“How long are you going to be gone?” she asked, placing her hands on his chest as he started propelling her backward, leading her into the shadows of the factory building.

“A week,” Shade reminded her. “If the fish aren’t biting, maybe more.” He brushed his lips across her check before catching her mouth in a kiss which would have her missing him five minutes after he left.

“Remember what I told you?”

“Yes, Shade. How could I forget when you’ve reminded me a million times? Stay home, let Rachel handle the church store until you get back, and tell Razer or Viper if I need anything. If I don’t want to tell them, ask Beth.” Lily playfully smacked his chest. “I’m not a child. I can take care of myself.”

Shade didn’t want to leave, but there were things which needed to be done. While he took care of that, he wanted Lily away from the church store so she didn’t have a run-in with Brooke. So far, that had been successful. However, he wasn’t taking any chances of that happening when he was out of town. He had confided other worries to Rachel who, knowing Lily’s past, had promised to hold down the store until he got back.

“No, you can’t,” Shade disagreed, enjoying the light-hearted teasing.

“Can, too.” Her eyes narrowed dangerously on him.

“Did you or did you not give all your cash to Anna Barr the other day in the grocery store?”

“I had my debit card,” she argued.

“Which didn’t have a cent in the account. When were you going to tell me you gave Lark Jackson money to pay his back-rent plus enough for the next two months?”

“How did you find out? I was going to tell you.”

Shade just shook his head at her.

“Are you mad?” Lily bit her lip, staring up at him.

“No, angel. I don’t get mad at you.”

Lily looked at him suspiciously.

“Really.” He shrugged. “I even put a little money back in your account for you.”

“I don’t need it; you pay for everything. Besides, I get paid next week,” she stated angrily.

“If I don’t get mad at you, then you can’t get mad at me.” Shade bent down, giving her another kiss when Cash yelled his name.

“Gotta go. See you in a week.”

Lily frowned at him as he turned to leave. “Exactly how much did you put in my account?”

“Enough to do you until I get back,” he laughed. “Try not to give it all away.”

He climbed into the front seat of the truck as Lily was pulling out her cell phone.

They were pulling onto the road when he heard her yell his name in frustration.

“Want me to go back?” Rider asked.

“Fuck no. We need to keep to the schedule.” He had everything timed to a precision. Any delay would cause him to miss an opportunity to exact his justice, and for some, it had already been delayed too long.

Lily would let him have it if they turned back, and he wouldn’t be able to resist her. She was sexy as fuck when she was mad, and she let her guard down.

Damn, he was already regretting not having Rider turn around. He would just have to prod her memory when he returned.

* * *

Shade lay on his stomach in a ventilator shaft, two hundred fifty meters away from the building his target was being kept within. He had lain there for the last two days, watching as the police had swept the parking lot that morning, placing barriers so no one could get through. He hadn’t eaten and had drunk sparingly. There was barely enough room to take a piss in the tight confines of the vent he was laying in.

He trained his rifle on the passenger window of an SUV as several officers jogged forward, moving in synchronized formation as they protected a man who didn’t deserve them putting their lives on the line.

The ones in front slid into the vehicle while the others still kept his body covered with their own.

Shade adjusted his sight a millimeter as Digger took a step up into the SUV. Then he squeezed the trigger, and the bullet soundlessly left the rifle before hitting his target between the eyes. Shade regretted the son of a bitch wouldn’t have felt a thing; just lights out, sending his soul on its way to Hell.

Shade was already sliding backward and was almost out of the shaft before the officers realized Digger was dead. He dropped out of the shaft, landing on his feet in an empty closet used by maintenance. The janitor had called in unexpectedly sick after receiving an inheritance from a long-lost relative.

Shade retrieved his canvas bag where he had hidden it behind a large shelf containing cleaning supplies. He placed the cap on his head, dumping his canvas bag into the trash can then putting the lid on top. He opened the door, wheeling the trash can down the hall as he heard the sirens.

“Hey, Marcus. How are you liking the new job?”

“Fine, sir. Anything I can do for you?” Shade asked humbly, keeping his head down.

“I left a box by my trash can; would you make sure it gets taken out?”

“Sure thing. I’ll do it right now.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem. I’d be happy to take care of that for you,” Shade said, whistling as he went down the hall to the supervisor’s office, which was conveniently next to the exit.

* * *

Shade lay on his belly on top of a railroad car, staring through the night scope at the group leaving the warehouse.

He had tracked Rabbit the day before, knowing the sneaky shit would lead him to the buy. Cash had texted him, telling him Evie wasn’t answering her messages. It didn’t take a fucking rocket scientist to figure out why Rabbit was acting cocky. He had insurance—Evie.

He had followed Rabbit, realizing it was his only hope of finding Evie. When Rabbit had arrived at the warehouse and Shade had seen the Predators in hiding, watching the same building, he had known his theory was right.

He had quickly surveyed the surrounding area, finding the best spot. He believed in planning every detail, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t get the job done on the fly.

He shifted the rifle slightly, adjusting his trajectory for the hellacious wind.

After Evie and King, Rabbit and then the Predators came out of the building, Shade saw Max, another Predator, come out holding several bags.

Shade moved the rifle a fraction of a centimeter. His target stopped, saying something, but he would never hear what Evie replied because Shade pulled the trigger and Rabbit fell to the ground.

Shade sighed; the wind was a motherfucker. He had aimed for the back of his head, but the bullet had hit the side. He would compensate more on his next target.

The Predators were running like ants. Most were running for their lives, but Shade easily saw a couple of them heading his way, trying to discover where he was shooting from.

Shade moved the rifle to his next target—King.

Frowning, he saw Evie had thrown herself in front of King, plastering herself against him. Then she yelled out, telling them not to move. Shade’s brow arched over his scope.

King pulled away from her as his car stopped by them and then opened the door. Evie shook her head, refusing to get in. King didn’t budge.

Evie turned her head, staring in his vicinity.

“Please,” she mouthed. “Please, don’t.”

“Fuck,” Shade hissed.

Taking out his pin light, he gave her a quick flash, acknowledging he wouldn’t kill the son of a bitch.