Die for Me

by Nichole Severn

  “Adelaide,” he bit out.

  His harsh answer made her pull back. Danger lurked in the depths of his eyes on this topic. Another inquiry might send him over the edge, but if reminding Taigen of his goal got him back to New York, she’d talk about this other woman all damn day. “Is she why you’re doing this?”

  “Doesn’t matter. Are you in or out?”

  “I’m not like you or the guys Isaac hires. I can’t kill people.” Torrhent swallowed hard. Nothing had prepared her to take another’s life and, realizing she’d effectively wedged herself into a war she couldn’t fight by escaping Bedford, she shuddered. In the end, she’d end up dead, or Isaac would. Either way, she needed Taigen to finish the job. “I don’t know what you think I can do.”

  “You’re scared. I don’t blame you, but fear doesn’t help in a situation like this.”

  “And what will? Isaac practically has an army.”

  “Trust.”

  Torrhent tried to hold back her surprise. Of all the answers she’d expected, “trust” had been at the bottom of her list. “You expect me to trust you? You killed a man with your bare hands less than twelve hours ago. Like you’ve done it before and most likely not in self-defense. Would you trust someone like you?”

  “Well, it certainly came in handy when I saved your life.” Taigen sat on the bed, methodically chewing the rest of his chip as he looked at her. It infuriated her how he remained so calm after killing a man.

  Wish it’d been that easy for me. She’d thrown up more times than she could count and gained an unhealthy fear of blood to go with it. Torrhent swallowed back a bubble of bile climbing its way up her throat. Even the thought of that night made her sick. “Just tell me why this is so important to you.”

  “Lives are at stake,” he stated evenly. The sadness in his expression made her heart clench. “Hundreds, maybe thousands of people will die if I don’t get to New York, and I can’t get there without your help.”

  Did he really believe that? “Fine. I’ll help you, but only because you saved my life.”

  “Good.” His expression didn’t change, his gaze unwavering. Taigen rubbed his hands together to brush the crumbs sticking to his calloused fingers away. His eyes relieved her from their penetrating search. “Eat up. We have work to do.”

  “You never answered my question as to exactly what my part is.” This was a business transaction, nothing more, but she couldn’t help but wonder what had made Taigen Banvard into the coldhearted killer she’d witnessed earlier. He’d practically be Superman to her Lois Lane in this game.

  “You’re going to be my Trojan horse.”

  * * *

  Torrhent jolted awake when a door slammed shut. The sun blinded her for an instant. Their planning had consumed every hour leading up to dawn and she didn’t realize she’d made it to bed. In fact, she’d been sitting on the floor when her eyes started getting heavy. The image of sending an anonymous text message to her contact from one of Taigen’s burner phones formed in her mind. That was the last thing she remembered.

  “Didn’t think you’d ever wake up,” a familiar voice said.

  When her eyes adjusted, she noticed Taigen staring down at her. Her heart skipped a beat. How long had he been watching her?

  “What time is it?” She ignored the pleasurable shivers caused by his closeness. He’d become a distraction, someone who could get her killed if she didn’t snap out of it. She pushed herself upright to get her bearings.

  “Almost ten.” Taigen’s gaze roamed over her body.

  Torrhent hugged the comforter closer, hiking it up to cover the exposed flesh of her collarbone and shoulders peeking out from beneath her tank top.

  A brown paper bag landed beside her. “Breakfast,” he explained.

  “Thanks.”

  “Eat them both.” He sank down onto the opposite bed. “I already ate.”

  The doughnuts were still warm. She unwrapped the first one slowly, trying not to rush, but the slower she ate, the more she wanted to shove it down her throat.

  “Torrhent.” He leaned forward to place his elbows on his knees. His gaze penetrated hers as she looked up. “Just eat it.”

  She took a large bite, enjoying every bit of sugar and dough. Finishing the first doughnut in seconds, she quickly reached for the second. Crumbs decorated the blankets around her as well as her fingers. She licked each in turn, watching Taigen as he watched her. She couldn’t read his expression, couldn’t decipher what thoughts ran through his head, and her curiosity got the best of her. “How did I end up on the bed?”

  “I put you there. You passed out cold on the floor.” Taigen entwined his fingers, a smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. He tossed the burner phone in her lap as he stood. “Get dressed. Your contact responded this morning. He agreed to meet with you in an hour.”

  Dread tasted sour on her tongue. “Great.”

  Exactly an hour later, they stepped into the same pawnshop Torrhent had left two days before empty-handed. The same musty, dank odor crawled down her throat, making her eyes water.

  “What do you know about this guy?” Taigen asked. His eyes shifted over the racks of clothing, old instruments propped against the wall and glass cases.

  “Aaron forges documents.” She surveyed the contents of the scratched-up case under her fingertips. Guns, knives, even what looked to be an old grenade rested on the shelves below. “Passports. Social Security cards. Driver’s licenses. The works.”

  “He’s a dealer?”

  “Something like that.” Torrhent squinted toward the back of the store as Taigen glanced at the items over her shoulder. Tense heat radiated off his body as he pressed his chest into her from behind. With a quick glance back, she noted the gun in his hand. “Do you really need that?”

  Taigen didn’t answer. He dropped his duffle bag at her feet and moved past her, signaling for her to stay back. He disappeared behind the counter then out of sight completely. The sense of being watched never left her. Now in the darkened shop alone, Torrhent forced her paranoia aside. Scuffling footsteps drew her attention toward the door Taigen had disappeared through. It took less than ten seconds for him to lead Aaron out with his hands behind his head.

  “Torrhent? What the hell is this about?” Aaron’s head swiveled from her back toward the man holding a gun at his back. “Is this about the papers? I’ll give them to you. Free of charge. Just call off your dog.”

  “I’m not here for papers.” She stepped up to the counter, taking note of Taigen’s tense body and quick eyes as he wrenched Aaron to a halt.

  “Make it quick,” Taigen interrupted. “And remember what I told you.”

  Right. Once she’d sent Aaron her message, Isaac discovered their plan. “Aaron, we need to find someone. I know you have contacts back east and I need you to use them.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Aaron winced and Torrhent imagined the barrel of the gun digging a little further into the back of his head.

  “We don’t have time for this shit,” Taigen hissed, clamping a hand down on Aaron’s left shoulder.

  “Wait!” Her hands flew out, motioning Taigen to back off. Torrhent wasn’t up to witnessing more bloodshed. “Aaron, we need to get a background on Nicholas Chesnick.” Torrhent took a pen and paper from the counter, writing down the name. “Can you do it?”

  Aaron looked like he’d pass out. “They’ll—they’ll want the money up front.”

  “How much?” Taigen asked from behind. When he didn’t get an answer, the gun moved beneath Aaron’s chin. “How much?”

  “Ten! Ten thousand.”

  Taigen motioned her over. “Unzip the bag.”

  She did as she was told and took a step back in shock. “How much do you have in there?” Bundles of twenties filled the bag. Torrhent couldn’t even count how many.

  “Count out ten bundles,” he ordered.

  Silence engulfed the entire shop and she suddenly had the urge to hurry. “Here.” She pu
shed the money across the counter toward Aaron. “Ten thousand. When can you get an answer?”

  Aaron swallowed hard. His hands shook at his sides and he didn’t move toward the money. Licking his lips quickly, he nodded. “Come back in a few hours.”

  Taigen bent his knees to level his mouth with Aaron’s ear. “Tell anyone we were here and I’ll be the least of your worries. Understand?” The gun remained on Aaron as they backed out the door and hit the street.

  Now, they had to wait.

  * * *

  “Aaron’s back,” Torrhent said. Her contact crossed the street toward the pawnshop less than two hours after their visit and she took a step forward. The sooner they had the information they wanted, the sooner they could move.

  Taigen held her back with a hand on her forearm. “Wait.”

  “What for?” She turned on him, ignoring the dead tone of his demand. “We’ll be in and out in less than thirty seconds.”

  “I said wait.”

  She looked down at her arm. Torrhent tried not to focus on how warm his fingers were through her shirt. It was comforting, but new. She’d never let a man handle her this way and wasn’t sure how she felt about his touch or what it meant.

  “There.”

  Taigen’s voice ripped her attention from her thoughts. She swiveled her gaze from his fingers to the man following Aaron inside the pawnshop. She didn’t see his face before he went in, but Torrhent had a bad feeling. The way he walked, looked back over his shoulder and shoved his hand in one pocket spoke volumes. “That’s not good.”

  Suddenly, Taigen wrenched her around and into his chest. His eyes locked on hers, the electric blue depths setting her awareness of him aflame. Warm tendrils of breath tickled her face. “What are you doing?” she hissed. “We don’t have time for this. That man—”

  “Is looking directly at us.” Taigen’s grip around her waist increased. He leaned his face in closer as if he wanted a kiss. His lips brushed against her cheek and a jolt of pleasure raced over every nerve in her body. “Don’t move and pretend you actually like me.”

  She sank further into his hold as he ripped away her defenses in a single breath. No blood. No guns or knives. No lies. Pure safety. Torrhent had no doubt he’d protect her against this mysterious man, but hoped it wouldn’t come to that. This perfect moment deserved no interruption.

  “Let’s go.” Taigen dropped his hold too soon.

  She jogged across the street behind him and stopped just outside the door. He pressed her back against the wall with one hand as he surveyed the interior of the pawnshop. The brick warming her shoulders reminded her of reality. The gun in Taigen’s hand was real. The man in the pawnshop was real. All of this was real and they didn’t have a chance against Isaac Rutler. Torrhent bit into her lower lip. “I don’t hear anything.”

  Then a shout.

  Taigen didn’t move.

  “Don’t you think we should do something?” she asked, her eyes darting from the front door to Taigen and back. “What if he’s here to kill Aaron?”

  He didn’t bother to look at her as he spoke. “What if Aaron sold us out?”

  Torrhent snapped her mouth shut, silencing her retort. She hadn’t considered the possibility. They’d given Aaron the money and she’d expected him to live up to his end of the deal. “What are you going to do? We need that information.”

  “Well, I’d prefer not to kill anyone unless I absolutely have to.” His words trailed off as he looked back over his shoulder at her with a smile. “So we wait.”

  A gunshot echoed into the street.

  Torrhent pushed past him and rushed inside without a second thought, leaving Taigen to decide for himself. Inside, the shop looked the same. Only the sound of her own breathing and her heartbeat filled her ears. The space echoed in cavernous silence considering a gunshot had just escaped its confines. “Aaron?”

  The bell on the door tinkled and she spun around, her heart in her throat.

  Taigen stared back at her, his gun still drawn and his index finger centered on his lips. “Stay here.” He moved behind the counter and out of sight.

  Torrhent searched the sales floor with her eyes, finding no signs of a struggle. Her instincts tickled when the hair on the back of her neck stood on end.

  “There’s nothing in the back,” Taigen announced.

  “They can’t have just disappeared,” she said, dismissing the sensation crawling up her spine. “It’s impossible. We came in less than five seconds after the shot.”

  Taigen searched the counter, opening drawers and rifling through papers. “There’s a single bullet hole in the door frame back here. No blood though. Doesn’t look like anyone will die of high-speed lead poisoning soon. Shooter must have taken Aaron with him. Gunshots have been known to make people comply.”

  “How’d they catch up to him so fast?”

  Taigen discarded a receipt back onto the register. “He probably went to the highest bidder with the information he had on Chesnick.” He stuffed the gun down the back of his pants. “Come on. Someone probably heard the shot, and we can’t be here when the police show up.” He led her through the racks of clothing.

  “Shouldn’t we follow them? They couldn’t have gotten—” Something tripped her, thrusting Torrhent forward, and only Taigen’s grip on her shirt kept her from face-planting on the nasty carpeting. When she looked toward the obstruction, a tennis shoe stuck out from the middle of the rack. Her breath caught in her throat. “This isn’t the right area for shoes.”

  Upon closer inspection, she noted the leg attached to the shoe, but didn’t dare venture farther up the body. It was Aaron. Had to be. Torrhent stumbled back quickly, directly into Taigen’s chest. Where she’d found comfort in his embrace before, she discovered tense restraint.

  “Don’t scream.”

  She refused to look away from the body as Taigen parted the clothing rack and lowered down to his haunches. A single bullet wound decorated the man’s head. Their mystery assassin stared up with a surprised expression glued on his face. Blood dripped from the hole and her stomach twisted. Torrhent focused on following Taigen’s instruction not to scream.

  Taigen stood. “Guess he didn’t get far.”

  * * *

  Back to square one.

  Without background on Nicholas Chesnick, their plan stalled dead in the water. God only knew how much time she had before Taigen blamed Aaron’s disappearance on her. She’d vouched for the asshole, even given him her word that Aaron would get the job done, but not all sociopaths kept their calm when it counted.

  They headed south out of the city and Torrhent couldn’t stand the silence. She’d run through the scenario dozens of times without any logical explanation of what had happened in the pawnshop. “I can’t believe Aaron did that.”

  “You think that guy shot himself?”

  “Maybe someone was waiting inside for him.” She exhaled in exasperation. “Could have been a robbery, maybe Aaron was defending himself and that other guy got in the middle of it.”

  “Nothing was stolen.”

  They’d left Los Angeles behind and hundreds of cars fled the city alongside them. Torrhent focused on single drivers as they passed, her mind refusing to wrap around the obvious truth. The truck vibrated in anger, barely making her words audible in the small three-person cab. “Fine. Say Aaron shot him. What now? Aaron was supposed to lead us to Nicholas and we have no idea where he went.”

  “He’ll turn up sooner or later.”

  “That’s it? That’s all you’ve got?” Anger bubbled at the back of her throat as she clenched her hands into fists. She stared at him in amazement, her mouth open, eyes wide. “We essentially gave Isaac our location because you wanted to know about Nicholas and now you’re not even concerned about it?”

  “Not really. There are other ways to get the information. This was just the easiest. You could also call it an exercise in trust.” Taigen kept his gaze on the road. His nonchalant attitude made her blood boil a
nd Torrhent strained to control her temper. With a quick glance in her direction, he gave her a wink. “You passed.”

  “This was all about you trusting me?” She turned toward him in her seat. “Someone died back there because of you!”

  “And you have a problem with that? He was one of Rutler’s men. He would have come after us down the road. I merely saved us the frustration. Well, Aaron did.”

  “I can’t believe this.” Torrhent shook her head. She’d planned for something like this, but not at the expense of others’ lives.

  “I don’t know where you got the idea this would be easy or would follow an exact path, Torrhent. Situations like this never work out the way we plan them. You have to be prepared for every possibility.” Taigen’s voice softened. “We can’t go in guns blazing. It’s a sure way to get killed. So we figure out another route.”

  She stared out the passenger-side window, unable to focus on the passing scenery. After a few breaths, she forced her anger aside. Men like Taigen did everything for a purpose. He had better skills, more intelligence and experience in these kinds of things. She didn’t trust him, but she’d sure as hell do what he told her to. She turned toward him. “You’re the one who asked for my help. If you want to keep that deal, you won’t play any more games. Agreed?”

  He shot her a sideways glance from the corner of his eyes. “Agreed.”

  Torrhent nodded. “So what now?”

  “An old friend taught me the best way to get inside the enemy gates is to gain their trust, to become one of them,” he explained. “What I’d need is someone on the inside to bring me into the fold, so to speak. From there, I can get what I need. Downside is, it hasn’t worked for me yet, but maybe I just didn’t have the right inside man.”

  Trojan horse. “Is he dead now, your friend? Because I can see at least a dozen ways your plan wouldn’t work, especially if I’m supposed to be the inside man.”

  “Actually, you’ve met him.”

  “Met him?” The only people she’d met through Taigen was the cop and the men he’d killed. She doubted he’d kill a friend, but she didn’t exactly know the politics in his world. “That agent? That’s who you’re basing your plan off of?”