Chapter 24

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chelsea

I was no assassin, but I could move quietly when I wanted to.

Right now, there wasn't much need. The target of my visit was hunched over a keyboard, headphones over her ears. Every so often, she'd groove to whatever she was listening to. Her attention was on the music and the screen in front of her.

I stood watching her for a while, until she gradually became aware of my presence.

Belinda sat upright before swivelling around in her chair. Her eyes widened. She pulled off the headphones and tossed them onto the keyboard.

“How did you get in here?” she demanded.

I shrugged one shoulder, keeping the gun in my other hand still. “I broke in. It wasn't difficult. You should have better security if you don't want visitors.”

She glanced down at the gun, then back up at me again. She seemed certain I wouldn't use it. That was a mistake. In Dusk Bay, arrogance got you killed.

“It wasn't difficult to find you once I knew your name.” She sat back in her chair and crossed her arms.

She'd changed out of her skirt and blouse, and now wore fleecy pyjamas. Her hair was in a messy bun. It made her look younger, more human. If it wasn't for the expression on her face, I might have given her some leniency. As it was, I let her keep talking.

“Chelsea Miller,” she said, without looking back at the screen. “Doctor.” She moved her head back and forth like a bobble head, as if somehow I was showing off with the qualification.

“Employed at Flirts, adult entertainment club. Stripper, hooker, or both?”

“Both,” I said unapologetically. “Former employee. I no longer work at that particular establishment.”

Without unfolding her arms, she waved a hand dismissively. “A minor detail. The public will love to hear that three of the Smashers were in the company of a prostitute. One that is also passing herself off as a candidate for team doctor. A very juicy story, wouldn't you say?”

“Not really,” I said. “It seems kinda boring to me. Since I am an actual qualified doctor and a suitable candidate for team doctor, the whole thing has a bunch of holes in it.”

She snorted. “I'm sure you'd like to believe that, but we'll let the public decide. Your timing is perfect; I was just about to upload my article.”

“No you weren't,” I said evenly. “You're going to delete it and forget everything you think you know.”

“Why would I do that?” she asked with a laugh. “I'm about to break the story of the year. This is going to go global and make me a ton of money.” She was practically rubbing her hands together and counting her millions.

“In case you hadn't noticed, I have a gun in my hand, aimed at you,” I said. I waved a hand over the top of the barrel.

“You're not going to use that,” she scoffed. “Aren't doctors supposed to protect people and keep them alive?”

I smiled. “Who said anything about killing you? To be perfectly honest, I'd prefer not to. It's messy and makes complications I don't have time for. Do us both a favour and delete the article. Forget you ever saw me and move on to some other bullshit. Write something useful, like an article on how to prevent ingrown toenails. Plenty of people could use that information.”

“You're out of your mind.” Her chin was raised, but for the first time she looked uncertain.

“You clearly haven't had an ingrown toenail,” I said, wincing melodramatically. “They fucking hurt. You'd be doing the community an important service. You'd save so many people so much pain.” I wasn't even joking. I had one in high school and it sucked.

“That's not the kind of journalism I do, dear,” she said, condescension back in place. “I dig deep and uncover scandals like yours. People should know the players they look up to, players who are supposed to be role models, are eliciting the services of prostitutes. All three of them are bringing the team into disrepute by being in your company.”

“The company of a team doctor?” I shook my head. “How awful.”

Unfortunately, she wasn't wrong. The moment people found out what I used to do, I'd be condemned. The team would have no choice but to cut me loose. The guys might hold on to their contracts, but I'd be dragged all the way through the mud. I'd be the scapegoat in the story.

No doubt the Smashers’ PR department would spin it to make it look like the guys had no idea. By the time they were done, my reputation would be completely destroyed.

No way was I going to let that happen. I'd do whatever it took to stop it.

“I see you finally understand the situation you're in,” Belinda said gleefully. “Add in a bit of breaking and entering and pointing a gun at me. Is that even real? And you, dear, will be in a lot of trouble.”

“This is your last chance,” I said as pleasantly as I could. I was tempted to kill her for continuing to call me dear. It was beyond annoying. “Delete the article and walk away.”

She shook her head at me and turned back to the keyboard. “All I need to do is press enter, and it'll be uploaded for all the world to see.”

Her finger hovered over the enter button. She lowered the pad of her pointer finger to the plastic.

I raised the gun and pulled the trigger.

Thanks for reading! The story continues in Hard Ruck.

For a bonus scene of Storm giving Chelsea a bath, you can find that here.

If you haven't met her brother Isaac, also known as Ice, you can find him in Dark Masque. Rest assured he will be getting cameos in later books of the Ruck Boys series!