There was a time before Titus when I would have just run. I was quick on my feet and knew how to make ends meet when I had to. There were plenty of no-name towns in Middle America where I could get lost and never be found again. But now that the surly detective was right in front of me, willing to believe that I had some kind of redeeming quality and was honestly willing to help him, I couldn’t do that.
No. It was time to stand my ground and right all my wrongs in the only way I knew how. I was a trap few men could resist, one Conner had already fallen into, and once he came for me I was going to make sure he could never fool or hurt anyone ever again. A showdown was on the horizon. In the real world good didn’t triumph over evil because evil didn’t play fair. That meant only bad had a shot at taking evil down, and I was just bad enough to get the job done. I wanted Titus to keep me alive, not so I could testify but so that I could put a bullet in Conner before he put a bullet in me or anyone else in the Point. I was going to sacrifice myself for the greater good and the only part of it that made me nervous was the fact that I was lying to the handsome detective about my true intentions. He already thought I was shady and devious; once this came to light, he was bound to think I really was nothing more than a soulless killer.
When someone pounded on the door well after the sun had gone down on the day Titus said he was coming to collect me, I automatically assumed it was going to be him. However, I had lived in the Point way too long to ever just open a door without seeing what was on the other side. When I checked the peephole it wasn’t bright blue eyes looking back at me, but instead a forest-green pair set in a face made to make women stupid with lust. It was almost like he could hear what I was thinking because before I reached for the security chain on the door, the golden god smiled at me, flashing a dimple that made my heart trip involuntarily. Race was dangerous in a totally different way from Bax, and I suddenly understood why the two of them together made an unstoppable team.
I pulled the door open and braced an arm on the jamb so that Race would get the hint that I wasn’t inviting him inside.
“Titus send you after me?” I hated the sting I felt at the thought of the dark-haired cop palming me off on someone else. I was supposed to be made of stronger stuff than that. I couldn’t afford to have my feelings hurt every time I was reminded that Titus didn’t feel about me the same way I did about him. I needed to remind myself he couldn’t feel that way. I was not a good person and Titus deserved the best.
Race grinned at me again and I rolled my eyes. It was easy to see how he got his way with no effort. That smile alone could make someone promise him anything and everything under the sun. The boy effortlessly broadcasted good times and dirty, sexy things.
“No. He doesn’t know I’m here and he would probably get all yelly and punchy if he did know. I’ve been connecting the dots that other people tend to miss, so I figured this is where he would stash you. No one would believe Bax would let you hide out at his place. He hates you and would be happy to hand you over to the highest bidder. Titus is working his tail off to make sure no one knows what’s going on with you right now. Bax has been all over his ass wanting information, and I think you’re smart enough to know it’s not so he can send you flowers.”
I bit my lower lip and looked up at Race from under my lashes. “I get it. Bax is spoiling for a fight and he won’t care why I’m here or that Titus might need me for his end game.”
“If it was up to Bax, you would end up six feet under somewhere and be nothing more than a distant memory for all of us, but he’s often shortsighted.” Race crossed his arms over his broad chest and I watched the way it pulled his henley across the stacked muscles that lived there. He wasn’t as imposing in stature as either Titus or Bax, but there was a severe elegance about him that seemed just as threatening while he considered me silently for a long moment. “I want to know what the end game is, Reeve. What happens once this guy shows up? Titus might think he can dangle you out there and still keep his eye on the prize, but I know him well enough to know that if you’re in danger then his focus will be on you and not on taking out the threat. So what’s the real reason you agreed to play this game? Keep in mind I’m not a very nice man when my friends or family are threatened. I have no problem making a call and letting Bax know exactly where his brother stashed you if you don’t want to be honest with me.”
His eyes darkened several shades, and I bit down even harder on my lip. I didn’t answer him and I didn’t move when he took a step closer to me. He didn’t smell like the streets. He smelled good, like something expensive and fancy. It was so out of place in the hallway of this run-down complex right in the center of the inner city that it almost sent me reeling.
Begrudgingly I told him, “I know the guy who was behind the murder of your father. I had proof of who it was, so I brought it to Titus because I want to help him stop him.”
Those forest-colored eyes narrowed to tiny little slits and I saw his jaw clench. “Who?”
I rolled my eyes. It wasn’t like giving Race the information he was after would change the game at all. Conner wouldn’t be found until he was ready. “His name is Conner Roark. He was the fed in charge of handling all the witnesses for Novak’s RICO case.”
I saw awareness dawn on his too pretty face. Lord Hartman might have been a top-tier bastard, but he was still Race’s dad and the fact that Conner had orchestrated his execution would not sit well with the blond Adonis. “You can’t stop a man like that with a badge and the threat of bars. The only way to take down a threat like that is with a bullet.”