The Killer’s New Obsession by B.B. Hamel
Irene
Isat in the back of the car with Sasha. She stared out the window, looking grim. Her hair was pulled up in a tight bun and her severe cheekbones made her look ten years older than she was. She wore black jeans, a black jacket, and had a gun shoved into her waistband. I looked from her up to Cam, and he glanced back at me in the rearview.
I looked quickly away and back out into the night.
I hated this plan. I hated the way he’d dropped it on me in front of Don Valentino and Sasha, and basically gave me no chance to argue. As soon as the Don said he liked it, I knew the whole thing was over and would happen whether I liked it or not.
But it pissed me off he pulled that, especially after the night before.
After I gave him my body and finally let myself be what I wanted to be—safe in his arms, naked and unafraid.
That night was a blur now. I thought of it in flashes: his cock in my mouth, his tongue between my legs, riding him hard, sweating as he fucked me and kissed my lips, and the orgasms, god, the orgasms. I squirmed in my seat just thinking about it. I was still sore, and it’d been three days since it happened, and we’d slept in separate rooms.
I knew he was sorry. He felt bad and wanted to do the right thing. But I was angry anyway. It happened too soon after I finally let my guard down, and reminded me of what it was like on the streets.
One false move out there and you were finished. If I let in the wrong person, trusted someone dangerous, I’d be finished.
Cam was most dangerous of all.
“It’s right around here,” Sasha said suddenly. Cam slowed the car to a crawl. We were out in North Philly again, at the top of the Kensington neighborhood surrounded by abandoned houses, boarded-up windows, and overgrown lots. “Make a right there.”
Cam turned, heading east toward the river. Sasha leaned up between the two front seats and pointed toward an empty lot on the corner of the block. It was surrounded by a low wooden fence and some trees were planted inside, like someone actually tried to take care of it. The grass was cut, and standing back in the shadows were two people.
My heart leapt into my chest as Cam parked the car. Sasha jumped out and I hurried to follow her, with Cam bringing up the rear. Sasha stepped over the fence, then ran to the figures and threw her arms around the closest one.
I stood back and Cam lingered next to me.
The girls were young, like Sasha. One was small and petite, skinny and pretty. The other was tall and willow-thin and looked exhausted. Both girls wore tight, revealing outfits and had reddish brown hair swept back.
“We don’t have long,” the small girl said.
Sasha waved me and Cam over. “Girls, this is Irene and Cam,” Sasha said. “Irene and Cam, this is Anna and Mila.” She gestured at the small girl then the taller girl respectively.
“Good to meet you,” I said, glancing around the space nervously. It was quiet and dark, and the nearby houses all looked empty. Not a single light glowed in any of the windows.
“I’m not sure I could believe this,” Mila said. “How’d you make this happen, Sasha?”
“They reached out to me,” she said, gesturing at Cam. “Kira put us in touch. Can you believe it, that bitch?”
“I believe it,” Anna said. “Always trying to do what’s right. Stupid girl. Kind of surprised she’s alive.”
“Did Sasha explain what we’re thinking?” Cam asked.
“She did,” Anna said, narrowing her eyes at him. For being such a small girl, she seemed very intimidating. “You want to give guns to a bunch of hookers, huh?”
“Very manly,” Mila said, grinning. “Get the girls to fight for you.”
“You won’t be alone,” Cam said. “My crew will back any play we can. All we want is Ronan Healy, all the rest are for you.”
“So generous,” Anna said. “Just like a man to give us the scraps.”
Mila and Sasha both laughed.
“He’s for real though,” Sasha said. “His Don approved it. Heard him say so myself.”
“Then where are the guns?” Mila asked, frowning at Cam’s empty hands.
“No guns yet,” he said. “We need to plan first. Meet more girls. Get the word out.”
Anna rolled her eyes. “So it’s bullshit then,” she said, taking a step away. “I knew it. Sasha, you’re too trusting, girl. I love you, but you’re a crazy bitch. I can’t do this tonight, I’ve got to work.” She began to drift toward the trees.
Mila sighed and shrugged. “Sorry,” she said. “But it does seem too good to be true.”
“Wait,” I said, stepping toward them. Cam’s mouth opened and his eyebrows shot up. I ignored him and held out a hand toward the departing girls. “This isn’t a joke.”
“She’s right,” Sasha said. “I know you two think it’s all fake and lies, but when have I ever lied to either of you?”
Anna hesitated and looked at Mila, who shrugged. “All right, that’s true,” Anna said and looked at me. “These mob guys aren’t lying then?” she asked. “What, do you work for them or something?”
“No,” I said. “I stole from the Healy family and I hate them as much as you do. Well, maybe not as much, but it doesn’t matter. Cam’s not lying about the guns or the money. This all real.”
Anna wrapped her arms around herself and tilted her head, studying me. “All right, girl. You’re the one piece of this that doesn’t make sense to me, so I’ll believe you for not.”
“If she’s down, then I’m down,” Mila said, shrugging.
“Thank you,” Cam said. “And believe me, this is real.”
“We’ve got to get more girls,” Sasha said. “You two need to spread the word. Let everyone know that we finally have a way out.”
“I’ll try,” Anna said. “But you know how it is. They’re always listening.”
“You’ve got to do it,” Sasha said, moving toward the girls—
But the sound of screaming tires broke off whatever she was about to say.
Cars came flying around the corner. Cam reacted before I even understood what was happening. He grabbed my arm and yanked me back toward the car, shoving me hard and running. “Go!” he yelled, and I started sprinting—
But he didn’t come with me. I reached the fence and looked back as he returned for the other girls. I couldn’t believe it—I didn’t think he’d bother, but he grabbed Anna’s hand and yanked her. They ran with Sasha in tow. Mila followed, loping along awkwardly, as two cars pulled up, slamming on their brakes.
Gunfire broke across the night like crashing planes and thunder. I screamed, throwing myself over the little fence, and down onto the sidewalk next to the car. Cam shouted something and practically threw Anna at me, then Sasha dove down and rolled under the fence.
Cam dropped to his knee and fired his gun back. Mila screamed as bullets tore into her body, in her chest, her throat, then her head, snapping it back. Blood splattered on the grass and she slumped to the ground. Anna screamed, Sasha yelled, and I grabbed both of them to keep them from running back for their dead friend.
More gunshots ripped into the car, splintering the side of it, and Cam rolled over to us. A bright red mark ripped down his right arm from where a bullet grazed him. He kept shooting and one of the cars took off.
“Get inside!” he yelled, and I got the back door open. Sasha slipped in first, then Anna, then me. Cam slammed the door, then climbed into the front as the lead car began to drift, someone slumped forward on the horn. Cam must’ve killed him.
The engine flared to life. Cam was leaning down so far he couldn’t see over the wheel as he slammed on the gas. The car leapt forward, tires screaming, and more gunshots followed. He careened into the lead car, which was dead, then Cam cursed and got us going again. He bounced up onto the curve, swiped the side of a gnarled, dying tree, then got it under control again. The car sped off, leaving the Healy attackers behind.
He sat up once we put some distance between us and the killers.
“Fuck,” he said, punching the wheel. “How the fuck did that happen?” he roared.
Sasha sat up and stared at Anna. “They saw,” she said. “You stupid girl. You let them see.”
“I didn’t,” Anna said, eyes wild. “I swear I didn’t. They must’ve read my texts. I didn’t know they knew about my phone.”
Sasha groaned and leaned back against the seat. “Mila,” she said, voice choked.
Anna stared out the window in total shock.
Cam drove in silence, jaw clenched, eyes hard. I looked up at him and reached through the center to touch his arm where it slowly leaked blood. He sucked in a breath and glanced down.
“I’m fine,” he said.
“We’ll get it stitched,” I said then leaned forward to kissed his neck. He touched my hair before letting me sit back down.
He went back for them. If he didn’t care, he would’ve let those girls die in that field, but he risked his own life to help them. I didn’t agree with this plan and I hated that one girl was already dead because of it, but at least I saw what Cam really was. He wanted to do the right thing, even if he was constrained by the reality of the situation.
I had to help him do this, no matter what, and the Healy family had to pay for what just happened. Mila wouldn’t die for no reason.
We’d arm those girls and we’d start a damn war.
