Boss - Killer of Kings

She felt sick to her stomach thinking about Viko meddling in her life forever, not allowing her to move on and put the past behind her. She liked working solo, having no one to answer to but herself.

Graciella had to start her day. After a quick shower, she headed out of her condo. There was a black SUV with heavily tinted windows parked outside on the street. The glass began to lower. “Get in.”

She barely recognized this guy. “Who’s asking?”

“You have a date with Boss in fifteen minutes. He doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

Graciella wanted to tell the driver to fuck off, but instead, she got into the vehicle. She was curious about what he wanted from her. And she had nothing better to do than head to the coffee shop for a latte.

“I thought Killian was his driver.”

“I’m Chains, if you don’t remember me. I’ve been driving Boss around a lot longer than Killian.”

She remembered Xavier talking about his good friend Chains. Her nerves settled.

“And where is this date?”

“Breakfast on the water. Five-star patio. Their croissants were featured in Food Addiction magazine last month.”

“Wow, that’s a lot more detail than I was expecting.” She leaned back and watched the city flash by. The Killer of Kings men were unlike any other hitmen she’d worked with in the past.

They pulled up to the restaurant and she stepped out. Boss was already seated, and he waved her over. She couldn’t help but smile. He looked so pleased with himself.

“Kidnapping me won’t get you any points.”

“You haven’t answered my calls,” he said.

“I’ve been busy.”

He used a hand to motion her to sit. It was a two-person table overlooking the water. There were three fresh roses in the vase—red, yellow, and white. She had to admit she was impressed. Her breakfasts weren’t nearly as extravagant or involved.

“You’ve been avoiding me, Graciella. Why?”

She took a breath, not willing to play games at this point. She was tired, soul deep. “I don’t want to be the flavor of the week. I know how this ends,” she said. “I was hoping you’d have a new conquest by now.”

He narrowed his eyes, taking a sip of his coffee, nodding her to drink her own.

“Your brother still won’t drink coffee, did you know that? Old wounds never heal for some. Then there are others, like you, who seem unfazed.”

She tasted her coffee. “What you see isn’t always what you get. My brother has his wounds, I have mine. We deal with things in our own way.”

“And you like to run. To put up walls so high that nobody can get in.”

She shrugged, taking another sip. “If it works…”

Boss leaned back in his seat, staring at her. Seagulls cawed over the water. A boat horn bellowed in the distance. This place reminded her of her own little hideaway by the ocean. It relaxed her.

“You’re not the flavor of the week, Graciella. I’m done with other women. There’s only one I’m interested in.”

“When you say that, I feel threatened.”

“I know. You need to learn to trust me. I won’t hurt you,” he said. “No one knows your story like I do. I’m still here, baby. And I’m not running.”

God, she wanted Boss. He looked so damn edible. He was a tattooed, muscular beast sitting on an overpriced restaurant patio and no one dared tell him he didn’t belong. He was the kind of man who demanded respect and got what he wanted.

He reached into his jacket and pulled out an elaborate ring box. He placed it on the table then pushed it toward her. She stared, not knowing what to think. He hadn’t said a word.

Graciella decided to put it all on the line since he’d convinced himself he wanted her.

“Have you forgotten my debt to Viko? I imagine a man like you would bristle knowing their woman owed a lifetime debt to the Circle of Monsters.”

He tapped his fingers on the table, not speaking, his eyes intense.

“Exactly. A deal breaker,” she said.

“Open the damn box, Graciella.”

She took a breath and reached for the box. He placed his hand briefly over hers, startling her, then he sat back and waited.

Was she holding her breath? It felt like the entire world had slowed down just for this moment. She opened the box. Inside was the largest, most perfect diamond engagement ring she’d ever seen. And she’d seen a lot in her line of work. This was something else entirely.

“I commissioned it just for you,” he said.

She swallowed hard. “What does this mean?”

Boss leaned over the table, holding her forearm in place as she held the box with the other. “Marry me, Graciella. We have one life to live. We’ve both suffered enough. Why can’t we be happy? Together.”

“Marriage? The killer of kings is asking me to marry him?”

She was dumbfounded and all her thoughts and higher reasoning went out the window, leaving her helpless and unsure of what to say next.