Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
“I did,” she says. “The minute he told me you were running illegal packages and you killed three of your men. I didn’t tell him that, not then. I had to deal with Kasey’s death and your role in that happening. But I tried to find him after you left, and I used my badge and resources to do so. Then, of course, I got word he was killed in a car accident.”
“A little strange, don’t you think? He disappears and suddenly appears when he’s dead? Did you see the body?”
“No, but there were dental records.”
“Which can be faked.”
“With the right resources, and I found no reason to believe he had those.” She changes the subject. “I found something two weeks ago. I’m wondering if it somehow triggered all of this. It was Kasey’s birthday and I went through that old suitcase of memories he kept all his life. I found two names and numbers which weren’t phone numbers, and they weren’t socials. I don’t think they were bank accounts either.”
“What were the names?”
“Moreau and Dubois, surnames I assume, both French. Do you know them?”
“No,” I say easily. “They aren’t familiar, but I did run a couple missions to France. They could be connections he made during those trips. What about the numbers?”
“Both were long. I emailed them to myself.”
“Once we finish talking, I’ll grab a computer and you can log in and get them. What else?”
“I researched the names and numbers from my work computer. I’m just thinking, why would this hitlist emerge now, instead of two years ago? Maybe I triggered it.”
“Maybe, and someone coming after you would make sense, yes. But as for what you did spurring the creation of a hitlist makes no sense to me.”
“Me neither, but in law enforcement, we know that rarely are things coincidences.”
“We’ll figure it out, Ana.”
“We,” she says softly. “It’s kind of surreal to hear you say that word.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “It is.”
“You aren’t a different man.”
“I’m the man I was before you met me.”
“You aren’t a different man,” she repeats. “You were always Lucifer. I knew that.”
“Maybe that was the problem.”
“No,” she says, and then more firmly, she adds, “No. If you heard what I said to Savage and Adam—”
“I did.”
“Then you know it’s not like that.”
“Do I?”
She surprises me by choosing to lean closer and press her hands to my legs. Her touch ignites flames in me and not all of them good. Even if she didn’t shoot me on purpose, her anger, her hatred, is a betrayal. “I didn’t think you were dirty,” she assures me. “I meant it when I said you were my hero, Luke. What you said in the shower, it was true. Me hiding anything from you, including tears, was not us.”
“Past tense,” I say and I don’t touch her despite how fucking much I want to right now.
“Only because it’s been two years. And I was honest when I said I’m confused.”
“You don’t know how to be with the man you supposedly love because I shot your brother who meant to kill me, Ana?”
“Luke—”
“Lucifer, damn it. I’m not hiding behind Luke ever again. Not even for you and before you argue with me, Ana, I’m just living up to the man you believed me to be. Call me inspired.” My cellphone rings and I grab it from the table beside us, noting the unknown number. I show it to Ana.
“That’s strange,” she murmurs.
“Exactly,” I answer on speaker. “Who is this?”
“Holy fuck, it’s really you.”
“Parker,” I say, recognizing his voice right away, my eyes meeting Ana’s as I say, “Good to hear your voice, man.”
“Some dude named Blake left me a message. He told me to call him or you. I wasn’t sure what the hell was going on.”
“There’s a hitlist. Jake is dead.”
“Jake. No. Shit. Jake?”
“I saw him with my own two eyes. He’s gone, man.”
“Well shit, man. They came for me. I wasn’t sure if Blake was one of them, but bottom line, they came for me. I went underground but I had a shit ton of cameras. I heard a few things.”
“What things?” Ana asks.
“Ana,” he says. “Hey.”
“Hey, Parker. They came for me, too. Luke saved me.” I grind my teeth at the name as she asks, “What things?” again.
“They mentioned talking to someone named Darius and then something about a package. And sorry, Ana, but I have to ask: Lucifer, this can’t be the same package Kasey was fucking with, right? That was two years ago. That disappeared with Trevor.”
Ana’s eyes meet mine. “Do you think it is?” she asks.
“We have to assume it is,” I say, “because nothing else makes sense. Where are you, Parker?”
“I’m still in Texas. Where are you?”
“How fast can you get to Denver?”
“I know a guy with a plane who can keep me off the radar, but by the time I get to him, it’s going to be maybe early morning. Maybe noon.”