Charming Asshole (Killer of Kings 3)

He rolled his eyes as Boss began to chuckle. “What do you want?”

“I thought you needed some time away.”

“I did. Look, I don’t have time for this shit, Boss. I need to go.”

“Well, you see, I’ve got a bit of a problem here.”

“Why?” Killian asked.

“Because a hit has just gone live on June and Killian Harris. Now you see my confusion.” Killian paused. Boss had his attention. “Now at first I thought that hit was for you. Killian and all. But it just so happens that the details I have on my desk are for a twenty-eight-year-old woman, and a ten-year-old boy. Then I talk to Maurice, and he had the same request for information from you. What the hell is going on here, Killian?”

“Why the hit?” Killian asked.

“Why the hit indeed. It’s because of you. Someone must be watching you, or waiting.”

“Find out who took the hit. Boss, don’t put anyone onto this, please.” Boss never could turn down money. “That’s my kid. I’ve only just found him, and she’s my girl. I just … I fucked up. I need time to fix this.”

Silence fell.

“Killian, I know I’m a monster, or at least a lot of people believe I’m a monster. I have my reasons for doing what I do.”

“And no one else fucking gets that.”

Boss had a lot of secrets. He wasn’t an easy man to please. In fact, he was downright difficult at times.

“It’s my kid, and I fucked up. As a favor to me. You owe me, Boss.”

“Again, I had no intention of taking this hit, Killian. Until I find out who ordered this contract, she’s in danger. I suggest you find them. This kill went live an hour ago.”

Killian paused. Was it because of the men he tried to make an example of?

Either way, he didn’t know what to fucking do. Disconnecting the call, his heart was racing. What the fuck had he done?

This was becoming one clusterfuck after another.

He picked up the pace, walking down a long street, and then heading toward the pier where he’d first met the kid. Little Killian was there, hands in his pockets, looking out at the ocean.

“You know your mom is having the fright of her life right now?” He wasn’t doing too well either.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“She’s always working. Always away. Each job she gets that has decent pay, never lasts. Nothing ever lasts,” Killian said.

Gone was the British accent, and the cocky attitude. There before him was his son. From what he’d just said, the kid missed his mom. He was hurting.

Killian stared out at the view. There was a kill out on this kid, and his woman. He’d totally fucked up.

“Your mother does everything she does because she has to.”

“I know she does. She’s always tired, and I don’t care that she thinks she’s a superhero. They don’t exist. Nothing exists but work and bills. She wants me to go to school, get my education, and go to college. Only rich kids get to do that. Not someone like me. I want to make her proud, but I don’t have it in me to do that.”

“Your mom is worried about you. You weren’t in your bed.”

“She came home?” Killian Junior asked.

“She came home, and she went to check on you, and began to panic.”

“Crap. I was going to make it back home. I told her I wouldn’t do this again. I just … ugh. I wanted her to stay at home. I don’t get to see her anymore. I don’t care about Christmas gifts. I know there’s no Santa! I just want her home. It’s what I told that social worker lady that came to my school. The lady warned me that I’m getting into a lot of trouble, and if I want to leave my mom, then it will only be a matter of time before I’m taken away. I don’t want to leave my mom. I love her.”