Page 58 of Lord of Vice

“I appreciate your help. I’ll call you later this week.”

“Good deal.”

As I ended the call, I thought about how unusual it was to have friends or make alliances in this business. In the old days, that wouldn’t have been possible, but now, everyone was trying to go at least partially legit. Well, maybe not the majority of cartels but those in the United States and Canada anyway. It wasn’t a riddle I could solve today.

South America was nothing but a war waiting to happen. So many cartels still believed coming into the US would be easy, finding success and wealth within months. Little did they know how diluted the territories were at this point. Anyone with a criminal background acted as if they could lead a powerful empire. Bull-fucking-shit.

As I stood, I finally removed my sunglasses for the day before heading in her direction. My Red Penny wasn’t paying any attention, instead leading Remington toward one of the water features meant for humans and their furry friends. I had a very bad feeling in the pit of my stomach and at this point, wasn’t happy about being out in the open. The sense of being watched was stronger than ever.

While I’d doubted anyone would be stupid enough to plan an attack in the heart of the city, at this point I wasn’t certain what to think any longer. And once again, my thoughts drifted back to the guests arriving in my town tomorrow.

Remington bounded into the water, which prompted her to remove and toss her sandals into the grass, jumping in beside him. The feature was a cooling station with misting units and streams of water coming from different vibrantly colored sprinkler heads, the basin covered in just enough water the pup was lapping at it. Somehow, I wanted to take pictures to remember the lovely afternoon by for years to come. That wasn’t like me. I had zero pictures in my house, which had always been fine by me.

I walked closer, standing on the outskirts, enjoying the last few moments before it was back to business as usual.

When she beckoned me with a single finger, giving me another one of her vixen-inspired expressions, I indulged her by walking just out of her reach.

“What are you, scared?” she asked.

“I’m scared of nothing.” I couldn’t help but growl my response.

“Prove it.”

I bent down, grinning as the pup headed toward me, his entire body wiggling. When I splashed water at him, he snuffled and I’ll be damned if he didn’t shake his entire body, the water slapping in my face.

Penny laughed hysterically, deciding to push my buttons a little more by bending down, using both hands to whisk water in my direction. My shirt was soaked within seconds, but I leaned forward, pushing her down until she was forced to sit in the basin.

“You horrible man!”

It was my turn to laugh even as a noise caught my attention. I reached out, offering her my arm. “I am that. Aren’t I?”

“Yep?” I shouldn’t have underestimated her. Giving me a hard yank, she managed to toss me into the water where she proceeded to continue splashing me.

There was such a strange sense of things that I didn’t react at first, allowing her to douse me with as much water as possible. The urge to tackle her all the way down in the basin was strong, but the feeling we were being watched was even stronger.

I shook my head, licking drops off my lips before forcing us both to stand. As I jerked her closer, she glanced down at my shoes. I cupped her face, holding onto the last few moments before reality would need to be brought back into the picture. “So beautiful.” I rubbed my thumb across her skin, curious what she was thinking as she darted her eyes back and forth.

For those few last precious seconds, it felt as if the connection was strengthening. Was it possible I could find a life outside of business?

“And you’re a soggy mess,” she purred.

“Which is all your fault. I will ensure you’ll be punished but right now, we need to get back.”

“Ugh. To RL?”

“RL?”

“Real life. You need to get out more,” she said as she brushed wet hair from her eyes. “Maybe watching a little television will do you some good.”

Real life was something I had lived for far too long, only that was one full of control and violence.

And I had a bad feeling her bubble was going to be popped.

CHAPTER 19

Kraven

By the time we made it back to the hotel, twilight was around the corner, the late afternoon sun providing more than just heat. I was noticing every shadow, every movement, convinced another assassin was waiting in the limited light.