“How did you know which room I was in?”
I shook my head. “I didn’t. Dante came up and unlocked your door. I was waiting for him to leave when you stepped into the hall.”
Confusion crossed her face. “Dante?”
“I don’t know what you did, but I guess he felt bad for you.” I touched her face, suddenly noticing her black eye. “What did they do to you?”
“Vincent,” she said, looking away. “I rejected a deal and this is how he reacted.”
I cursed and balled my hands into fists—but didn’t have time to find him and murder him for hurting my wife.
“Come on,” I said, my voice a growl, and took her hand in mine. “We have to run.”
“Where are we going?”
“I don’t know. We’ll figure it out.” I hesitated then looked at her. “But if you come with me—you’re with me. Do you understand?”
She nodded once. “I don’t need to think about it. Let’s go.”
I pulled her out into the hall. Men were still shouting downstairs but it sounded less urgent. Sirens sounded in the distance and I guessed they called the fire department. I tugged her back toward the staircase I’d come up, walking as fast as I could. I didn’t know who’d be down there, and if they found that body, I might be in some trouble, but there was no time to find another way out.
I went down first, keeping her behind me and the gun ready. The first landing was empty, and I peered around the corner.
The dead guard lay at the floor of the stairs, blood leaking from his skull in a wide puddle. Two more men stood over him, one of them speaking into a radio. I couldn’t hear what he said, but both of their faces were grim.
I looked back at Cora. “Don’t move,” I whispered in her ear. “Stay here. I’ll be back for you.”
Fear flashed in her eyes. “Wait. Reid.”
“Trust me.” I kissed her, bit her plump bottom lip, then turned the corner.
The guards weren’t ready for more. I took out the guy with the radio first, putting one in his chest and the other in his skull. He dropped backwards, mouth open in a shocked grimace. The other raised his weapon and fired a shot, but it landed short of me, smashing into the stairs at my feet as I fired two rounds into his chest. He staggered back and I barreled into the kitchen, kicking him over and finishing him off with a headshot. Blood splattered the floor and walls, but there was nobody else around, the rest of the guards presumably fighting the fire.
I turned, went back up, grabbed Cora’s hand, and pulled her down behind me. As I reached the bottom and started running for the back door, guards appeared in the far entrance. They fired at us, the bullets ricocheting off the stainless steel appliances and racks. I shoved Cora toward the door as I returned fire, missing them but buying her time. Once she was out, I fired off the rest of my magazine wildly before tossing the gun and sprinting after her.
I made it out onto the street. She looked around wildly, eyes wide with fear and confusion. “This way,” I said, grabbing her hand and pulling her along behind me. Kitchen workers milled around the street and I recognized the guy I’d roughed up. He stared at me, terror in his expression, and he started to back away as I winked at him.
We reached the intersection and I stopped, looking around wildly. “They’re supposed to be here,” I said through a clenched jaw. I heard shouting behind us, and I knew the guards were coming.
Just then a car came screaming down the street. I recognized Aldrik behind the wheel looking elated and giddy. The car slammed to a stop in front of us and I shoved Cora in the back seat as I pulled my gun from my waistband and fired off a few shots at the guards that spilled out the back door. They scattered and I jumped in the car after her, slamming the door. Aldrik hit the gas and the car shot forward, swung around the corner, and headed north away from the mansion.
I sat there, breathing hard, then let out a wild laugh of exultation. Cora stared at me, then joined in my laughter. I pulled her into my lap and kissed her, holding her tight against me, feeling her body. She had on some huge sweatshirt and jeans that didn’t fit, but I didn’t care—she looked gorgeous, felt perfect, and I had my wife back.
“I hate to interrupt a very lovely moment, boss, but where are we going?” Enrico asked.
Cora blushed a little and shimmied off my lap. She sat on the seat next to me and leaned her head on my shoulder. Aldrik slowed the car down and fell into a normal driving pattern.
“I have a safehouse in West Philly next to an old frat house.”
“Frat house?” Enrico laughed. “Of course you do.”
I gave Aldrik the address then squeezed Cora’s hand. She looked up at me and smiled, and despite the black eye, she looked perfect.
I kissed her and leaned forward to whisper into her ear: “I’m glad you came with me.”
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now,” she whispered back and touched my face.
I held her hand as Aldrik drove, and though I knew I needed to plan our next move—for the time being, I enjoyed being close to her again, enjoyed the elation of survival, the rush of a fight, and the heat of her skin.
24
Cora
Aldrik parked out front of an old Victorian row home. Young men stood on the neighboring stoop drinking from paper bags and dressed in khaki cargo shorts and long-sleeve polos, and they nodded at Reid as he stepped out of the car.
He turned as Enrico rolled down the window. “What should we do, boss?” he asked.
“Head to ground,” Reid said. “I’m not sure who they’ll come after but it’s better if you’re not around.”
Enrico grunted and nodded. They shared a long look that I couldn’t quite read—but I got the sense that Reid hadn’t expected Enrico to follow through with this. Honestly, it surprised me to see him in that car. I always got the feeling that Enrico was in it for the money and wasn’t exactly loyal to Reid in particular, but there he was.
“Send word when it’s safe.”
Reid nodded. “Will do. And thanks for stepping up.”
“No problem.” Enrico smiled a little. “It was kind of fun.”
“Kind of fun?” Aldrik roared, laughing a deep belly grumble. “You should’ve seen the house! We blew a fuckin’ hole in it!”
Reid grinned at him and patted the top of the car. “Better get moving. I’ll see you two soon.”
Enrico rolled the window up and the car pulled off. Reid stood and watched them go before turning back to me. I felt the frat boys staring at us curiously, but I tried to pretend like they weren’t there as Reid stepped up and took me into his arms. I tilted my chin toward him and accepted a gentle kiss on the lips—and the frat boys all cheered.
Reid flipped them off, took my hand, and led me up the steps to the front porch. The floorboards creaked and the door looked like it was going to rot off the hinges, and one of the frat boys jogged over, a young-looking kid with a mop of brown hair and pink cheeks. He tossed a key to Reid and crossed his arms.
“Everything good in there?” Reid asked.
“All good, just like you wanted.”