“Trackin’ him,” Data offered, glancing at Cain. “We plan on intercepting him in West Virginia. Know more the closer we get.” He glanced at his watch then at Cain.
Cain looked at the Reaper. “Get your shit ready. You’ll ride in the cage with Trucker. Make one move I don’t much like and I’ll take you out myself.”
Stunner was surprised at how much relief he felt that Cain had allowed Reaper to join them. Though Reaper was completely loyal to El Diablo, Stunner was willing to bet his life Reaper wouldn’t do anything to put any member of Bones at risk without warning Stunner first. He wasn’t above killing anyone if necessary, but he wasn’t a sociopath. He just marched to the beat of his own moral compass.
“We head out in two hours,” Cain said. “That will put us on schedule with our assassin’s movements.”
“He’s being deliberate,” Data offered. “His communication suggests he believes Stunner headed back home, but he’s not cutting corners. He’s investigating places Stunner and/or Suzie visited over the past couple of weeks. Mostly since Stunner showed up at MIT. Still digging into his background, but at least he’s methodical.”
“Good practice, but makes him easier to track,” Reaper muttered.
“My thoughts exactly,” Cain said nodding at Reaper. “Stunner, get some sleep. And some ice for your face. You need the rest. Shadow, get Stunner’s bike ready. You’ll be his wing. You don’t take it seriously, you get the same punishment Stunner gets when this is over.”
“I’m good, brother. Said my piece.”
“Good. We leave in three hours. Mark it… now.” Watches set, they all went their separate ways.
Stunner went back inside, hoping to find Suzie, but she wasn’t in the common room. One of the club girls, Vanya, approached him. “I think she’s done, Stunner. You need company, I’m right here, sugar.”
He nodded at the other woman, being polite but knowing that wasn’t happening. He’d never touch another woman as long as Suzie was alive. No matter if she took another man or not. Stunner just wasn’t built that way.
With a heavy heart, knowing he had work ahead of him, Stunner headed to bed. Sleep came instantly, but not without his own nightmares. Ones of Suzie at the mercy of a shadowy figure Stunner was one step too far away to stop.
Chapter Eight
Helvetia, West Virginia. Population 59. Currently. It was a pretty little place. Stunner hated to mar it with the violence getting ready to happen. The guy they were after called himself Grim. As expected, Reaper took exception. The man actually fit in nicely with Bones. He was as quiet as Stunner remembered, but punctuated moments with a wicked sense of humor. Stunner knew it was all a front, but they all had defense mechanisms.
Grim was staying in a small hunting cabin in the woods. When the group of them staked out the place, they heard him bitching about the accommodations.
“What did the little fucker expect in this area of the country? The fuckin’ Four Seasons?” Shadow was pissed. Probably because he was ready for a fucking fight. Not a slaughter.
“We sure he’s not the distraction instead of the target?” That was Reaper. Man just shook his head in amazement. Obviously he knew the answer to that question but was so stunned at the stupidity he had to ask.
“Yep,” Data said, his voice coming softly from the earpieces they all wore. “That’s the man, the myth, the legend. Grim.”
“Fuck,” Reaper chuckled. “Who the fuck hires someone like this guy?”
“Hey, even assassins gotta start somewhere.” Bohannon pulled out his gun with the suppressor attached. “Too bad this one started with this particular job.”
Cain just growled. No secret he hated assassins. He stood, obviously seeing enough. “We got the go ahead, Data?” With Data being their eyes and ears -- they’d flown in makeshift surveillance with drones -- he had the final go/no-go. “It’s a go. Teach the motherfucker a lesson.”
With one mighty kick, Cain splintered the door. Blood winced, shaking his head. The man was normally stoic, but he and Cain thought alike. Likely one of the reasons Cain had brought the man in from Salvation’s Bane. He’d made the trip sometime between when Stunner had left to go back to Cambridge and when he’d returned. Good thing, too, because they were going to need his services more than once.
Grim’s head whipped around in surprise. He reached for his gun, but Cain was quicker, kicking out again, sending the gun flying and breaking Grim’s hand with an audible crunch. To his credit, the man didn’t scream. Instead, he sprinted across the small room, putting the bed between him and his attackers.
Reaper lunged for the man, snagging him before he could reach the weapon he was going for. He and Bohannon zip-tied his hands and feet, sitting him in one of the hard-backed kitchen chairs. Cain toed another chair around and straddled it, facing the other man head on.
“You the assassin called Grim?”
“No,” the guy answered instantly. “Mistaken identity.”
Cain snorted. “Well, boys. Looks like we fucked up. Pack it in.”
Sword spoke up. “Not sure Data’d want his reputation of having a perfect record tracking motherfuckers ruined. Word gets out… well, I’m not certain his fragile ego can take it.”
“Good point,” Cain said, never taking his gaze from Grim. “Oh, well, buddy. I tried.” He motioned to the rest of the team. “Bunch of hardasses, this lot.”
“Look,” Grim said. “I’m just doing a job.”
“Understood. Don’t mean there ain’t consequences.”
“Just get it over with.” The guy sounded defiant but resigned. At least he wasn’t a pussy.
“Who sent you?” Cain asked.
“Don’t you know?” Grim looked puzzled. “Don’t people like you always know the answer to that shit before you ask the question?”
“We do,” Cain confirmed. “Just seein’ if you tell us the truth.”
“Will it make a difference in whether I live or die?”
“No. Will in how hard you die.”
Finally, the man went pale,
