Unbroken Rules (Rules 3)

I stop breathing.

“Why?” is all I can say.

I know I should ask what happened, but that’s not what matters most right now. Why did they kill him?

“You know why.” The voice is chilling.

“He didn’t do shit.”

“He helped you.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“We warned his ass. Multiple times. But he wouldn’t listen. Felt he owed you in some fucked-up way. Tanner might be a partner of ours, but nothing was said about his annoying little brother who risks exposing us for some piece of ass.” He pauses, scoffing. “Man, I sure hope the pussy is good to be worth all this trouble. You know what, don’t answer that. I guess I’ll see for myself when we get her. She looks pretty tight.”

Horrifying images flash in front of my eyes. Winter, touched by unknown hands. Her screams. Her tears. I will tear that guy to pieces limb from limb if I have to.

“I swear to God, if you touch one hair on her head, I’ll—”

“Defensive, are we?” he laughs. “What did you expect, kid? She knows about us. You think we wouldn’t cover our tracks because what… you love her?”

“She doesn’t know about you. All she knows is I’m looking for my sister’s killer.”

“And you expect us to believe that? Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t send my guys after her right now.”

Fuck, I don’t have a choice.

“I’ll work for you.”

He doesn’t reply right away.

“Go on.”

“You lost Ricky, didn’t you? I can be his replacement. I’ve been in and out of the street fighting business for years. You could use a guy like me. I do this for you, and you leave her, her friends, her family alone. No threats. No attacks. Nothing. She’s free to carry out the rest of her life unscathed.”

He doesn't speak for several minutes.

“Fine.”

Thank God.

“But you can’t say no,” he spits. “We call you for a job and you’re here within the next hour or I’m sending my guys over to get a good fuck from your pretty little girlfriend, you hear me?”

“Yes,” I say through gritted teeth.

“You start tomorrow.”

I don’t reply, looking around the now deserted parking lot.

“Oh… and lose the girl. You get her to stay the fuck away from you from now on.”

Panic stirs up in my chest.

“Not happening.”

He laughs.

“Refuse and she’ll have to watch every person she loves mysteriously die one by one. You’ve seen what we can do. She’ll think she’s responsible, even believe that she’s cursed. Until one day, my guys pay her a visit and show her just how right she is.”