Chapter 73

It happened in slow motion. Something told him to move, and Devin pushed his chair back and dropped to the floor, just as his window exploded and something hit his desk, showering the room with shattered glass and splintered wood fragments.

He peered over his desk and saw a deep, narrow hole at the edge of his desk, the trajectory suggesting that the bullet would have gone straight through his head if he hadn’t moved. He crab-crawled back against the wall, his chest heaving, and stared at the broken window. “Holy fuck...”

His office door swung open and Madison, his secretary, stood in the doorway, her eyes wide and searching the room until they landed on him.

Her voice trembled. “Mr. Andersen, are you alright?”

Devin stared at her for a long moment, his mind struggling to grasp what had just happened. Then he realized how ridiculous he looked, cowering on the floor. He stood and shook the glass out of his hair as he studied his desk. But he stayed next to the wall. He wasn’t stupid.

Laughter escaped his mouth as his mind finally realized what had just happened. Someone had called out a hit on him. And he knew exactly who had done it.

Madison looked at him as if he were a madman. “I’ll call the police,” she said in a shaky voice, backing out of the office.

The police would never find the shooter. The Elders never gave up their Assassins and the Assassins only did what they were told to do. They did it very well. Whoever the shooter was might have even done a job for him before.

He knew better than to go to the window and look out. The Assassin was probably still there, so he crept along the wall and then hurried out of his office to wait in the seating area across from Madison’s desk.

He watched as she hung up the phone and bit her lip. “May I get you something, sir?”

His eyes trailed down her curves and back up to her blonde hair. Nothing like an attempt on one’s life to get the blood flowing. She was a fair fuck, though she was getting a little old for his taste. He’d been more interested in her before Anna had come along, though when Anna was doped up, he’d used Madison when the need hit.

“Sir?” Her perfectly shaped eyebrows twitched as she watched him.

He stood and jerked his head toward the private bathroom just outside his office.

A few minutes later, he emerged to find dozens of people in the waiting area and he smiled.

Trenton rushed up to him. “My God, Devin, what happened?”

Devin glanced back at the bathroom door. Madison would be out in a few minutes after she composed herself. He’d taken her hard and fast in the ass, but she wouldn’t complain; she never did.

Trenton looked at Madison’s empty seat and then at the bathroom door, understanding dawning on his face. “Really? At a time like this? Someone shot at you. I saw the hole in your desk.”

“There’s never a bad time for sex. It calms me.” He smiled. “Yes, someone tried to kill me. And I believe I know who ordered it.” He had thought about it as he was fucking Maddy. The only person who would be stupid enough to cross him would be Wilhelm. “I think the Kunzbergs are going to lose yet another family member.”

Trenton put his hand on his arm and spoke in a low, urgent tone. “Dev. Think before you make the call. You said yourself you’re starting to make enemies. Be certain it’s Kunzberg before you do anything.”

Devin frowned, but Trent had a point. Assassinating an Elder was a monumental undertaking that demanded caution. He couldn’t help but admire Wilhelm’s audacity, though. He never would have guessed the German capable of making such a bold move.

“You’re right.” A mistake like this could cost him more than he was willing to give up. Besides, he had no doubt Wilhelm would admit to it. Then Devin would make his own call and Germany would have a new Elder.

Devin scoffed at the thought of Kurt as an Elder.

After the police interviewed him, Devin drove home. His anger had been simmering just below the surface and he wanted to call the motherfucker and find out the truth.

Kaveh was waiting for him when he walked into the lower living area. “Your imbuement of Immortality saved your life.”

“It was Wilhelm. I know it.”

Kaveh nodded. “Most likely. You did kill his son.”

They looked at each other for a moment. Devin couldn’t suppress a smile at Kaveh’s ironic observation. “I never thought Wilhelm would be so ballsy. It will give me great pleasure to return the favor.”

“I would not do that if I were you.”

Devin whirled around and glared at him. “What the hell are you talking about? I have every right?—?”

Kaveh held up his hand. “Yes, but you are forgetting one important person.”

“Who?”

“Anna. She will not take it well if you kill Wilhelm.”

“She’ll get over it.” Devin sneered. “She got over Alex.”

“She did not know that was you, and is she really over it?” He paused. “This she will know, and you will be unable to subdue her again.” Kaveh shook his head. “If you want to continue using her, leave Wilhelm alone.”

Devin clenched his jaw. “I’m supposed to just let this go? Like he didn’t try to kill me?”

“You have already meted out enough grief in his life. Consider it... paying it forward. Once Anna is fully bonded to you, then you can get revenge, if you so desire. But I warn you, if you push Anna any further, you will not be able to contain the beast.”

Devin slumped onto the couch behind him. Kaveh was right, though Devin hated to admit it. If Anna hadn’t been chained to the wall, she would have killed him on Thursday.

He had never seen anything so feral—so primal—as Anna in a wild rage. It had given him such pleasure to conquer her. But he couldn’t leave her chained to the wall all day long. He needed her free. He would have to leave Wilhelm alone.

Damnit.

Wilhelm narrowed his eyes at the name flashing on his phone. He wasn’t supposed to be alive. “Hello.”

“He missed,” came Devin’s voice through the phone’s speaker.

Wilhelm stood and clenched his fist. Why was the man still alive? He knew the Assassin. He was very, very good at his job, second only to Alex. “How?”

Devin laughed. “I chalk it up to my Immortality. Something just told me to duck and I did. And I’m so glad.”

Wilhelm closed his eyes, expecting a bullet to come crashing through the window any second and into his skull. Only that would dull the pain in his heart. “When can I expect mine?”

“Oh, we’ll just call it even, as long as you don’t try again.”

Wilhelm’s mouth dropped open and he stared at the fireplace for a long moment, trying to understand Devin’s game. “What is your angle, Devin? Please, if you are going to do it, just tell me so I can prepare my family.”

“Aren’t you so diplomatic?” Devin sighed. “No, I won’t be making any calls. It occurred to me that Anna has had enough tragedy for the month, and I need her coherent. Killing you would make that impossible. She loves you for some fucking reason, and I’m afraid it would send her over the edge.”

Yes, it would. Wilhelm let out the breath he was holding and slumped into his chair.

“So, let’s leave her out of this, shall we?”

“She knows.”

“What!”

“She knew I was going to do something, but she did not know what. Do not punish her. She tried to call me off, but I would not listen.”

“She’s a wise woman.”

“Amazing, considering her childhood,” Wilhelm said dryly.

Devin laughed again. “Well, I won’t detain you any longer. I just wanted to share the good news that I’m still alive.”

Wilhelm growled and stabbed the phone to end the call. He ran his hands through his hair in frustration and gratefulness. Anna had saved his life and he wouldn’t risk it again.