I didn’t sense anyone there, but I paused to listen more closely. Hearing nothing, I called out. “If you’re here, come out and show yourself. We should get to know each other.”
No sound betrayed anyone’s presence, no intake of breath or shuffle of feet. The only thing I heard was a small creature, probably a rat, scurrying away from a dumpster.
I moved farther into the alley.
I heard something then. My best guess was that the sound had come from around the corner on the next street. I was headed in that direction when someone rushed into the alley and yelled, “Now.” Another man, presumably the one I’d seen, headed into the alley from the opposite end. They thought they had me, but apparently they hadn’t done their research. Two on one was nothing to me. I’d survived far worse odds multiple times.
Like many assailants I’d dealt with, they made the false assumption that because I was a large man I wasn’t agile. They were wrong, and it was going to cost them their lives. I leapt and delivered a kick to the face of the man who ran into the alley from the café side.
I turned, gun raised to take down the second man when I heard more footsteps and a cry. I turned to see Ezra racing into the alley. Jesus fuck, why hadn’t he stayed put?
“Get behind me,” I yelled as I turned back to the man who now had a gun trained on me.
I’d lost my advantage, and I had an innocent bystander to protect. The odds weren’t so good now, but I could handle it.
“I was supposed to bring you back to my boss,” the man said. “But I think the boy will be an even better prize. Hand him over, or I’ll kill you and then take him.”
He’d kill me no matter what, and there was no way in hell I’d let him lay a hand on Ezra.
“Trust me,” I said, keeping my voice as low as I could and praying Ezra had heard me. I pushed him to the side, and as the man adjusted his aim, I delivered a shot to the center of his forehead. When he hit the ground, I turned to take care of the man I’d kicked, but he was no longer there.
“Y-you killed him.” Ezra’s voice was barely a whisper.
“Damn right I did. He would’ve killed me if I hadn’t, and let me assure you, if he’d taken you, you would not have enjoyed it.”
“I-I know. I mean… I don’t…”
He looked like he might pass out at any second. I needed to get him out of there as fast as I could. I didn’t think there was any way the man I’d shot had survived with a hole through his head, but I’d learned not to take anything for granted. As I pulled out my phone to call X, I checked for a pulse. Nothing.
“What’s up?” X asked.
“Two men came for me. One’s dead, and the other got away.”
“Fuck, how did he escape?”
“Ezra’s with me.”
“I see.”
“I told him to stay put.” I turned to look at him and realized he was much too pale. “Sit down.” He slid down the wall and sat on the cold ground.
“Fuck. It’s so bad I have to listen sitting down?” I realized X thought I was talking to him.
“Sorry. Not you. Ezra.”
“Where are you?”
“The alley between Bacon and Bakin’ and that hipster clothing store.”
“Why are you still there? Get moving.”
“I needed to know the body would be taken care of before we left.”
“I’m on it now. Emilio will check for any video footage of the area and make sure there’s no evidence left. Are you taking Ezra home?”
I sat beside Ezra, wrapped my arm around him, and pulled him toward me. I thought he might resist, but he curled into my side and rested his weight against me. “I’m not leaving him on his own. The asshole threatened to take him instead of me. He said Ezra was a better prize.”
“The dead one or—”
“He’s very dead.”
“Good. I can arrange for a safe house.”
“No, Ezra’s staying with me.”
Ezra tilted his head up and frowned. I pressed a finger to his lips.
“I’m not sure—”
“Don’t fight me on this.”
He sighed. “All right, but let me know if you change your mind.”
“I won’t.” Ezra was mine. I might not have meant to say it aloud when I’d had him on the desk in my office, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t true. I’d been thinking of him as mine for months now.
“When you’re home and safe, call me back,” X said.
“Will do.” I ended the call, and Ezra let out a shaky breath.
“You don’t have to—”
“Yes, I do. I put you in danger.”
“No!” The force of the word surprised me. “I chose to come after you when you told me not to. I’m not your responsibility.”