The Enforcer (Men Who Thrill Book 1) by Kaye Blue Read Free Book Online Page A

if I’d used her, no part of me that could abide the thought of not seeing her again.
    “Of course. Please do,” she said, smiling even brighter, a faint hint of relief and excitement in her eyes.
    “And you’ll do something about the night situation?”
    She sobered, though this time I didn’t care. Her safety was paramount, and while I had plans of my own, she needed to take them herself as well.
    “Yes. I have calls to make this morning. I’m shifting so that open and close has at least two people at all times. And I need to see a contractor about the door. It’s unlocked most of the time, but beefing things up can’t hurt.
    I nodded my agreement with her plan and then stood, and she followed suit. I closed the two steps that separated us and then wrapped her in an embrace, one that I tried to keep gentle, though I feared the ferocity of my emotion bled through.
    “Good-bye, April,” I said, and then I left.

Chapter Seven
    I spent the day resting, working out, planning for the evening, and resolutely trying not to think of April. I failed at that task, miserably, and as the day progressed, I caught myself remembering the sensation of her skin against my hands, the soft little sighs she’d released as I’d stroked inside her, how gentle her eyes were when she smiled, how they’d glittered with pleasure.
    Less than twelve hours and I already missed her, had to restrain myself from going to her. But somehow I resisted. I hadn’t decided yet what to do, needed to be sure, or less unsure before I saw her next.
    And there was work to be done.
    So I pushed memories of April and of the decision I had to make aside and focused on the task at hand.
    The person I sought lazily strolled across the street, seeming at ease, without a care in the world. Poor bastard didn’t know what was coming, but maybe, I thought as I moved toward him, it was better that way. I slowed as I approached and pulled out my .25, and when I was three feet away, I popped three shots, two to his chest, one to his neck. He slid to the ground without a sound, shock etched on his features.
    I slowed a little more, watched as the life drained from his eyes, and then sped up and walked away without turning back, though not fast enough that I’d attract attention. Killing him had been easy, probably too easy, and for the first time in years, I wondered what it said about me that other than the rush of excitement and pride at a job perfectly done, I felt nothing. And then my mind conjured a picture of April seeing me like this, the light in her eyes replaced with terror, her warmth and openness replaced with coldness and fear.
    I tried to hold the picture in my mind, told myself that I needed to remember that she didn’t know me, that she never could, would reject me, or worse, if she did. But that didn’t work either. Even with the proverbial blood of some poor soul who’d gotten on the boss’s very bad side still fresh on my hands, even with full knowledge that this would not end well, I still longed for her, knew that I wouldn’t be able to stay away.
    ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
    My internal battle waged as I returned from the job, and the thoughts only abated when I met Shaughnessy at our designated spot.
    “Have you handled that thing we discussed?” Shaughnessy asked after he’d played out his standard routine.
    I’d handled a few of his personal problems before, a professional courtesy that the boss extended to him when he requested.
    “I’ll get to when I can,” I said impatiently. Shaughnessy’s problems were at the bottom of my list.
    “You got it?” he asked, changing topics.
    I handed over the bag, which he accepted.
    “Thanks, big boy,” he said as he slapped me on the shoulder jovially.
    I wanted to break his fucking hand.
    “You aren’t earning your money, Shaughnessy,” I said finally, my words clipped with my agitation as I slammed the .44 revolver into his palm.
    “What are you talking about?” he asked, quirking a brow