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“You killed his family,” Smith bites out. “And now you’re just going to make him confess? You think that’s how this works?”
“I will forever regret the mistakes I made that killed his family, but that man is not a good man. He needs to die.”
“That’s not the answer,” Smith counters. “You’re forgetting that he might be an asshole, but he’s an asshole who loved his family, or he wouldn’t have come at you for killing them. He’s not going to give up the information that saves you, even if he’s about to die for it.”
“That’s wrong,” I say, at the same moment as Blake, which has my gaze colliding with his, my brow arching.
“It’s about who bests who to him,” Blake says. “I get it. I’ve studied him in the past twenty-four hours. He didn’t care about his family. He cares about you winning and him losing.” He eyes Smith. “You’re a good man. Mick isn’t you.” He eyes Aaron. “Give me three days. If he moves even slightly, I’ll go with you and help you kill them all.”
“I’m in,” Savage says. “I’ll kill those motherfuckers for you if you want.”
“He doesn’t expect me now, tonight,” I counter. “Now is the time.” I eye Blake. “You know I’m right.”
Blake leans forward. “I would if you didn’t have me. I’m that good. Give me the seventy-two hours.”
“Twenty-four. No more. Tomorrow night Mick dies.” I catch Ashley’s hand. “Because if I don’t kill him, he kills her. And that’s not happening.”
Blake grimaces. “Fine. Twenty-four hours. I’m good for the challenge.”
Savage flips open a pizza box. “Let’s celebrate by eating this, mofos.”
“Yes,” Ashley says. “Let’s eat.” She steps between me and the island, her hands settling on my chest. “And then let’s take our life back. Together.”
She is brave and beautiful and the only thing left in my life that matters. I cup her head and kiss her before I say, “Together,” and it’s a promise. That’s how this ends. With us both alive and together.
Chapter thirty-nine
Ashley
Relief comes fast and hard after Aaron agrees to give Blake twenty-four hours to find the answers we need to end this, with us free from the charges against Aaron by the CIA. Not long later, we’re sitting around the island, all of us eating pizza, and I’m listening as Aaron debates different ways he was framed with Blake, Savage, and to my surprise, even Smith. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen Aaron with other people in a casual setting, I realize. Not that you can call this casual. We’re debating when and how to kill Mick and his men, before Mick and his men kill us.
What I realize, as we interact, is that Aaron doesn’t have this in his life. When he told me he was a loner, that he was alone, he meant it quite literally.
“Have you ever met someone and just said, he has to die?” Savage asks the group. “Like that fucker is such a little bitch he has to die.”
Aaron tilts back a beer. “That’s why guys like me exist.”
“To kill people, assholes like the ones Savage gets irritated at?” Smith challenges.
“Smith,” I warn, and quickly grab Aaron’s hand, silently pleading for him to let this go.
“Now who’s being a little bitch?” Savage accuses. “Smith the bitch.”
“Savage,” Blake warns. “Don’t—”
“Right,” Smith says. “I’m the little bitch. You going to kill me, Aaron?” Smith draws his weapon and points it at Aaron.”
“Smith!” I scream, pushing off the stool, but before I can move toward Smith to shut this down, Aaron’s on his feet, and he’s shoving me behind him, stepping toward Smith.
“Aaron,” I call out, certain he’s going to draw his weapon, too, but Savage grabs me and pulls me around and away from the standoff. I’m then firmly handed off to Blake like I’m some sort of stuffed animal being used for a game of hot potato. “Let me go,” I say, shoving at Blake’s chest. “Let me go.”
“Easy, sweetheart,” he says, his voice tight, commanding. “I need you to trust me and step back. Let me handle this.”
“I don’t want to hurt you, Smith,” Aaron says, and his voice is so damn low and tight, lethal to the point that I twist in Blake’s arms, and he lets me. We both turn to face the rest of the table, and I, for one, can feel the thunder of anger beating at the room.
Aaron is standing in front of Smith, and Savage is now facing them both, but he isn’t moving. And it’s easy to see why. Smith’s gun is shoved at Aaron’s chest, but it’s clear that Aaron is the one who walked up on him. He’s daring him to shoot him. Savage is hovering in their profile. The air pops and cracks with hyped-up energy.
Blake steps to my side. “Smith,” he warns, his voice low, tight. “Don’t do something stupid, man. This isn’t you. This isn’t even close to you.”
