Free KILLER INSTINCT (A Mafia Bad Boy Romance Novel) by Julia Gardener Page A

He played it on the screen.
     
     
    It was the security footage from the night of the murder. It showed Colman and two Russian men breaking into the apartment. A moment later, a flash of gunfire appeared in the hallway.
     
     
    Kelly looked away in disgust.
     
     
    I kept looking on as the two Russian men and Colman talked. I focused on one of the Russian men before I realized who it was.
     
     
    He had one eye.
     
     
    This was the night I had stepped out for a meeting. The man who I had been searching for all of these years had been right in front of me.
     
     
    “Son of a bitch,” I said in disbelief. It was unmistakably Petrov. “He was right outside my doorway. All these fucking years of searching… and he passes right by my door.”
     
     
    “It’s security footage from the night of the murder,” Cobbs continued. “Colman and the Black Fang hacked and deleted it from the building’s security systems. It was in Colman’s email account as a backup. He might have intended to use it as leverage in case they betrayed him.”
     
     
    “If he’s holding a backup, then things might not be so rosy between him and the Black Fang,” Kelly proposed. “He might be thinking of a way out before the Black Fang decides to cut their losses and get rid of him. I know that they weren’t very happy when Colman killed my father and made a mess of things.”
     
     
    I nodded. “He could also cut a deal with the authorities before the Black Fang gets to him. Either way, we could be running against a clock to find Colman and get answers.”
     
     
    Kelly asked. “Does the Black Fang know about Colman’s penthouse?”
     
     
    “Probably not,” Cobbs said, not looking entirely certain. “In his emails, Colman never mentioned its presence to the Black Fang. All of his meetings were in his regular apartment or in some private place they reserved.”
     
     
    Nothing was ever simple in this line of work.
     
     
    “If we find Colman, I’ll clear the contract with Mr. Lee,” I growled, staring daggers at Cobbs. “Don’t ever try to double cross a hitman ever again. Get the hell out of this country is you know what’s good for you.”
     
     
    He sighed and sank into his chair. “Don’t have to tell me twice. I’ll send you everything I have on Colman.”
     
     
    With a glare, I left the man behind. There was newfound purpose in my life. I was going to kill Sergei Petrov. Kelly had to step up her pace to keep up with me. Together, we entered the car.
     
     
    I guessed the ride back home wouldn’t be a silent one.
     
     
    Kelly bit her lower lip before speaking. “You could’ve told me about your mother, Jackie.”
     
     
    “Told you what?” I yelled, not bothering to start the car. “That a pair of Irish mobsters and a Russian with one eye killed my mother? That they slit her throat and caved in her skull? That we couldn’t even have an open casket funeral for her? That I killed those Irish bastards with my bare hands before I was able to even legally drive a car? That I spend the next ten years of my life trying to track down Sergei? At least you got to grow up with a parent. My father was only good for teaching me to fight with my fists.”
     
     
    The young woman recoiled. “I’m sorry, Jackie…”
     
     
    She leaned forward and kissed me. This time, it was much more somber. I felt the anger leave my body. Soon, my desire for revenge subsided but never truly left.
     
     
    “I’m the one who should apologize,” I whispered, ashamed of my words. “I didn’t have to say that about your father. That wasn’t right of me.”
     
     
    “Is that why you were so interested in me?” she whispered back. “It gave you a chance to investigate the Russians who killed your mother. The Italians wouldn’t stand in your way of revenge.”
     
     
    “No, not entirely,” I admitted. “I couldn’t just turn you away. It felt wrong like I was no better than the men who killed my