A Hitman's Kryptonite

by Cage Thompson

“No,” he answered without any enthusiasm and he heard the tension increase on the other end of the line.

  “Dead or alive, Ricci; it’s all up to you,” he replied coldly.

  “I’ll see you in about seven hours then.”

  “That’s my boy,” Ignacio patronized before severing the call.

  With a great heave, he threw the electrical junk into the wall before riding his Latino quest hard, not easing back when she begged him to slow.

  He pulled out as a shudder moved through him enough though his member was pristinely wrapped with latex. Without ceremony, he pulled the now full rubber off it and tied it before throwing a couple of hundred dollar bills onto the bed. “Don’t spend it all in one place,” he offered sarcastically as he pulled the zipper up on his jeans.

  “Go to hell!” she spat as she curled up into the middle of the cheap motel sheets.

  “Pity I don’t have the time to take you there with me,” he chuckled when she flinched as he stepped towards her. With a shrug, he turned away and headed for the door, pulling out another phone as he went.

  “Salvatore, meet me at Miami International,” he instructed. “Ignacio has summoned us,” he finished sarcastically, not bothering to wait for the other man to reply.

  ∆∆∆

  Raine pulled the blanket around her frame more tightly as another shiver rolled over her fragile frame. She felt a hell of a lot worse than she did the day before but she had to push through.

  “Do you need some more soup?” Sandy asked as she moved around the simple kitchen.

  “No, I’m good,” she answered before she sneezed loudly. The other woman looked at her sympathetically and she knew that she looked a sight.

  “I’d go out and get you some medicine but I can’t leave you alone here,” she supplied.

  They had both went through the house the day before and found that whilst it held a myriad of weapons, it barely had any first aid supplies much less simple cold remedies. “That’s ok,” she mumbled as she tunneled deeper into the thick sheet.

  “Crew should be here any minute and then I can go get you some girl stuff,” Sandy stated.

  Apparently, Vince and Salvatore had been summoned to Ignacio’s side which had led Trent back to him. They didn’t need two big guns for shadowing so they were sending Crew for added protection whilst Wyatt got himself together. Her heart squeezed at the memory of what she had said that had caused this major rift between them. She sighed internally before refocusing on Sandy.

  “No doubt it’s because your time of the month is almost here why the sudden drop in your immune system.”

  Raine made a distracting sound in the back of her throat before Gabby dragged her attention to herself.

  “Mommy, where is Papa?” Gabby questioned for the millionth time as milk ran down her dimpled chin and Raine couldn’t find the energy to get irritated.

  “At work, honey,” she responded softly. Her chest contracted painfully at the fallen look that came over her daughter’s face before she hung her head over her breakfast. It was truly a pain to lie to her daughter, especially for the past twenty-four hours but what could she say? She had no idea where Wyatt was. He wouldn’t answer her calls, nor was he checking in with Sandy as often.

  Probably sating himself in some woman, an annoying voice whispered mentally and her fists tightened at her side in the material.

  What does it matter? Reason questioned. Didn’t you run him as far away as possible?

  Swallowing her self-pity, she reached out to assure her sweet, sweet baby. “He’ll be back soon,” she whispered and the little girl’s head jerked up as Sandy sent her a pity-filled look.

  “When?” Gabby inquired.

  “Soon,” Raine answered feebly, her confidence faltering in the lie.

  “I’ll work on it,” Sandy mouthed and she nodded in answer.

  “Maybe, start with FaceTime,” she said to the other woman more than her daughter but the little jewel glowed anyway.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  “All cruelty springs from weakness.”

  —Seneca

  Ignacio’s eyes squinted as he watched the surveillance video for the third time. He allowed the trembling tech to freeze the frame and zoom in without his consent just this time. The blood pumped frantically through his veins as his eyes clapped onto Brooke being escorted into a small car. Having a whole department distracted because of a fallen comrade and his family had been worth his while, for now, he could clearly see the fruits of his labor.

  He focused on the man who had his hand pressed firmly against her spine, looking for similarities between him and Stephano. The build was similar, he had to admit, but that was all he saw. The man had made sure that his face was kept hidden from the cameras. It was as if he knew that there was one around every corner and he acted in like manner.

  “This SOB is really smart,” he muttered under his breath as his fingers flexed. Maybe, she hadn’t gone willing, he pondered. His ire rose at the thought that anyone would have been bold enough to step into his territory and take what should’ve been his from the get-go. If only he had run the deal instead of trusting Stephano enough to see it through. Stephano had gone and he had not only closed the deal but he had come back with a stunning woman; one whom he claimed that he won at a poker table.

  Ignacio was no fool but someone was; what idiot would give up that treasure willingly. However, he also knew that his son had been a downright bastard with women, so, he too could’ve taken her by force. He had no idea where his son had learned to treat women that way but it had been a sad case.

  Something on the monitor pulled him from his deep thoughts. “Grab that tag and run it through all the databases,” he instructed, thankful that they were in a state that shared everything with the Department of Homeland Security. Car plates were monitored so every movement a vehicle made was tracked. He was super glad, because of that, he could not only track their direction but if they switched vehicles, he’d know when.

  “Gotcha!” he exclaimed and slapped the boy on his shoulder. The acidic scent of urine hit the air and Ignacio was sure that the other man had pissed himself. A shaking moved over his plump body as Ignacio’s grip experimentally flexed on his shoulder. “Grab that license plate and track it as well,” he instructed. The younger man immediately complied.

  The Italian watched as their journey was mapped out on another system. His brows drew together as he leaned back in order to estimate their final destination. Immediately, he realized something. The route mapped out before him, was the same route Stephano had taken not so long ago. Was she returning to her handler now that Stephano was dead? He wondered as he patted the other man’s shoulder. He knew that soon he would get all his answers.

  “Thank you for your services,” he said gratefully. He was pleased with the other man’s work because it had given him some answers and pleased with himself because he was going to claim his woman. He was going to take that bastard out when he did. How dare he step into his territory to begin with. As he turned to leave, he paused long enough to acknowledge the other person in the room. “Sorry about your friend,” he started. “He had been a bit uncooperative,” he finished before completely exiting the room.

  Not long after, he stepped into the open and inhaled the cooler New Mexico air. Despite the time of the year, winter was still holding on strong. Removing his cell, he pressed it against his ear as the stolen squad car pulled up at his feet. “I need you to hack a few databases in Iowa,” he stated without any salutation as the ‘borrowed’ police uniform met the seat of the police vehicle. Just as he has answered, so he ended the connection, knowing that the job would be done. Within seconds, his phone pinged with the results.

  ∆∆∆

  Miles away, Trent swore under his breath as the area around the safe house popped up on the device. He tapped into the audio of the cell, still trying to track the other man. “We have a flight to catch,” Ignacio informed whoever was with him as they pulled out o
f the station.

  Trent pressed his index finger against his ear and the phone started ringing. “You’ve been made,” he stated tightly as the waves connected across time and space. He flinched at the loaded silence on the other end.

  “How much time do I have?” Wyatt asked coldly.

  “I’d say about three hours or so before they’re in your area and no doubt canvassing,” he supplied. “Just be careful; he doesn’t know your exact location and he’s still not aware of whom Raine is but no doubt the latter will change soon enough. Just be careful.”

  “I’ll start briefing them,” he answered flatly.

  Trent could feel his hesitation across the line. “Wyatt?” he prompted and the other man blew out a steady breath. He’d come to a decision.

  “I need you to get here, take Gabby and bring her back to Colorado—”

  Hell no! was on the tip of his tongue to say because he knew what his closest friend was insinuating but that wasn’t what came out. “Wyatt—”

  “Crew and I will hold down things long enough for you to get back.”

  Trent sighed miserably because he wanted to be by his side but then what Wyatt said next was something the other man had never uttered; not even in the hottest of battles, not even when Aiden had been dying.

  “I trust you, Trent, and I know if anything were to happen—”

  “I know,” he interjected as something in his chest cracked. This little girl and her mother meant the world to his best friend, even if right now he was acting like a stubborn prick. But Trent realized the depth of faith that Wyatt was placing in him/ he could’ve commissioned anyone else for Gabby’s care but he entrusted her safety to him. he swallowed the bile that rose in his throat at the thought that this might be it for them but he quickly pushed aside the doubt and pledged to see him through even this. “I know,” he repeated. “And I won’t let you down.”

  “That I’m sure of,” Wyatt commented, his voice a bit stronger. “And if you do I’ll haunt your ass,” he chuckled.

  “No jokes about dying,” Trent grumbled seriously and Wyatt sobered somewhat.

  “I’ll see you in three then?” he probed.

  “Two; I’m renting a jet; I need to get a head start in taking Gabby away.”

  “Thank you,” Wyatt breathed as if just realizing that Trent had accepted his quest from the moment he had uttered it.

  “That’s what brothers are for,” he responded lightly but it held such heaviness.

  “You’re not going to make me cry, Alexander,” he muttered

  “I can sure try,” Trent laughed before severing the call.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  “Evil begins when you begin to treat people as things.”

  —Terry Pratchett

  Vince watched in annoyance as Ignacio tried to start another pissing match. They’d touched down in New Mexico two hours ago and he still couldn’t fathom why the hell they were there. He had business in Miami still; business that would ensure that this idiot no longer had a place in the Genovese Family. He bit the inside of his cheeks to still his sharp tongue but Salvatore shifted in an antsy manner beside him and that seemed to spur the older man into action.

  “Brooke isn’t dead,” he stated excitedly.

  Not this again, Vince thought in irritation. Is this why we were called out here? He thought it but he never said a word. Dear Salvatore always saved the day. If he ever knew how many times he had saved him from premature death just by opening his mouth, he’d think that Vince was being grateful towards him.

  “That’s impossible,” Salvatore stated frankly, not caring that he was contracting one of the top dogs in the game.

  Ignacio’s lips just tilted up at the corners before he handed the youngest man the tablet.

  “John sparked my interest when he described her but I didn’t truly believe until I saw that.”

  Vince couldn’t help his curiosity as his eyes drew to the small screen. He watched the frames play out with his brows knitted in confusion and then he saw it. It wasn’t Brooke that caught his eyes; it was the man’s hand that was pressed firmly against her back. He grabbed the tablet from Salvatore.

  “See,” Ignacio said with glee but Vince barely heard him.

  He touched his fingers to the screen to zoom it in. The Celtic Trinity Knot lay bold on the back of his right hand. It was the same one that Stephano had on his hand. That is not possible, he thought. He had seen the casket at the funeral. He had got the confirmation from the hitman. His hands tightened around the device. The pictures had been presented; but could they have been doctored? Had Stephano known that he’d been commissioned to be taken out so he staged everything? His heart squeezed in his chest as he looked between Ignacio and Salvatore. Did they not realize the similarities of height and body frame despite the fact that his face is never seen? Well, Vince realized them because this was the person he had wanted to kill his whole life in the Genovese Family. If Stephano wasn’t truly out of the picture then taking Ignacio out would make little or no sense.

  His brows drew even closer together. Could they be in on it too? He wondered. But accessing their body languages told him that they didn’t, not unless they were superb actors.

  “Stop hogging the evidence!” Ignacio murmured as he tried reclaiming the device.

  Vince blinked at him before realizing how tightly he was holding it. With a grimace, he released the tablet. “Sorry,” he started. “I’m just in partial shock.”

  “That I can see, boy,” the old man chuckled.

  Vince sent him a fake smile because it was not for the reason he was thinking but he’d play along anyway. Maybe this hunt would be worth it to get the two in one place and wipe them both out of good with his own hands then he would be sure that the job was done right. “What is it that needs to be done?” he asked. He could see Salvatore sending him a weird look because all the way there he’d complained about wanting to just humor the old goat and then turning tails back to Florida. Now, he was singing a whole different tune.

  “We need to go to Iowa,” Ignacio answered simply.

  ∆∆∆

  Raine stopped dead as she walked into the Livingroom to be greeted but his broad back. She didn’t know if she made a sound or if he’d just felt her because he turned to her. He seemed to do a double take when he saw her though.

  “You look like shit!” he exclaimed.

  Laughter bubbled from her chest at his startled honesty and then his impish look as if embarrassed that he had said it. He opened his mouth as if to apologize but seemed to pause and frown at her laughter. She bit her lip to cease it enough that it became a giggle. “I have been feeling a bit under the weather lately,” she answered, laughter lacing her words. It was as if the heaviness between them had disappeared.

  He moved towards her as if pulled by an invisible force. She rested her cheek in his warm palm as he stroked back her hair. “You look pale, Raine,” he commented, concern filling his deep baritone.

  She caressed the knot tattoo on the back of his hand as she looked up into his beautiful, worried eyes. “I’m sorry,” she breathed and his eyes started to cloud. She gripped his hand as he made to pull away and kept it against her skin. It was as if his aura made her feel better. “I shouldn’t have said it,” she started but he cut her off.

  “Now, isn’t the time, Raine,” he murmured.

  “Now, is the best time,” she sighed, some color coming into her chocolate cheeks.

  “Raine—”

  “Wyatt!” she said firmly and his eyes met hers again.

  “I know that you didn’t come back because you suddenly realized that I was being an ass because men don’t have the capacity to have that sense of clarity—”

  “So, now you insult my intelligence too,” he muttered.

  She couldn’t help the smile that passed over her lips before she tried to put a stern look on her face again. “I know that something is wrong, Wyatt,” she said, her voice shaking as his eyes darkened,
confirming her thoughts. “Something really bad is happening for you to be here in person and not have Crew or Sandra inform me, especially when you don’t really want to be here—”

  “That’s not true—”

  “Please, Wyatt,” she started. “I wouldn’t want to be around me either if I was in your shoes.”

  “Thank God you aren’t me then,” he murmured. “Because I wouldn’t be able to stay away for much longer either way.”

  “You’re being distracting,” she commented. “That again gives you away.”

  He sighed heavily, knowing that he had been made.

  “I was so wrong to say that to you, Wyatt and I will forever try to make that up to you.” She bit her bottom lip in hesitation as she placed his hand over her heart. “But you promised me that you would teach me how to love in the right way and I am planning to hold you to that promise,” she finished.

  He murmured something in a language that she couldn’t understand before he leaned his dark head down to brush his lips over hers. “I’m sorry I left,” he said mournfully.

  “And I’m sorry that I pushed you away,” she responded.

  “A good friend of mine once told me that hurt people; hurt people and I should’ve remembered that.”

  She threaded her fingers through his midnight black hair, sighing at its softness as she pulled him even closer. “Tell Trent thank you for me,” she whispered.

  She felt his smile against her lips. “You can tell him yourself in a couple of hours,” he chuckled.

  She stiffened in his arms where once she’d been so pliant. “If Trent is coming here…” she started but her words trailed off as her worried eyes flew up to his.

  “That means that Ignacio will be here soon too,” he finished for her and he saw her whole life collapse before him. He literally only had seconds before she’d have been a puddle at his feet.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  “Wait for the boy that would do anything to be your everything.”

  —Unknown