Lawless Hero

“What’s wrong?” Kim asked, as clueless as ever.

“Ugh,” I sighed, stomping my foot as if that would help.

“You two crazy bitches need to get out of here,” Melvin said, walking toward us.

“Come on.” I grabbed Kim’s hand and hurried for the stairwell.

“You bitches!” Melvin yelled after us.

We went down two flights before getting out and hopping on another elevator.

“What the hell was that all about?” Kim asked. “What happened?”

“Warren showed up!”

“The other guy from Afghanistan?”

“Yeah,” I said, staring straight ahead.

“Oh, shit.”

“Exactly.”

“Why did he—?”

“I don’t know. And it doesn’t matter. We don’t need either of them.”

“But Warren didn’t seem so bad.”

I took a deep breath. “Yeah, but we keep getting caught up in these stupid games. I’m not sure he actually cares about me.”

“Well, he doesn’t know you as well as I do.” Kim put her arm around my waist and rested her head on my shoulder for a moment. “You’re worth the chase.”

“Let’s just forget about them both for a while,” I said. “Go back to my apartment and enjoy the rest of the weekend before we have to go back to work.”

Kim released me from the hug. “Now that sounds like a good fool-proof plan.”

CHAPTER 27

Warren

I left the office building with my mind racing. When I got to the corner and turned, I noticed the man who had followed me earlier. He wasn’t wearing the beard this time, but I knew it was him.

What the fuck does he want? I wondered as I increased my pace, ready to evade him again. I figured that if I slipped into a bar for a few drinks, he would never find me.

I sped up even more, my heart still pounding. At the next alley, I turned sharply and took off running. When I reached the end, an unmarked four-door sedan pulled out and slammed on the brakes, almost hitting me.

Two men jumped out.

I craned my neck to peer behind me. Th

e man who had been following was at the opposite end of the alley, heading toward me.

Fuck.

I looked back at the other two who had guns drawn. “What the fuck do you guys want?” I shouted. “Didn’t Melvin tell you I was out for good?”

The two men looked at each other briefly then back to me.