Cruel Intoxication (Underground Kings 4)

That’s okay. When Jolie wakes up, maybe she’ll be able to give us answers. Until then, she’s safe. I couldn’t save Annabeth and my daughter, but I’ll save Jolie. I don’t care if it takes the last breath out of my lungs.

I’m fucking saving her. I have that ability.

And that asshole wanted her.

I wade through the water, and my boots sink into the sand. The water cascades down my body and splashes onto the shore. I immediate shuck off my pants and walk over to the fire that’s still roaring even if I did tumble through it.

I hang my sweatpants over the flame, then my shirt, and I hear a small gasp coming from the tent.

Shit.

I peer to my right and see her staring at me through the zipper of the tent. She’s crying. She turns her head to give me privacy, and I don’t think much of it. It’s an accident she saw me.

“I assume you recognized his voice,” I say, deciding to wring out the excess water from my clothes to see if that will help with the drying process. I’ll have to go down to the bunker to get more.

“Yes,” she answers through an emotional voice.

“You don’t have to worry about him anymore,” I say simply. “I took care of it. I knew he was here for you.”

The tent unzips, and she launches herself at me, wailing as she lays her cheek against my chest. Her thin arms wrap around my waist. I don’t know what to do. I’m afraid to touch her. And I’m naked.

Yet, it isn’t as awkward as I expect it to be because it isn’t sexual. She’s just thankful. I’m surprised she’s even touching me considering she didn’t even want to hold my hand. That’s how I know she’s pushed aside her fear to try to show me her appreciation.

“It’s okay,” I pat her shoulder so I’m not touching her too much, but still reciprocating in an appropriate way. “He’s gone.” I hope he is. I should’ve shot him twice.

Double-tapping everything in life is key, and that includes murder. You have to make sure they are dead. I was positive he was, but maybe he wasn’t.

I’ll cross that bridge if it starts to be built, then I’ll walk over it and fucking burn it to the ground.

“I’m sorry you did that,” she whimpers as she pulls away, turning around to give me her back so she still gives me some amount of privacy. “I heard him talking to you, so I stayed inside. I thought you were going to give me to him. Thank you for not doing that.”

“I knew what he wanted, and it was nothing good, especially in the state you’re end. Maybe you’ll tell me the story of what happened since I’ve just killed for you?” I ask, then curse when my shirt falls into the fire. “Damn it!” I reach for it, but it’s too late. It’s up in flames. Sighing with exhaustion, I rub my forehead with my index finger and thumb. “I need to go get more clothes. Go back to bed, okay? We will talk in the morning after breakfast.”

“You’re okay with just … going to bed?” She turns her head to look at me, but her eyes widen as she takes in on my chest, and she spins around again. “After that?” She sniffles. “It sounded awful. I thought he was going to kill you. I should know… He did horrible things.”

“Well, I was bigger than him, and I had other skills he didn't. It’s another day for me, Jolie. It’s right in my line of work. Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. Go to sleep, and we will talk about everything tomorrow after we get some sleep.”

She wipes her cheeks on either shoulder, and even though I can only see the back of her head, she nods up and down, telling me she understands.

“I’m just glad it’s over,” she whispers.

“Nothing is ever over, Jolie. Don’t let your guard down now. That’s when something will take you by surprise and knock you off your feet.” I walk toward the bunker, uncaring that I’m naked.

I’m too tired to give a fuck.

“Okay,” she says as I step around the tree, tug on the bush, and open the door to the underground storage.

I take a minute to gather my mind, my thoughts, and my nerves. I killed a man for someone I hardly know. I just hope I killed the right man.

Jolie is a mystery, but that man’s intentions weren’t.

I can’t second guess myself.

I brought her peace, and it seems like she hasn’t had that in a long time. I need to be happy, but all I can think about is why I didn’t fucking double-tap.

Rookie mistake.

Six