Page 57 of Royal Salvation

Chess’s jaw twitched as he glared at her. “He’s getting harder to handle, but this payday will free me.”

“Then you’ll, what? Walk away?”

He shook his head and she saw genuine sadness on his face. “No, I’ll end it.”

Lucía watched him look behind her as the door opened and Playboy stomped back inside with a tripod and camera in his hands which he began to set up.

“So, you fake my death and sell me to these people to breed me and then they kill me?”

Playboy shot his finger at her. “Got it in one, baby, but in between, me and you are gonna have some fun.”

“You disgust me.” Lucía spat in his face knowing she’d earn his wrath and hoping it would cause a fight between him and Chess. Chess was about money and a new life, but Playboy liked the violence.

“You whore.” Playboy lunged and Chess caught him around the chest and sent her a glare.

“Calm the fuck down.”

Playboy rounded on him. “Did you see what that bitch did? She needs to pay.”

“Later, man, okay?”

“No. Fuck later. She pays now.”

Playboy lunged again and she tried to scoot back but before he got to her, Playboy staggered, shock in his eyes. As he turned accusing eyes on his friend, she saw the knife in his back as Chess withdrew the blade and plunged it into his heart.

A scream died in her throat as Playboy fell, holding his chest and Chess caught him and eased him to the ground, cradling his body.

“I’m sorry, brother, but this needed to end. You’re sick and I couldn’t help you anymore.”

The grief in the man’s voice was palpable and Lucía knew in some way she was responsible for the horror in front of her.

Silently she watched as Chess lifted Playboy’s body from the ground and laid him on her couch before he straightened. “You did that. You look at him and know that was you, not me. You forced my hand, and it wasn’t pretty. I’m going to make sure you get to watch when I kill Reaper.”

Tears slid freely down her face, but she made no sound, lost in her own shock and fear. Chess set the camera up and pointed it at her before quickly moving back to the window and checking outside again. “You have very nosey neighbours. It’s gonna get them killed.”

Lucía closed her eyes choking back the cry as she heard Mr Jonson whistling as he approached her door. “Please don’t hurt him.”

Chess looked back at her. “You going to be compliant?”

“Yes. I’ll do what you ask.” Lucía would for now to save her friend, and she prayed Justice found her before it was too late.

Chapter 24

“What the fuck is he doing?”

Reaper watched Mr Jonson stroll towards Lucía’s front door, whistling as if he hadn’t a care in the world. The team had arrived on foot five minutes earlier and scoped out the area. Two men were situated out the back and two more in the village. Playboy had come out the back and it had taken every bit of control he had not to put a bullet between his eyes, but he’d known it was a mistake.

“Fuck knows, but he needs to get the fuck out of there before he ends up as collateral in this mess, or worse, gets Lucía killed.”

Bishop was beside him; they were split into two teams now. Hurricane, Duchess, and Bishop were with him, and Bás, Bein, and Lotus were clearing the village. They were waiting on word from Jack and his men, deciding the best time to attack was a direct timed assault so that no one could warn the others.

The wait was torture knowing Lucía was so close and he couldn’t get to her yet.

Through the scope, Reaper saw the door open and then a blessed sighting of the woman he loved. She was still dressed in the clothes from the plane. Her hair was down and messed as if she’d been grabbed but she seemed unhurt and to him, she was the most beautiful sight in the world.

Her eyes darted around and as if sensing him, she looked toward the hedgerow and seemed to stare for a split second before turning back to Mr Jonson.

“Hey, Mr Jonson, what can I do for you?”