you was my only alternative.”

“Oh, god…”

I could see the disappointment, the hatred rising on her frantic face. She would never forgive me after this.

Colt chuckled and pushed away from the wall, cruelly enjoying how this was all playing out.

I should’ve just shot him right there, but he was too close to her. My eyes followed him as he bent over to Hazel. At the first sign of trouble I would take him out. I wasn’t worried about Romano so much anymore. He had his own agenda, and it did not include Colt.

“He doesn’t love you,” Colt whispered in her ear, barely audible. “He’d rather save his own skin than yours.” Her frantic eyes sought out mine, and I tried to tell her not to panic. This hadn’t been part of the plan.

“Do it, Jack, kill me,” she stammered bravely. Colt’s eyes widened, glancing at me, suddenly realizing our plan all along.

Colt pulled out his gun, leveled it at her head, Hazel’s trying to lean back and away.

Seeing no other option, I rushed him as the gun went off, knocking us both into the wall. Fury charged through me as I grabbed him by the shoulders and delivered a punch to his jaw, receiving a swift kick to the calf that took me down in return.

Colt jumped on top of me, and I was able to block the next punch to my head. My shoulder screamed, but I wrapped my hands around his neck as he attempted to claw free.

Using every ounce of my energy I squeezed, watching as his skin turned a mottled red then pale as I cut off the oxygen to his brain. “This is retribution for what you have done,” I replied angrily as he pulled at my hands. “I hope you rot in hell with your son.”

“J-Jack.”

The weak voice froze the blood in my veins and I released my hold on Colt, punching him square in the face, rendering him unconscious as I turned around.

The chair was on its side, Hazel still strapped in, and as I hurried to her, the packs had activated. “Easy, I am getting you out now,” I said. Her pale face worried me. Had she seen the monster that I was?

I undid the ties, and Hazel fell to her side, curled up in a fetal position instead of reaching for me. “Hazel?” I asked, touching her shoulder, slick with the activation packs. The metallic smell hit me about the same time I realized the liquid was warm. Turning her over quickly, I saw the blood rapidly collecting on the flannel shirt.

“Shit,” I swore, tearing open the shirt to find her shot in nearly the same place I had been. “Hazel, you’ve been hit. I-I’m getting some help right now.”

Looking over at Romano, I noticed that he’d picked up Colt’s gun and was pressing the barrel against Colt’s head. I couldn’t have cared less and scooped Hazel up into my arms.

Running for the door, I heard the sickening shot behind me that ended Colt’s reign. I shouted down the hall for someone to call for an ambulance. She was so damn pale, and I felt the pain, understanding what she went through when I had been shot.

“Oh no,” A announced as she came through into the main part of the club. “I’ll call an ambulance.”

I seethed, hating to see Hazel hurt. She was losing a lot of blood. I stripped my shirt off and pressed it against the wound, her blood on my hands.
Hazel’s blood
.

She’d lost consciousness, and I couldn’t tell if an artery had been nicked, but with all my strength I pressed hard against her shoulder and collarbone.

Romano appeared, a grin on his face, and his goons flanked him. “Let’s call it even shall we, Jack?”

I nodded. “Take the damn money,” I said. The sight of it almost made me retch. Romano looked at Hazel on the floor; he opened his mouth to say something but changed his mind and walked out of the club, pleased with what he’d accomplished.

I turned my attention back to Hazel, hating the fact that I’d gotten her involved in my stupid-ass plan. “I’m so sorry,” I repeated over and over again, smoothing her hair off her forehead. She felt so cold to the touch.

I couldn’t lose her, not like this.