“You got something to say, girl? Wanna beg for your man’s life? Because he knowsexactlywhy I’m here.”
I swallow what feels like a lump of charcoal in my throat as I bite down on my lip to keep from making another sound. I do not want that man looking at me. I don’t want that man to know I exist.
“Let her go, Moses. She’s got nothing to do with this.” Gabriel’s words sound like they’d been dragged down a gravel road before he bit them out.
Moses.Moses.Who is Moses? And what isthis?
“She’s nice. You can’t hurt her.”
Bump’s plea brings the burn of tears behind my eyes.Sweet fucking Bump—except for that one time he kidnapped me.
If I weren’t paralyzed with fear, I’d be tempted to laugh at how much things have changed since the first time I was brought into this office. But, right now, I’m more worried about getting out alive.
“Shut the fuck up.” Moses jabs the gun harder against Bump’s temple, and the hair stands up on the back of my neck.
“Please, don’t hurt him. He’s—”
“Scarlett, get out of here,” Gabriel says, cutting me off.
“Shut the fucking door,Scarlett. You’re not going anywhere.” A cruel smile bends the man’s lips.
“She’s got nothing to do with this, Moses. Not a fucking thing. Let her and Bump go. You can do whatever the fuck you want to me. But just let them walk the fuck out of here.”
From beside me, I can practically feel the burning rage radiating off Gabriel. It’s hot enough to blister my skin. I glance down at him—the top of his slicked-back dark blonde hair—and I hate seeing him on his knees. I don’t know who Moses is, but I despise him for that alone.
“She ain’t going nowhere until I say so.”
“My security will be up here any minute. You’re gonna be fucked, Moses. So say what you came to say, and do what you came to do, unless you want to find yourself in a goddamned hostage situation. NYPD ain’t the same as the Biloxi PD. They’ll take you out in a fucking heartbeat. You got no one on your payroll to save your ass.”
I don’t know where Gabriel finds the composure to speak so rationally. Thank God one of us can.
But Moses doesn’t look concerned by Gabriel’s words. He throws back his head and laughs.
“Boy, you don’t know shit about shit. You never did. You think I just rolled up in the city today and let myself into your office? Fuck no. I’ve had my eye on you. For a man with a price on his head, you’ve done a piss-poor job of staying under the radar. I could’ve popped you so many fucking times, but what fun would that be? You wouldn’t even see it comin’. When I put a bullet between someone’s eyes, they always gotta know it was me.”
What? Oh. My. God.This crazy man has been watching Gabriel?Jesus Christ.
“Then what the fuck do you want?” Gabriel demands, and Moses grins forbiddingly.
“You owe me a hundred grand, plus fifteen years of interest.I’m here to collect.”
Three
Legend
The last placeI want to be is on my knees, in my office, unarmed, with Scarlett beside me and Moses Buford Gaspard holding a gun to Bump’s head.
And yet, here I am.
My brain screams for Scarlett to fucking run, but she’s frozen like a statue beside me.
Of course this is how it would happen. I’m not even sure why I’m surprised. I’ve known for years that every move I make is a risk, but I didn’t realize Moses would lie in wait. That doesn’t seem like his style.
Then again, fifteen years ago, he was a gangster with a crew that followed his ballsy leadership without question. Why should I be shocked that he’s changed? I sure as hell have.
Except there’s one thing that’s always remained.I can’t outrun my past.
Now it’s time to face it and pay the consequences, but I won’t allow this to hurt Scarlett. I’ll take every fucking bullet while I stand in front of her like a human shield first.