Boss - Killer of Kings

“It went wrong,” Viko said. “Our facility was ransacked. The scientist involved disappeared along with the product. We believe he stole some of the formula and has been working to branch it out.”

“Wait, hold on a minute. You’re telling me the drugs that are now killing people came from you?” Boss asked. “Why would they sell this shit if it’s killing people?”

“I guess they thought they might have been able to change it, I don’t know. I’m not a scientist. I don’t know how this works,” Graciella said. “It’s why I’ve come to you.” She turned to Viko. “We’ve got to stop this.”

“I warned you, Widow Maker, that you’d make a move you’d regret. Every single death is on your hands.”

“Now wait just a minute,” Boss said.

“I have my sources looking into this. Your debt to me just doubled, Graciella. Know this, you will be indebted to me for the rest of our life. After last night, you better hope you don’t fail me again.”

****

Graciella paced in Boss’s office. The room was massive. This wasn’t how she wanted this to go down. She’d hoped to be able to deal with the drug problem herself but now it was taken completely out of her hands, and she didn’t know what to do.

He’d been so angry with her.

It doesn’t matter. Whatever he thought about her, she’d deal with it.

The drugs had been a stroke of genius when she had control of them. Now, they were a royal pain in the ass. With Viko helping as well, she didn’t know if having the Circle of Monsters involved would be a good idea.

Boss finally arrived and any remains of the drug he’d been given were gone. She’d been given the same drug. The side effects weren’t exactly refreshing. She liked to be in control at all times, and being drugged put her in a bad place.

He wasn’t alone as he entered the office. Killian, Bain, and El Diablo all entered.

She looked at her brother. A part of her wanted to run into his arms and pretend the last couple of decades hadn’t happened, but she wasn’t a little girl anymore. Hadn’t been for a long time. He couldn’t help her fight the demons that plagued her every single day of her life. Pushing her hair off her face, she was very aware of the fact she still wore the robe Viko had given her.

Being naked in front of men didn’t affect her. She’d long gotten over the fear and worry of being near a man. Viko didn’t trust her but then, she’d never really given him a reason to trust her.

“Graciella,” he said.

“El Diablo.” She rarely called him by his given name and she knew it pissed him off. He gritted his teeth.

“You’re not keeping out of trouble?”

“I have a problem with finding trouble.” She shrugged.

“Enough. Tell me it worked,” Boss said.

She looked at Boss then at Killian.

“It worked. We can hear him and we know where he’s going to be and when.”

“What exactly is going on here?” Something was going on and she didn’t know what. She hated being kept out in the dark.

“Do you want to tell her?” Boss asked.

She turned to her brother.

“You don’t really believe Viko got the better of Boss?”

She looked toward Boss. “You planned this.”

“All down to the little details of being captured.”

Killian shrugged, a guilty grin on his face. They were all in on this bullshit.

“So the little whore you were with, that was all part of the plan?” she asked. She hated how jealous she sounded. Not that it mattered to her what Boss was doing or with whom.

“She was just a little fun. What we’ve got now though, that is what’s important,” Boss said.

“It all was a lie.”

Fuck, she couldn’t believe this. She actually believed Viko had outsmarted Boss. She should have known better.

“I’m always one step ahead of you, Widow Maker. You shouldn’t underestimate me.”

The fact Boss had been working on his own plan pissed her off even more. She’d been played, kept out of the loop, and no one did that to her.

“Well, I see you have everything in order. You don’t need me.” She walked toward the door only for her brother to step in her way. “Move.”

“You’re upset.”

“You don’t know me, brother. You don’t know what I’m capable of. Move.” She snapped the last word, but he shook his head. “I’ll hurt you.”

“Then hurt me. I promised to protect you.”

“And you fucked that up,” she said.

He jerked as if she’d slapped him. “But I can protect you now.”

“Ask your boss if I need protecting. I don’t need any man.”

“You need to tell us about the drugs, Graciella,” said Boss.

One moment it was Widow Maker, the next Graciella.

“Do you realize what you’ve done?” she asked. “You think Viko doesn’t know?”

“I’d say with the fact he’s got two women with him and he’s fucking them into oblivion, I’d surmise he doesn’t know.”