Page 2 of Echoes of Temptation
“And what plan is that?”
“He’s going to hire a hitman.”
Chapter Two
King
Grabbing a beer, I walk to my couch and flop down. Finally.
It took me three fucking weeks to find my latest hit. He went completely off-grid when he heard I was on his trail. I eventually found him in some old treehouse deep in the woods. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to kill the bastard because my client wanted that privilege himself.
The man in question was my client’s brother who had raped his five-year-old daughter. After doing some of my own research to make sure the man was guilty, I accepted the job and went after him.
I may be a killer for hire but I have my own set of rules. If I can’t prove the hired hit is guilty of whatever they’re being accused of, I won’t take the case. If they are guilty, I’m more than happy to either capture or kill.
“The gang is all here,” I hear Viper say from the front door. “Pops is already preparing your grill for some steaks, brother. Glad you’re back home.”
I finish off my beer before standing and greeting my family. I’ve missed them all terribly these past few weeks. I hate it when a hit takes that long. I even missed Christmas. Never again.
“Uncle King,” Allie bounces in excitement. “Since you’re back home can I please jump on your trampoline? Mama said I had to wait for you to get back and now you’re back. So, can I?”
“Of course,” I laugh when she rushes for the door leading to my back yard before I can finish speaking. “You do know that you guys can come over when I’m not home, right?”
“Keep your coat on,” Sophia calls after Allie before smiling up at me. “I know that. But it makes me sad when you’re not here.”
I steal baby Hope from Venom’s arms and cuddle her close.
“I’m not normally gone that long, Little Wolf,” I tell her. “But regardless, you’re always welcome here no matter what.”
“Did everything go okay?” Bitsy asks.
I don’t like bringing my work home with me. What I do is dangerous and I want my family as far away from it as possible. Viper wraps his wife in his arms and kisses her shoulder.
“Think of his work as club business, baby,” he tells her. “It’s better if you don’t know things.”
“He’s right,” I tell her. “But everything went the way it was supposed to. It just took me a little longer than expected, is all.”
Bitsy smiles gratefully before taking Sophia’s hand and heading outside to watch Allie jump.
“Listen, brother,” Ghost says. “I understand your rule about not contacting us when you’re working, but if you’re going to be gone longer than a week, I think some form of communication needs to be in order. We were worried sick.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” I say, accepting the baby’s bottle from Venom. Hope is almost eight months old and is looking at my face with hunger-filled eyes. I adjust her in my arms and give the starving girl her meal.
“Do you have any more clients waiting?” Blaze asks.
“I think I’m going to take a month or two off,” I admit. “I’ll probably wait until April to accept any new clients. Right now, I just want to relax and spend time with my family.”
“Awe, he loves us,” Venom says. “I’m your favorite. Admit it.”
I grab the remote from the couch and toss it at his head.
Laughing, he and the rest of my brothers come and find seats before turning on the TV to some game. I lean back and continue watching Hope eat as my family makes themselves at home. I smile as I relax for the first time in weeks.
“I’m thinking about quitting,” I admit.
Seven sets of shock-filled eyes turn my way.
“I knew it,” Knox says from where he’s sitting on the floor. He’s the only one not shocked. “I had this feeling that you were slowing down your client list for a reason.”