Page 59 of Royal Salvation

“Hurricane, can you handle this?”

“Yep, you go.”

Reaper ducked left taking the path down the side of the house as Hurricane dealt with the last man. The side door was open, and he checked the two rooms he passed, finding both clear before he headed for the main room.

Rounding the corner, he felt his jaw clench with anger as he took in the situation. Bishop was on his knees near the couch, Lucía tied to a chair in the centre. Chess had a gun aimed at her head and another aimed at Bishop.

He cast a glance at his friend and saw Playboy’s dead body bleeding into the cream sofa.

“You don’t have to do this, Chess.”

“You’re a fucking idiot, Reaper. I’m leaving this house and taking this bitch with me.”

“I can’t let you do that.”

“You can and you will. Now, put your weapon down before I kill her here and now.”

“You kill her, you die too. You know that.”

Chess shook his head. “No, you won’t risk her life.”

Chess cocked the weapon he was holding and wrenched Lucía’s head back on her neck, making her wince but she didn’t cry out or move.

Rage swept through him but not a volatile, out-of-control feeling. No, this was cold and deadly and promised pain to the man in front of him. “Fine. I’m putting my gun down. Just don’t hurt her.” He glanced at Lucía who was watching him, her teeth biting into her lip as she glanced down and up and then did it again. Following her eye line, he saw wires running around the front door leading to her chair. His gut hitched as he realised Chess had rigged the house to blow.

“Why don’t you let Lucía go and we can talk about this? See if we can find a way out.”

Chess laughed, “You must think I’m fucking stupid. There’s no way you’re going to let me walk away from this. You’re death remember, and it always comes for you, no matter how long you run.”

“Then you know I’ll find you no matter how hard you try to hide.”

“Not if you’re dead.”

“You’re surrounded, Chess. You know there’s no play for you. You lose.”

Chess looked at Bishop and then him before he seemed to realise what Reaper said was right. “Always so clever weren’t you, Reaper? Thinking you were the best. So moral and clean when you had the most kills of all the men I knew.”

“You’re right. I did kill a lot of people, but the difference between you and me is that I don’t enjoy the kill. I do it because it’s necessary.”

“Sure, that’s why you got yourself out of the military and got a cushy gig with this lot.”

“I was kicked out of the military because of you and Playboy.”

“Kill or be killed, right, Reaper? You know that, and I had to protect my boy.”

Reaper glanced at Playboy. “Yeah, so you could kill him.”

Chess went still, his face red with anger, body tense and Reaper knew it was time for the kill. “So, what now?”

“I’m going to leave here with Lucía and you’re going to die in a horrible explosion. By the time your team figures out what happened, I’ll be long gone, and she’ll be in the stable with the other broodmares.”

Hearing him talk about Lucía like that made him want to rip his heart out. Only the tiniest movement from the window made him pause from the attack he was about to launch. Readying his body, he waited for a second until Hurricane was in position outside, the comm in his ear giving him an advantage which somehow Chess had failed to see. As he gave the order, Hurricane fired the bullet hitting Chess in the throat. As he fell, Reaper dove for Lucía who screamed.

Reaper wrapped her in his arms as she shook. “It’s okay, it’s okay.”

He kissed her cheek, before raising his head and saw the dead man’s switch in Chess’ left hand that Hurricane had warned him about over comms. Chess reached for his throat with his free hand to stop the blood, as he held tight to the switch, knowing he could blow himself to smithereens if he let go as his breath gurgled in his airway.

Chapter 25