He started digging in his pockets while pulling the safety back on his gun. I watched in resignation as he pulled out a cell phone and aimed the camera at me. "My employers want proof of death, and I'm not in the mood to ride around with a body in the back of my truck."
"Just get it done already," I said with a sob. Snot dripped down my nose. "Just kill me."
"That's a first. My victims aren't usually begging me for death," he said with a dark chuckle. "It usually takes me ripping off their fingernails or cutting off their limbs before that happens."
His words should have made me feel some sort of fear, but I couldn't bring myself to feel much of anything but grief. "I'm not scared to die."
"Why not?" he asked.
"Because my best friend is already dead!" My voice bled into the night. My throat was raw with emotion. Every muscle in my body flexed in pain. I hated this. I fucking hated this. I didn't think it was possible to cry anymore, but more fell.
"You talking about Moretti and his wife?" he asked carelessly while cocking his head to the side. "That crash was epic."
Heartless bastard. This was how all the Ringleaders approached death. They treated tragedies like games. "Shut the fuck up."
The man took a step closer and tilted his handgun to the side. "Last I checked, I was holding the gun. You don't get to tell me what to do. You get to sit there and beg for your life."
"I don't want this life," I spat.
The shooter let out a sigh like my internal crisis was boring to him. "I don't get it. According to the reports, you're a legit hacker. You could work for us. You could have a good life. It would be easy. Talents like yours shouldn't be wasted."
"I don't want the life of a Ringleader," I cried. "I'm not willing to sell my soul."
The man chuckled. "From what I hear, souls aren't really valuable. We care more about loyalty and power."
"Can we please just get this over with?" I begged. I was tired of waiting. I didn't want to give myself time to doubt this decision. I had to do this for Grace and Alessandro. As long as I was alive, the Ringleaders would be after me.
"No can do. My boss gave me very explicit instructions to make you suffer."
I cursed and pounded the ground with my fists. "How could I possibly suffer any more than I already have?" I asked. "I lost my best friend. I'll never get to be with the people I love."
My killer rolled his neck and shifted his weight from foot to foot. He looked far too casual for a man about to commit murder. But that's how all of these people were. They didn't value life. They didn't care who they had to step on to get what they wanted. We were all ants in their maze.
"I could always cut out your tongue so I won't have to listen to your whiney voice. This isn't even fun," the man said while shaking his head. "Come on. Be a man. At least fight me a little bit."
"I have no fight left," I admitted. Why was this guy even wasting time? Didn't he want to get this over with, too?
"Pathetic. The Ringleaders are better off without you. Maybe your boyfriend will actually fight," he said. My ears perked up.
"Excuse me?" I asked.
"Alessandro Gray and Grace Moretti are next on my list. Last I heard they were still at that motel you left them at. If I hurry, I can catch them and cash in."
Fury rolled over my bones. "You won't."
"I will. And it'll be easy."
I stood up. "Grace and Alessandro weren't a part of the deal. When I called, I said I was turning in myself in exchange for their safety."
The man shrugged. Beams from the headlights illuminated the corner of his face. I saw cold eyes staring back at me, shielded by his hood. "The Ringleaders don't really honor deals. It's not their thing, you know? Besides, I'm really wanting to buy a new boat, and the price on their heads is too good to pass up. Are you feeling tortured yet? I prefer emotional pain; it's more fun."
I stalked over to the man. "You can't do this," I yelled.
"I can. And I will. I'm the one holding the gun. You know what they call me, Nix?" he asked. Up close, I could see his wicked smile. "They call me Hunter. I hunt people. Names are quite funny, you think? What does Phoenix mean again?"
He raised the gun and aimed it at my chest. The last thoughts I had were of Grace and Alessandro.
And Sunshine. The world went black with thoughts of her brightening up the last seconds of my life.
Chapter Twenty
Grace
Nix was gone.
Gavriel was gone.
Sunshine was gone.
Blaise, Callum, and Ryker were gone.
But Alessandro was still here.
I felt molded to the bed, like I had been lying here for so long I was now one with the mattress. Grief and sadness were a part of me now. My heavy limbs couldn't move. My heavy heart couldn't beat.
"We need to leave soon, Grace. You have to get out of bed," he whispered softly while stroking my hair. I didn't understand his tenderness. Wasn't he sad like me? Wasn't he broken?
"What if he comes back?" I croaked. "He could still come back. If we leave, he won't find us. We can't—"
"He's not coming back, Grace," Alessandro said while rubbing my shoulder. He was too honest for my taste. I wanted to cling to false hope. A single tear rushed down my cheek. I felt a complex sense of hopelessness. I didn't want to leave the bed. I was swallowed by the idea of never moving again.
It's
