Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 49989 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49989 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Target looked up, and then Priest realized the other man had been playing on his phone. While he’d been having a meltdown on the staircase, Target had been playing a game on his phone, waiting for him to arrive.
He wanted to shoot the fucker on principle. He was tempted. If it wasn’t for Cleo, Target would be dead by now. Priest couldn’t do it. There was no way he’d be able to take away her only living parent. Not now. Even if he would have loved nothing more than to put a bullet inside his fucking face.
He held his gun up, not sure if this was a trap or not.
Circle of Monsters and the Killer of Kings were not exactly friends. Sure, he had no doubt they’d work together for a great cause, but the truth was, they wouldn’t exactly work well. They didn’t have the best reputation. Boss and Viko would struggle to make it work.
“I’m glad you made it. You can put your gun away,” Target said.
“What is this? Why are you covered in blood? What the fuck is going on?” He also wanted to know what was in the file, but he’d already asked a lot of questions.
“I’ve handled it,” Target said, getting to his feet.
“Handled what?”
“The shooter. The hit out on Cleo. The threat, it has all been eliminated.”
Priest didn’t let go of his gun, keeping him in his sights. “That was something we were all supposed to do together.”
Target shrugged. “I’m not one for sitting around finding the right opportunity. My daughter was threatened. I haven’t kept my distance and given her up just to allow all my sacrifices to go to waste.” He stood up.
Priest tensed.
Target held his hands up. “I’m not here to kill you. I’d say I’m unarmed, but that’s not true. I’m very much armed, but I’m not here to cause trouble. Not with you.”
“Then what exactly is this? Because I don’t think Boss would send me here for no good reason.”
“He didn’t.” Target shook his head. “I had such high hopes for her to meet someone else. Someone with … someone safer. Who didn’t go around taking all the dangerous fucking missions that might render her a widow.”
Priest finally lowered his weapon. “You did this for Cleo.”
“I will always do this for Cleo. The last thing I promised my dying wife as I held her in my arms was that I would do the right thing by our daughter. Cleo was supposed to have a good life. I had no idea she … didn’t. I have fucked up on so many levels, but with you, and now, I won’t fuck up.” He held up the file. “This is for you to give to Cleo. I don’t know if she will ever be able to forgive me or even want me as a dad.” There was a sadness to Target as he held up the file. “I want you to give this to her. I also wanted to warn you. You better take care of my daughter. Protect her. Love her. Be there for her all the time. These missions that you take, where you don’t give a shit about what happens to you, they’ve got to end. All of it. You have my daughter to protect. You make her happy.”
“That’s what this is?”
Target nodded. “In that file, she’ll find everything she needs, including all the information on how to contact me securely if she ever wants to talk.”
“Cleo will want to,” Priest said.
“I hope so. I will always look out for her. Always be there for her. I’ve spoken with Viko, and he understands the situation. He won’t cause any problems.” Target held his hand out to him. Priest had already taken the file from him, and now, he shook hands with his woman’s father.
“I’m going to marry her,” Priest said.
The grip around his gun tensed up.
“That will be fine. If Cleo wishes for me to be there, I’ll be there.”
Priest smiled.
Within ten minutes, he was back in his car, headed back to where his woman was. The file slid into his jacket. It was thick, but he didn’t mind.
Like always, he kept his gaze on the road, watching everything and being suspicious of everyone. Years of being on the road trained you to look for the tiniest of details.
He arrived back at the hotel and got through all the protection protocols. Boss had plenty in place. Only Killer of Kings were allowed free access to this building.
When he made it to his floor, he saw that Boss waited for him outside.
No words were spoken. Priest understood. As did Boss.
Viko had wiped out Olivieri and his network. Boss had found the shooter. It should have been Priest to pull the trigger, but he understood Target’s message. Obviously Boss agreed. Priest needed to start living life rather than risking it at every turn.