“One thing? You can when he looked at you and said you aren’t good enough.”
My chest tightened. “I am good enough.”
“I fucking know that, Regan. So again, why are you here playing dress-up for a man who said you aren’t good enough to run his company, but good enough to parade around for appearances? One who apparently thinks you are pretty but have no brain.”
I stepped back, the words hitting me hard. “Did you really need to say that?” I asked. “Do you really think I need to hear it again?”
“Considering you are still here being the obedient girl he wants you to be without getting anything in return, yeah, I think it needed to be said.”
“And you’re perfect? You never do anything you shouldn’t? WhatshouldI be doing, Rook? I have nothing.”
“You can have anything you want, and I’ve told you that.”
“But only if I rely on you to give it to me.”
“No, I will help you start and then you will get it all yourself. I’m not promising you a fake life on a silver platter like he has. I’m promising you a real life. One where some days it fuckingsucks, and you don’t sleep, and you’re covered in blood, but after it all, you’re on top. After it all, you run the world around you. It’s a real life, Regan, not playing dress-up like a stupid doll.”
“And real life isn’t going around killing people whenever you’re a little annoyed,” I nearly yelled, and he glared at me.
“Sometimes it is if you want to stay alive.”
A bike pulled up behind him, skidding to a halt. I assumed it was one of the group, but Rook looked from the bike to me, his eyes wide with worry.
“Go inside. Run,” he said, nodding towards the door. “Now.”
“Why? Who is it?” I didn’t recognize the bike, but I didn’t know exactly what bike everyone drove yet, and honestly, with helmets on, they all blurred together.
“Go inside, now. Find somewhere to hide out for a while.”
“I’m not leaving. Tell me what’s wrong.”
He moved me back, pushing me behind his bike as he pointed towards the building. “I will tell you, but I need you to go.”
The rider parked, lifting his shirt and pulling out a gun. I nearly laughed at the visual of this being the way we met, but none of it felt the same.
Rook moved in front of me, blocking my view, and I wasn’t hurrying to look around him.
“I already know why you’re here and I will pay you double,” Rook said.
“What does that mean?” I whispered, but he didn’t respond.
The rider made a noise, but I couldn’t see what he was doing.
“Shit,” Rook said, making me finally peer over his shoulder. The rider had taken his helmet off, smiling at me. He looked no different from Rook or his friends, but my hands still fisted into Rook’s shirt as dread filled me.
“I don’t need the cash as much as I need you dead,” he said.
“Yeah, that makes sense. Are you killing us both or just me?”
“Excuse me?” I asked, pressing against him.
“Both. I at least get the most amount for the same job.”
Rook stepped forward, keeping himself between me and the guy as he continued to move closer.
“Why are you walking towards the gun?” I hissed, hoping this meant he was going to shoot him first.
That hope died fast when I saw his gun strapped in a small holster attached to the bike.