KILLER INSTINCT (A Mafia Bad Boy Romance Novel) by Julia Gardener Page A
Authors: Julia Gardener
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the open. He’ll think we’re coming in to discuss a truce.”
“He’ll sooner kill you and the rest of us before agreeing to the truce,” I said. “This is stupid and dangerous. Even if we get him out in the open, he’ll still have a small army with him.”
“That’s idea,” my grandfather said, clearly interested in the idea. “Nothing gets a kingpin out of his house than a chance to kill a snitch.”
“It’s not your call, Jackie,” Kelly added. “If we get him to agree on our terms, we can get him to meet with us in a nice, quiet place. No one else has to get hurt. We can stop him once and for all.”
“I didn’t spend these past few weeks protecting you from Gregori to just have you waltz straight into his hands!”
“I’m thankful for your help,” she said plainly. “But this is my life. I get to decide what to do with it. I’m putting it on the line so we get a shot at Gregori. Petrov will probably be there as well.”
My grandfather interrupted us. “Then we’ve come to an agreement. I’ll put out word that I’ve caught you. Gregori won’t be able to resist bait like this.”
I shook my head. “This isn’t happening…”
“She’ll be safe,” my grandfather consoled. “After all, you’ll be watching her back once we put this plan into motion.”
Kelly gave a small smile and reached out for my hands. “We’re partners, right?”
I mustered as much of a smile as I could. “Partners…”
“This girl’s a keeper, Jackie,” my grandfather smiled. “I’ll come up with a plan. You just keep the girl safe until then.”
I held Kelly’s hand. I had lost my mother. I wouldn’t lose Kelly as well. “I will.”
Jackie was scared.
I had been with him through firefights. I had never seen the man falter. He always had a plan up his sleeve. He was always so cool and composed.
Not this time.
It was the night before our meeting with Gregori. That despicable man had agreed to meet in the back of a warehouse that belonged to the Pastore family. It would be just outside the city limits near the docks. No civilians would be in the way.
Other than me.
I watched Jackie as he cleaned and maintained all of his weapons. He inspected the biggest sniper rifle to the small handgun for any problems. Even the smallest problem could be the difference between life and death in this business. An untimely jam was what helped us escape Petrov back at Colman’s penthouse.
I knew he hated the plan. He had said as much. His feelings for me had overwhelmed his desire for revenge. He would rather have me alive than have Petrov dead.
I guess that was progress.
I thought about my dead father. I had read on the news that his body would be buried next be next to his wife. Some anonymous donation had paid for a small funeral service and incidental expenses. I guessed Jackie had a hand in it.
I prepared a small meal for both us. It was roast chicken and vegetables. It was the same meal I had cooked for daddy that night. The morbid part of me considered it a last supper for Jackie and me.
I called out to him. “Dinner’s ready, Jackie.”
He put down the handgun he had dissembled. The hitman sat at the table as I served him. “Smells delicious.”
“Thanks,” I said, sitting down opposite him. “How’s your arm?”
He looked at the wound I had treated. “Better, thanks to you.”
Dinner went well enough. Jackie even popped open a bottle of wine. We talked about everything but the plan. It felt like this would be our final moments together. Whether we succeeded or not, Jackie and I would have to go our separate ways.
His grandfather was grooming him to take over the mantle of Don Pastore. There wasn’t a future for me beside a Don. For that matter, Jackie wouldn’t
“He’ll sooner kill you and the rest of us before agreeing to the truce,” I said. “This is stupid and dangerous. Even if we get him out in the open, he’ll still have a small army with him.”
“That’s idea,” my grandfather said, clearly interested in the idea. “Nothing gets a kingpin out of his house than a chance to kill a snitch.”
“It’s not your call, Jackie,” Kelly added. “If we get him to agree on our terms, we can get him to meet with us in a nice, quiet place. No one else has to get hurt. We can stop him once and for all.”
“I didn’t spend these past few weeks protecting you from Gregori to just have you waltz straight into his hands!”
“I’m thankful for your help,” she said plainly. “But this is my life. I get to decide what to do with it. I’m putting it on the line so we get a shot at Gregori. Petrov will probably be there as well.”
My grandfather interrupted us. “Then we’ve come to an agreement. I’ll put out word that I’ve caught you. Gregori won’t be able to resist bait like this.”
I shook my head. “This isn’t happening…”
“She’ll be safe,” my grandfather consoled. “After all, you’ll be watching her back once we put this plan into motion.”
Kelly gave a small smile and reached out for my hands. “We’re partners, right?”
I mustered as much of a smile as I could. “Partners…”
“This girl’s a keeper, Jackie,” my grandfather smiled. “I’ll come up with a plan. You just keep the girl safe until then.”
I held Kelly’s hand. I had lost my mother. I wouldn’t lose Kelly as well. “I will.”
Jackie was scared.
I had been with him through firefights. I had never seen the man falter. He always had a plan up his sleeve. He was always so cool and composed.
Not this time.
It was the night before our meeting with Gregori. That despicable man had agreed to meet in the back of a warehouse that belonged to the Pastore family. It would be just outside the city limits near the docks. No civilians would be in the way.
Other than me.
I watched Jackie as he cleaned and maintained all of his weapons. He inspected the biggest sniper rifle to the small handgun for any problems. Even the smallest problem could be the difference between life and death in this business. An untimely jam was what helped us escape Petrov back at Colman’s penthouse.
I knew he hated the plan. He had said as much. His feelings for me had overwhelmed his desire for revenge. He would rather have me alive than have Petrov dead.
I guess that was progress.
I thought about my dead father. I had read on the news that his body would be buried next be next to his wife. Some anonymous donation had paid for a small funeral service and incidental expenses. I guessed Jackie had a hand in it.
I prepared a small meal for both us. It was roast chicken and vegetables. It was the same meal I had cooked for daddy that night. The morbid part of me considered it a last supper for Jackie and me.
I called out to him. “Dinner’s ready, Jackie.”
He put down the handgun he had dissembled. The hitman sat at the table as I served him. “Smells delicious.”
“Thanks,” I said, sitting down opposite him. “How’s your arm?”
He looked at the wound I had treated. “Better, thanks to you.”
Dinner went well enough. Jackie even popped open a bottle of wine. We talked about everything but the plan. It felt like this would be our final moments together. Whether we succeeded or not, Jackie and I would have to go our separate ways.
His grandfather was grooming him to take over the mantle of Don Pastore. There wasn’t a future for me beside a Don. For that matter, Jackie wouldn’t
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