Page 12 of Silver Sinner

"Boss." Moses is by my side in seconds. "I'm all for you working out your feelings, but you're not going to do something stupid over some waitress, are you?"

If I wasn't already wound tight, Moses' careless words would have sent me over the edge. I lock eyes with him while unpinning my cuffs and rolling my sleeves up my arms.

"Think about what you just said," I reply tightly. "And think very carefully if you want to insult my actions as stupid, or if you think the one person who diligently feeds and cares for us three times a week deserves to be treated the way she was?"

Moses' mouth twists and he sighs. "I'm not saying either of those things. I'm just…" He casts a hopeless glance toward the building. "If this gets out, people will paint you as reckless. Quick to anger."

I ignore him and start walking toward the building.

"Boss," Moses calls after me. "You're telling everyone you have a weak spot."

That forces me to halt at the base of the steps and for a moment, the anger burning within my chest fades slightly. He's right.

I hadn't thought of it quite like that, but I have more than enough enemies who will connect my actions to Layla and see a sore spot to press on.

Then again, the pain in her face made me want to rip my heart out of my chest and give it to her just so she wouldn't cry.

"Then make sure no one finds out," I reply, and I walk into the apartment building with my gun in hand. Moses joins me half a second later, clearly satisfied that he's given me enough warning. He'd follow me through flames without even asking, so I have no doubt that he's carrying at least some of the same anger as me, even if it's by proxy.

"Apartment fourteen," Moses murmurs and he darts in front of me, leading the way up the stairs.

Two guards from the following car enter the apartment building behind me, one lingering near the door and the other following us up the stairs.

As we climb, the thumping music grows much louder. The culprit is one floor above us.

The door to apartment fourteen is green with the gold numbers hanging at a broken angle. Moses glances at me and holds his gun close to his chest, then he knocks twice on the door.

No answer.

He knocks again, but none are loud enough to be heard over the music above.

I pride myself on handling everything properly, but if they won't answer the door, tthey certainly don't deserve any grace.

I step back and Moses kicks the door in with a swift swing of his leg.

It flies open, and he immediately surges inside, raising one hand to stop the door from swinging back in his face.

He moves like water seeking a path through rocks, and I walk behind him with only one target in mind.

Adam, his name was.

Adam's trying to pick himself up from the couch when we stalk into the living room, rubbing his face as if we dragged him from the best sleep of his life.

Only one of his friends is here, and Moses is on them in half a second, forcing them down onto the floor with his knee on his chest and the barrel of his gun pressed to his forehead.

"Remember us?" I snarl, stalking toward Adam.

"Hey? Hey! What the fuck! What the fuck are you doing in my home? What the fuck, man? You're fucking crazy!" He stands up and grabs the table lamp from the small surface beside his couch, but as he turns toward me, I ball my fist and crack him hard across the face.

Adam collapses back down onto the floor and the lamp smashes as it lands on the ground. He whimpers, covering his face with his hand and groaning. "What the fuck? What the actual fuck!"

"Do you remember me?" I ask quietly, aiming my gun down at him.

"You—you're the old fucker from the diner! What the fuck are you doing here?"

"You insulted my friend."

"Your friend?" He shakes his head as if trying to clear away the daze from my blow. "The fat fucking waitress?"