Outlaws by Matt Rogers (phonics books TXT) 📕

A pause.

Violetta said, ‘Please tell me there’s a justifiable reason.’

‘Have I ever done anything without a justifiable reason?’

‘Was it self-defence?’

‘Not quite.’

Silence.

King said, ‘More like an eye for an eye.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘He came here to discuss a potential merger with one of his competitors, Zima Group. He wanted their Chief Financial Officer to be compliant. So he tried to hit the man’s daughter with a truck.’

There was no “Oh my god,” or “No way,” or “That can’t be true.”

Violetta operated in the shadow world. She knew exactly what powerful people were willing to do to maintain their power. She understood the mentality of those who would do anything to avoid regression. That was half the reason King loved her. She was harsh and uncompromising within her role as handler, because she had to be. She’d be chewed up and spat out in an instant if she became a pushover. But underneath that, she understood King’s world, and she understood him. She cared for him regardless. That didn’t come around often.

It was the same reason why King knew Slater loved Alexis so deeply.

She and Violetta understood men who, every now and then, were forced to become monsters.

Now, after a moment of silence, Violetta said, ‘Wouldn’t that have ruined negotiations? The guy would have been distraught…’

‘There was some sort of time constraint in place. Written into the contract, apparently. The deal needed to be done in the next few days, personal issues notwithstanding. That’s why Donati needed me — that’s why he felt so threatened. And that’s why he decided to play offence instead of defence. Because, no matter what happened outside of that boardroom, someone needed to walk out with the better deal. And when you lose a child in a freak accident, that clouds your decision-making skills.’

‘Scum.’

‘Not anymore.’

‘What about his security?’

‘They’ve all got headaches,’ King said. ‘But they’re licking their wounds in the hotel suite. I couldn’t justify a massacre.’

‘I’m glad.’

King didn’t say anything.

She said, ‘What do they know about you?’

‘Only what I look like,’ King said. ‘No personal details. Nothing on record. Donati recruited me off the books. There’s no trace I was ever there.’

‘This is going to make international headlines,’ Violetta said. ‘The whole conglomerate will be thrown into disarray. It’s named after him, for Chrissakes. When did this happen exactly?’

‘A few hours ago. I’m getting on a plane in ten minutes. I erased all trace of myself from the scene. And I’d wager all six of his security have concussions. There’s going to be a lot of confusion. They’re in a foreign country. They’re not clued in on their boss’s contacts. They’re rank amateurs, really. They’re going to sit around for a while and debate their next move. There’s a dead guy in their hotel suite, after all.’

‘So we have time?’

‘Not much. But some.’

‘You’re sure you’re not in danger?’

‘Positive.’

‘Then we can rendezvous when you get back.’

‘I need something from you while I’m in the air.’

‘Okay.’

King half-smiled. No questions. No half measures.

Total cooperation, because he needed it.

‘Escalate this,’ he said. ‘Get the necessary agencies to dig deep on Donati Group. They’ll have an excuse in the aftermath of the CEO’s death. I doubt I coincidentally was with him the first time he did something truly evil. There’s got to be a web of darkness to uncover. But that’s not my job.’

‘It’s technically not mine, either,’ Violetta said. ‘This is your personal gig. We have our own priorities—’

‘And what decides your priorities?’ King said. ‘I thought you were in the business of stopping bad shit from happening.’

‘We are.’

‘Then this is no longer my personal gig. I can testify about what I saw, if you want to get official, but we both know that’s not how our world operates. You need to trust my judgment.’

‘I do.’

‘Then dig,’ King said. ‘If not you and your department, then someone else. You’ll find proof of something, at least. And you might be able to prevent someone else getting hit by a truck.’

She said, ‘I’ll do what I can.’

‘That’s all I’m asking.’

‘Are you okay?’

He said, ‘Professionally or personally?’

‘You,’ she said. ‘Forget about work.’

‘We agreed not to talk about—’

‘How many times have we broken that agreement?’ she said. ‘What’s the use in even trying to maintain it?’

A part of him wanted to remain steadfast.

He ignored that part.

He said, ‘I’m okay. I’m just glad I overheard him ordering the hit. If I didn’t interfere, she’d be broken and twisted on the sidewalk. Probably dead.’

She said, ‘Get back here. I miss you.’

‘I know you probably took the blame for this gig.’

‘I did.’

‘Thank you.’

‘It’s nothing.’

‘They yelled at you?’

‘Yes. And they’re not the sort of people I want yelling at me.’

‘When?’

‘When you came to me after you met Coombs in the bar and told me what you were going to do. I went straight to my superiors. They practically screamed at me.’

‘You didn’t mention anything about that before I left.’

‘I can take a grilling,’ she said. ‘And I knew you had to do it. I could see it in your eyes. You needed to go. You didn’t need to worry about me.’

‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘For understanding. You didn’t have to say yes.’

‘I did,’ she said. ‘We’re in this together, remember?’

King settled back into his seat, allowing himself a brief moment of gratitude. ‘Only thing that keeps me sane.’

‘Me too.’

‘I’ll see you when I’m back.’

‘Stay safe.’

‘Always.’

King ended the call, and as if on cue a tinny announcement resonated through the lounge.

Boarding had commenced.

He stood up, and halfway to the gate he realised he’d forgotten to ask her the one question that had plagued him for hours.

Have you heard from Will?

18

They lay side-by-side in the sand, clad in nothing but their swimsuits, their bodies still damp from the morning swim.

The sky was cloudless, and the sun beat down.

Alexis rolled onto her side, and draped a hand across Slater’s chest.

He opened his eyes, stirring from a half-sleep. It was their second full day in Tulum, and it was also the first time he’d dropped his guard in what felt like