“I-I-I’m so sorry!” Stone blubbered, spit spewing through broken teeth.
“You’re right. You are the sorriest motherfucker I’ve ever employed. Well, the second sorriest. Desi’s brother would take the top spot.”
Desi stared straight ahead, blood-drenched hands clasped in front of him. I caught a nearly imperceptible twitch in his jaw as he ground his molars together.
“You had one job.”
Stone groaned, and his Adam’s apple bobbed repeatedly as he attempted to swallow down the pain.
“I-I-I did it. I d-did what you asked of me.”
“No, you didn’t. Because we wouldn’t be here if you had. I ordered you to secure the contract, have my men in place, and drop off a little present. You only managed one of those three tasks. And because of your sloppiness, I’ll have to appoint someone to take your place on short notice.”
“Please, don’t do this,” he whispered.
I raised my hands in surrender.
“Stone, do you think I want to do this?” I shook my head. “I don’t want to do this, but you have failed me tremendously.”
Desi cleared his throat. My eyes flickered to him in annoyance.
“How would you like me to take care of him for you, sir?”
I smirked.
“This is what I like about you, Desi. Always straight to the point. I’ll let you decide.”
I watched Desi yank Stone out of the chair and drag him kicking and screaming out of my office.
“Desi?”
“Yes, sir?” he answered, poking his head back into my office.
“Take her.”
“Right away, sir.”
“You’re dismissed.”
My phone vibrated across my desk. I checked it, and my expression soured. It was another video of Grant and Kiyah being disgustingly in love. Grant ran after her with a handful of cake. Kiyah screeched as he closed the distance between them. He caught her around the waist, lifting her in the air, and gently smushed a slice of cake into her face. She let out a piercing laugh as he smeared cake and frosting across her cheeks.
The cake assault ended in another heated kiss that stoked the flames.
They think this reception is the start of their forever. They’re wrong. It’s the beginning of the end.
Chapter Forty-Four
Kiyah
Soft whispering pulled me out of a nightmare that made me want to never close my eyes again. It was Chicago all over again, but this time, the elevator doors didn’t close after I boarded. Todd stood at the end of the long hallway wearing a gruesome smile. He approached as my fingers stabbed at the button designated to close the doors, but they wouldn’t budge. The closer he came, the more frantic I became. My finger snapped, sending the bone splintering and tearing through the skin right as Todd planted himself in front of me.
And then I woke.
My heart slammed against my chest, sweat dripped down my temples, and my stomach felt like I just jumped out of a Cessna.
I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling while Grant finished his hushed conversation.
“I can’t cover for you, Casey. I’m still technically on leave,” Grant hissed. “No. No. Listen, Case. I’d love to, but I can’t.” Grant paused briefly. “What’s the emergency?” He snorted. “Of course, you won’t tell me.”