Charming Asshole (Killer of Kings 3)

“I know.” There was a chair in the bedroom, and she took a seat, not caring if Scarlett was looking at her or not. This was her little boy. He had changed her life so much. So many people believed that he had ruined her. The few friends she’d had in college had told her to get rid of him, that he was going to destroy her career, and all of her future chances. Tears filled her eyes just thinking about some of their words. Even Daniel had said Killian was a parasite, and that it was her choice to do what she wanted.

When she had felt her stomach begin to grow, and the life inside her do the same, she’d marveled at her own body being able to create life. It was a beautiful thing, and of course it had been her way of keeping Killian’s love all to herself.

Even after ten years apart, her love for him was as strong as ever. Killian was going to fight for them, and she had to keep everything together. Even as she was afraid for his safety, she had to believe he knew what he was doing for all of their sakes.

Getting up from her chair, she quietly made her way toward the bed, crouching down to stroke the hair out of her son’s eyes.

“He’s going to come back for us, Killian, and when he does, everything is going to be different. I won’t ever leave you again, I promise you that.”

Chapter Eight

Killian drove back to June’s town, his music off, mind focused. He couldn’t have any mistakes. Those bastards in the Dead Angels MC had known they were being watched. They’d managed to trick Shadow into giving Boss bad intel, hoping to get Killian back in town. He chuckled to himself. Those pricks were going to regret that move. Killian hadn’t worked his way up the ranks all these years by being an amateur. He could only be found if he wanted to be.

Now he was going to show up on their doorstep, and he’d show them what a mistake they’d made fucking with his family. There was no way this was professionally done. Something didn’t add up about this whole mess. He didn’t know exactly what, but he was going to get to the bottom of it.

Although Killian showed pity to women and children, he wasn’t a good man. There was a side to him so dark that he kept it locked away, not eager to explore it. When he’d slaughtered his mother’s pimp, that darkness aided him, motivated him.

All Boss had to do was give him instructions, and Killian got the fucking job done. It’s why he’d moved up the ranks at Killer of Kings over the years. He wouldn’t make the same mistakes he had in the past. There was no room for compassion in the killing game.

Tonight wasn’t just about money. It was personal.

He called Shadow when he neared the town. “I’ll be there within the hour.”

“I’ve got a safe house set up. I’ll text the address,” said Shadow.

“Let’s not fuck this up.”

There was a silence on the line. “Are you still blaming me for the bad intel? The Dead Angels knew I was tagging them. I didn’t think they were capable of pulling off something like that. Their prez knows what he’s doing.”

“I’ve seen what their members look like. I killed a handful of those assholes in a bar—old, drunken, has-beens.”

“Doesn’t make sense,” said Shadow.

“Well, we need to get to the bottom of it tonight. And end them.”

“There are a lot of them. The whole town’s fuckin’ overrun by Dead Angels,” said Shadow. “They have property on the outskirts of town, too.”

Killian chuckled. “You scared, big boy?”

“Fuck off.” The call ended.

By the time he got to town the sun had set, the streetlights creating cones of light along the main strip. He checked the text Shadow had sent him and drove out to the small house near the water. There were no lights on.

Killian stood by his car for a few minutes. With only the moon casting a glow on the ocean, it looked like swaths of velvet. The sound of gentle waves lapping the shore had a calming effect. It reminded him of June.

He knocked on the door, but it swung open as soon as he touched it. The hinges whined, a drawn-out cry revealing a darkened room. Only a few knots in the wood let the moonlight in. Killian reached into his holster and grabbed his Glock.

“Who’s scared now?”

Shadow flicked on the lights exposing tabletops covered in select firearms. It was a beautiful display, enough heat to take out the enemy and then some.

“You should really keep that door locked,” said Killian, strolling along as he checked out all the weapons.

“Are you joking?” Shadow nodded to the left. There was a desk set up with a state of the art surveillance system. They’d know if someone crept up on the property before they even thought about it.

“I think that set-up’s worth more than this piece of shit shack.”

“I’m sure it is. Anyway, Boss’s tab, so I’m not worried.” There were some maps pinned to the wooden wall boards. With the number of colored markers, Shadow was right, there was a fucking army of Dead Angels and only two of them.