THE HITWOMAN UNDER PRESSURE (Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman Book 15)

by JB Lynn

  “Sorry.”

  “It took me a minute to realize you’d lost consciousness. Shots were fired and engines revved and there was a horrible crashing sound.”

  “I was just about to climb out and see what had happened, but that infernal nuisance of a bird said to stay still and play dead.”

  “He was probably talking to me.”

  “Regardless. A moment later there was a team working on you, scooping us up and putting us in a vehicle. Then they gave you medical attention.”

  “And changed my shirt,” I said slowly. “So someone took off my shirt…”

  “That is how it’s done.”

  “But they would have seen you. Where did you hide?”

  “I just burrowed deeper in your bra. You have extra room in here. You really should get a professional fitting. I’m sure Loretta would be able to help you with that.”

  “Loretta’s bras are always the wrong size,” I said, pulling into the driveway of the B&B. The only vehicles parked there were Angel’s truck and Loretta and Templeton’s car. Considering that it looked like every light in the house was turned on despite the ridiculous hour, that didn’t make sense.

  “Something might be wrong,” I told God. “Can you run in the back and see if you can find DeeDee or Piss. Maybe they can tell us what’s going on.”

  “I’m meant for better things than scout duties,” he complained as I carefully opened my door and lowered my hand so that he could scamper down my arm. Despite his protestation he quickly raced toward the back of the house.

  I climbed out of the car, trying to ignore the dull ache in my arm. The pain reminded me about the drugs Whitehat had provided. Bending over, I retrieved the bag. When I turned around, Armani was hurrying out of the house toward me, Angel following closely behind.

  “What were you thinking, chica?” Armani yelled shrilly.

  “Huh?” I replied eloquently.

  “You get mad at me, take my car, and leave me to call someone to pick me up?” Armani raised her eyebrows, hinting that I should play along with whatever story she’d told those at the B&B.

  “I’m sorry?” I asked weakly.

  “You should be sorry. I’m your friend. I was just trying to help.” She seemed to really relish the part of the outraged and wronged friend and was tossing her hair and stomping her foot like an actress in a B movie…maybe a C movie.

  “I know.” I looked down so that I wouldn’t laugh at her over-the-top act.

  Angel, having caught up with her, tried to intervene on my behalf. “Maggie has had a rough time of it lately.”

  Armani turned on him, eyes flashing. “Who asked you, big, handsome, muscle guy?”

  While most people would have cowered in the face of Armani’s fury, Angel just crossed his arms over his chest, gave her a smile and asked, “You think I’m handsome?”

  Armani smacked his bulging bicep. “You know you are. Don’t play all cute and charming with me.” Then she patted his arm again as though checking out the merchandise before giving it a test ride. “At least you’re easy on the eyes.”

  Angel, amused by her, looked over at me. “You okay?”

  “Of course she’s okay,” Armani replied. “Except for her head. Her head’s not okay. I take my PMS very seriously.”

  Angel blinked, confused. “Excuse me?”

  “My PMS is very important,” she insisted.

  “Of course it is,” he soothed, a glimmer of panic shining in his eyes.

  “Psychic Matchmaking Service,” I supplied helpfully. “PMS.”

  Angel nodded as though that made sense.

  “Next time I try to set you up with a guy,” Armani lectured, turning her head toward me and giving me a conspiratorial wink, “just say you don’t want to go out with him.”

  I nodded and hung my head, trying to appear chastised.

  “Now I’m going home and you should go to the hospital,” Armani said.

  Worried she knew I was hurt, I jerked my head up.

  “They found Marlene,” she said gently. “She’s fine. Just getting checked out.”

  “I told you she’d be fine,” I said, even though I’d said no such thing.

  Thankfully Armani is a good friend and a quick thinker. “You did,” she agreed quickly. “But you were wrong about her just wandering off. They think she was abducted.”

  “By who?” I asked, trying to get an idea of what the authorities knew.

  Armani shrugged. “No one seems to know.”

  “I’ll get my keys and drive you to the hospital,” Angel offered. He turned and ran into the house.

  “Thank you,” I said to Armani as soon as he was out of sight.

  “You look like hell, chica,” she said stepping closer to me. “I’m pretty sure everyone believed my story, but be careful.”

  I nodded and handed her the keys to her car. “I owe you one.”

  “You owe me a road trip.”

  I chuckled. “You’re like a dog with a bone.”

  “Bone?” DeeDee barked hopefully, bounding up to us.

  “Not now,” I told her, patting her head.

  She sniffed my arm.

  “Hurt Maggie?” she whined softly.

  “A little, but I’ll be okay.”

  “You can understand them, can’t you?” Armani asked.

  “No,” I replied automatically, taking a step away from her. “That would be crazy.”

  She gave me a knowing smile. “You’re a terrible liar, chica.” Closing the distance between us, she pulled me into a tight hug.

  I yelped as the pain in my arm multiplied tenfold.

  She loosened her grip, but still held on enough to whisper in my ear, “I love you anyway.”

  Releasing me, she winked at me, waved to Angel who’d reemerged from the house, got in her car and drove away.

  I watched her go, unsure of how I felt about someone knowing one of my biggest secrets.

  Chapter 27

  Angel assured me that Katie was sleeping soundly and that if she needed anything, Templeton and Loretta were in the room next door, so even though I was exhausted and in pain and really had no desire to go see Marlene in the hospital, I went anyway knowing that if I didn’t it would raise the suspicions of at least one Griswald, maybe two.

  Sure enough, Marshal Griswald was holding Susan’s hand when we arrived at the waiting area of the emergency room.

  Susan jumped to her feet when she saw me. “You’re okay.”

  “Of course I’m okay,” I bluffed. “I’m sorry if I worried you.” Before she could ask me where I’d been, I asked, “Marlene’s okay?”

  “Yes. Doc’s in with her now. They said they’ll discharge her within the hour.”

  Feeling Griswald’s probing gaze on me, I turned to him and asked, “Do we know what happened?”

  He shook his head. “She’s got no memory of it.”

  “And we’re sure she didn’t just decide to go for a walk and tripped and hit her head or something?”

  Griswald’s gaze narrowed suspiciously. “No. That’s definitely not what happened.”

  “Though it’s understandable, that, considering everything you’ve been through in the last couple of months, that’s what you want to believe,” Angel soothed.

  I glanced up at him, trying not to blurt out, “I could kiss you for coming up with that excuse.” Taking a page from Armani’s playbook, I sighed dramatically. “I guess you’re right.”

  “Denial’s a powerful thing,” Angel said sympathetically.

  Out of the corner of my eye I saw Griswald nodding his agreement.

  I turned toward him. “Can I see my father while I’m here?”

  “Why invite more trouble, Margaret?” Susan asked sharply.

  “He’s her father,” Griswald said gently to her. He smiled kindly at me. “I’ll go with you and see if I can get you past the police guard.”

  “Thank you.”

  Angel stayed with Susan while Griswald accompanied me to anothe
r wing. I don’t know what he said to the uniformed police officer guarding my father’s room, but they ushered me inside.

  The only reason I knew that the bruised and beaten body lying in the bed, hooked up to monitors and an IV, was my father, was that the first words out of his mouth were, “Took you long enough to come see me.”

  “I’ve had a lot going on, Dad.”

  “Your mother.”

  “She’s safe.”

  “You’re sure?”

  I nodded. “There’s something I need to ask you.”

  He shook his head.

  “You don’t even know what I’m going to ask.”

  “Whatever it is, it’ll just mean more trouble.”

  “Tell me about my brother, Dad.”

  Instead of answering me, he rolled over so that his back was to me.

  “Always great talking to you, Dad.” I ran out of the room before I started to cry or beg him for answers.

  “Maggie?” Griswald grabbed my arm, thankfully not the one that had been shot, as I rushed past him. “What happened?”

  “Nothing.” I shook free of his grip as the tears I fought won their battle and blurred my vision.

  “Zeke’s still here,” Griswald reminded me as I stumbled away.

  I rushed to Dominic’s room. Apparently the two goons assigned to protect him had been warned about me, that or they’d heard how I’d kicked Vinny’s ass in that very room, because they both jumped up out of their folding chairs and ushered me right inside. I tried not to think about what it meant that people who made their living through violence respected me, maybe even feared me.

  Dominic slept soundly in his regular bed. Zek e was asleep in another, but jolted awake when I whispered his name.

  “Maggie?” He sat up. “What’s wrong? Did something happen to Darlene?”

  “She’s okay,” I hurried to his side and grabbed his hand, “I just really wanted to see you.”

  “What happened?”

  I shook my head, not wanting to talk about it.

  “What can I do?”

  “You’re doing it.” Letting go of his hand, I cupped his cheek. “I just needed to see a friendly face.”

  “I’m always on your side, Maggie,” he promised.

  “I know.”

  He shook his head. “No you don’t.” Before I could protest, he added, “What happened to your arm?”

  I hesitated, wondering whether it was safe to tell him the truth.

  “See?” he said. “You don’t trust me.”

  “I was shot,” I blurted out.

  “Shot?” He sat straight up in bed.

  “Shhh.” Putting a hand on his chest, I pushed him back down. “I don’t want the whole hospital knowing.”

  “What happened?”

  “Darlene was in trouble and her rescue didn’t go as smoothly as I’d hoped.”

  “That’s obviously an understatement.”

  I shrugged.

  “What about Redcoat?”

  “He’s been eliminated,” I replied, repeating Whitehat’s description.

  Zeke visibly relaxed. “That’s a relief.”

  “No visitors allowed,” a nurse announced marching into the room. “Do you have any idea what time it is?”

  “Not really.” I waved at Zeke as I backed out of the room and walked right into a solid wall of human chest.

  Startled I spun around. “Sorry.”

  Angel looked down at me, his expression unreadable. “Figured this was where I’d find you.”

  “You did?”

  “Sure. Even though you claim there’s nothing going on between you and Zeke, you two are practically inseparable. Griswald said you were upset when you left your father’s room, so I figured you’d come to cry on his shoulder.”

  I looked away, realizing that his assumption wasn’t far from the truth.

  “Susan said I should take you home now.”

  I nodded. “I’d like that. Thank you.”

  Together we walked out of the hospital in silence. Once we reached the parking lot, he said, “We’ve got to talk about this chaperoning thing you’ve agreed to.”

  “Later?” I begged tiredly. “Let’s hope it’s less eventful than my life has been.”

  Chapter 28

  The next couple of days were blessedly quiet.

  Life got back to my family’s version of normal, which consisted of Leslie getting and staying stoned, Loretta and Templeton knocking things off the wall with their sexual antics (but only while Katie was at school), Susan micromanaging just about everything in just about everyone’s lives, and Marlene recuperating from her ordeal with lots of tender loving care from Doc.

  The only real excitement we had was when Armani showed up to announce that she’d won the lottery. To her credit, she only said, “I told you so” to me fourteen times.

  I’d expected to hear from Darlene or Whitehat, but neither of them got in touch. I asked Zeke if he’d heard anything and he claimed he hadn’t. I wasn’t sure I believed him since he seemed intent on avoiding me, spending the majority of his time helping Loretta get The Corset back into tiptop shape.

  The only people I did hear from were the two mothers who had also volunteered to chaperone the trip Katie’s class was taking. While I was happy to hear from Cam, who really saved my butt when it came to the class Valentine’s Day party, I wasn’t thrilled that Megan, she of the perfectly-pressed khakis and a stick up her ass, called to lay out my chaperone duties for more than an hour.

  Still, Katie was excited about the trip and my involvement, so I bit my tongue and agreed with everything Megan blathered on about.

  It was good to see my niece happy about something for a change. I was pretty sure that a big part of her shift in attitude had to do with her relationship with Mike. Three times per day, she fed the crow out of her hand. And at least a couple of times per day, he brought her a shiny treasure; a piece of foil, a bit of wire, a coin, a broken barrette, a bottle cap.

  “You shouldn’t encourage him,” God said from my shoulder as I stood one afternoon beside the house watching the child and bird interact at the picnic table. “No good will come from having that character lurking, looking for handouts.”

  “He saved my life,” I reminded him. “Hell, he saved your life.”

  “As the cat reminds me on a daily basis,” the lizard sighed.

  “You need the reality check,” Piss purred, winding her way around my ankles.

  “That doesn’t mean I have to like him and you shouldn’t either,” God argued.

  “So are you planning on leaving us anytime soon?” I asked the cat.

  “Not too soon, but eventually. I’ve got unfinished business out there.” She looked up at me with her good eye. “So do you.”

  “This has nothing to do with the trustworthiness of the bird,” the lizard reminded us.

  “He makes Katie laugh,” I countered.

  “Pretty miraculous,” Angel said from behind me, thinking I’d been talking to him, when in fact, I’d had no idea he was there.

  “He’s certainly taken to her,” I agreed, turning around to face him. “It’s good for her, don’t you think?”

  “Anything that puts a smile on her face is good.”

  Katie laughed at the crow’s antics and I grinned.

  “There’s something I don’t see very often,” Angel said softly.

  I turned to look over my shoulder at him. “What?”

  “You smiling.” He caught my chin with his fingers so that he could study my face.

  “I smile all the time.” I knew I did, because I’d been making a conscious effort to do so after Piss had let me know that Susan and Griswald were concerned that I seemed depressed after my last dealing with my father. They weren’t wrong. I had been in a bit of a funk.

  “What did he do?” Angel’s voice was little more than a whisper as he peered down at me with an unsettling intensity.

  My breath caught in my throat. “He?”


  “Your father. What did he say that made you cry?”

  It was a little unsettling how he seemed to read my mind. The reminder of my father’s refusal to answer my question about my brother once again made me want to cry. Jerking my head free of Angel’s grasp, I turned to focus on Katie. “It wasn’t important. Family stuff.”