Page 110 of Malice and Surrender
Okay, forget the poison. I was going to pull my gun and shoot myself at this rate. “Wilder. Why do you want to blend in right now?”
Talking to him was like being at the top of a staircase with no recollection of how I got there. It felt like I needed to back up one step at a time until I figured out why I climbed them in the first place.
His steely gaze found mine, and I could feel him assessing me like I was one of the freak show exhibits from his dilapidated park.
“Can I trust you?” Wilder asked, his eyes narrowing and his voice dropping to a level that made the hair stand on the back of my neck.
“If you mean, will I tell anyone what you say? Then you can trust me to keep it to myself. I’ll go to my grave with it,” I said.
“Even if it puts you in danger?”
“Even better. I like living on the edge.” I leaned forward. To finally learn the mysteries of Wilder was too good to pass up.
The corner of Wilder’s mouth turned up as if what I’d said amused him. If he could be amused.
“I was ordered to do something but was set up, and now one particular person is after me, but they have the strength of many men like me looking for me.” It was hard to tell if this was a wild truth or if this was just another twisted mess inside Wilder’s mind. “That’s why I was keeping tabs on your girl’s fuck friend.”
My nostrils flared at the mention of the bartender.
“Oh, really? And why is that?”
“He’s related to the man who is after me. I keep an eye on all his family.”
That had me sitting up straight. “Is she in danger? Are you planning something I should know about?”
I had no idea if I could get to my gun before Wilder killed me, but if he was planning to go after Raine, we were about to have an issue.
“No, the guy seems checkered for different reasons but has nothing to do with that side of his family. He seems to be estranged from most of his family. They don’t like his life choices.”
I had no idea what that meant, but I relaxed as Wilder said he had no intentions of attacking them.
“So these people who are after you, are you planning on eradicating them?” I asked.
“Killing them like rodents. I like that. Yes, if they come for me.”
I leaned back and stared at Wilder. “I think you should take the fight to their door. Not that you don’t look great in all your blending-in outfits, but wouldn’t it be nice to be free of the worry?”
“I don’t worry. There is no place for fear in my life.” He turned his head and stared out the dark window. “But I do understand your meaning. Maybe you should take your advice as well. Better to know if you can fix what you fucked up than not try at all.”
Crossing my arms, I stared at the side of his face and couldn’t help wondering what it would’ve been like to have Wilder in prison with me. I had the protection of Mannix and the crew he’d gathered, and that was how I met Roach and Hollywood, but there was something about Wilder that made you want him on your team even if he made your brain do backward somersaults.
“Maybe I should. So, did you come over because you saw I was sad or to ask another question?”
“No, I just wanted to borrow some flour,” Wilder said, and stood.
“Flour?”
“Yes, I’m baking cookies.” He smiled, and I could only shake my head.
“Sure, I have a bag in the cupboard across from the stove. Help yourself.”
“I know. You just purchased it last Tuesday.” He walked out of the room like that wasn’t the creepiest thing to date he’d said to me. I bet he also wrote down somewhere how many times I jerked off in a day. I didn’t even want to fucking think about that.
Wisely or not, I decided to visit Raine. Pushing myself off the couch, I grabbed my leather jacket and called down the hall. “Hey, Wilder, I’m heading out. Can you lock up?”
“Yup, I always do.” And there it was, the line that was creepier than the one before.
“How in the hell did I get talked into leaving the wet pussy I was fucking for this?” Roach grumbled as we pulled up to Raine’s house.
