The Games We Play

23. Twenty-Two - X

Twenty-Two - X

She was fucking amazing, honestly I never dreamed last night would have gone the way it did. Puppet showed me her true self, admitting the worst thing she’d ever done—and didn’t hide from me.

Watching her take that pathetic frat boy’s life—my cock hardens just thinking about it all. And the way she drew that girl from the floor and killed her right there, surrounded by hundreds of others—fuck! I wish she could have seen my expression under my mask.

She’s ready. I’ve got her right where I want her. And soon, I’ll make the call. My gut twists at that thought, but I push the feelings aside. I knew what this was from the beginning. There is no place for emotions. Those turn into leverage and fuck that.

I park my car in a dark alley and check that I have the correct location before getting out. The soles of my dress shoes tap against the worn black top, the sound echoing off the brick buildings.

Sierra steps out of the shadows in a very expensive suit and a cocky grin .

“What the hell are you doing here?” I hiss.

“It’s real, Lima. This job will change our lives and we’ll never have to work for anyone again.”

I run my fingers through my hair and tug on the ends.

Do not talk outside of the job .

That’s one of the utmost important rules. It’s how we don’t get caught and fly under the radar. If we’re made, then it’s not cops we’ll have to worry about. There will be a bounty on our heads that will make what I do look like child’s play.

“How did you even get my number?” I ask.

He takes a slow drag of his cigarette and smiles as smoke plumes from between his lips. “I found them. Your boss . I hacked their systems and got your phone number. Your address…your records…your family …where you like to spend your free time.” He arches his brow and my hands clench. “They know, by the way. It was all there in black and white.” He pauses and studies me.

I keep my expression neutral while inside. I’m debating cutting him up to keep my private life safe. To keep her safe.

But they know about her. So why hasn’t anyone made their move? What are they waiting for?

“Are you threatening me? We both know how this will end and I’m not one to lose,” I seethe.

He laughs as if I didn’t just promise him death and clasps my shoulder.

“We’re friends. I’m simply here to give you the offer and bring you on board. We don’t answer to anyone. Given a list and choose who and when we kill. No more waiting for someone’s beck and call. It’s freedom, man. ”

I snort. “Really? Because it just sounds like someone else’s chain attached to our balls. What’s gotten into you, Sierra? We have a good thing going here. We’re able to kill, to get that fix we need. Then go home and live our lives. You’re ruining everything!”

His humorous demeanor disappears, and he levels me with a stare. “This is a onetime offer, Lance.”

My hands fist at the use of the legal name.

“You’re the one reason our targets are getting snatched out from under us,” I say through gritted teeth.

“Actually, I’m the one who is snatching them.” His lips turn into a cocky grin. “I think you should know; it’s Darius that reached out to me. He says that would mean something to you and have you change your mind.”

Darius …

It doesn’t mean shit aside from a threat, a promise that this isn’t an option. I say yes, I die. I say no, I’ll be hunted. He’s toying with me. Showing how close he can get and that if he wanted me dead, I would be at any moment. I stopped worrying about my life a long time ago, but if he knows about her and what I’ve been doing—nobody is going to fuck with her but me.

“Leave,” I order. “Leave and don’t ever fucking contact me again.”

Sierra’s smirk drops along with the best friend act and he stands with an air of arrogance.

I point at his chest, my forearm muscles flexing with the itch to shoot him myself. “You don’t know what kind of swarm you just stirred up. Everyone will come for you. Darius’ head is worth millions and you’ll be a disposable person in the way.”

“You know he’ll come for you,” he responds .

I suck on my teeth and mentally calculate how long it will take me to get back to check on Puppet. I could call her, but say what? Sorry, you were always a pawn in this game and now I—what—care?

Why do I fucking care? This was always the outcome. This was the plan. To get to them through her. It worked, but not on my fucking terms and that’s what has me pissed. Someone else is calling the shots.

No, he’s bluffing. They want me to spiral. To get sloppy and miss the signs.

How much does Sierra actually know?

“He can try,” I say as a challenge.

Sierra straightens his tie and sniffs. “I’ll be sure and write your eulogy.”

Grimacing, I shove my hands in my pockets. “Not if I write yours first.”

I leave and slam my car door closed. My tires squeal on the asphalt as Sierra gets smaller in the rear-view mirror.

My hands shake over my steering wheel.

Sierra just set things into motion and it’s about to be a fucking war. And Darius? After all these years of him being quiet and hiding away, why has he come back now? He’s the kind of man that has others do his dirty work. He remains hidden in the shadows. I should know. I’ve been hunting the fucker for the last year. He thinks he had me, but he’s about to realize how badly he fucked up.

I wonder if he knows yet? My big secret? Has Sierra shown him my face, or only told him about me? It’s all interesting.

It’s my obligation to report him as a rogue, but that will set in a domino effect that will only end with me killing him…then I’ll kill Darius. This was the plan all along.

I lift my phone to my ear and wait for their answer .

“Sierra needs to be terminated,” I state evenly.

“That’s a big accusation, Lima. On what grounds?” the voice responds dryly.

“On the fucking grounds that he just tried to recruit me to work for Darius,” I snap, my nostrils flaring and skin burning in irritation.

They’re silent on the other end. Fingers type on a keyboard on the other end, then a shuffle comes across the phone.

“Lima?” a feminine voice calls out. The same voice that recruited me ten years ago.

“November,” I respond.

“Is Sierra going to be a problem?”

I relax slightly, knowing that she understands what is at stake and has the power to make decisions.

“He’s working for Darius, from what I can assume. I don’t think he realizes he was being a personal messenger, nor do I think Darius knows who I am. If he doesn’t, it won’t be long before he does, though.”

She hums her agreement. This is what we’ve been preparing for the last year. Sitting and waiting for Darius to make his move.

“Then it’s time. All our resources go toward finding him and neutralizing the threat.” She sighs before adding, “And as of now, Scott Parkins is a personal hit for the agency. I’ll email all the details over to you now.”

My phone chimes and I open the attachments to find Sierras’ file and what little information we have on Darius. Sierras’ government name is Scott, and he’s from Nebraska. No family. No strings. No leverage I can use.

“There’s one more thing,” I say, remembering what Scott says about our security system. “We need to assume everyone is compromised and order a recall on all agents and their families. ”

“What are you talking about, Lima?”

“Scott said they hacked your system to gain information about me, my family, and where I’ve been. Everything is at risk.”

November must cover the receiver as her voice sounds far away.

I skip through Puppet’s video feed and note she’s sound asleep. Safe…for now.

“Lima?” November says loudly, gaining my attention back. “Print the files I sent. Destroy the phone and buy a new one. We’ll be in contact when it’s safe. As of now, we’re going dark. You’re on your own until we call. Be smart. Darius is a powerful man with lots of resources. We can’t be too careful.”

“Understood.” I hang up and screech to a halt on the bridge that leads out of the city. I quickly email the one person I can trust and step onto the pavement. Cars honk as they swerve, narrowly missing me. I chuck the phone over the bridge, hop back in my car and do a U-turn to go back to the city.

This just became the best hunt yet, but first I need a new phone, gain access back to Puppet’s cameras and find out where Scott went after our little chat.