“She’s only doing that to get back at you,” King says the obvious.
“Back at me for what? I worship that woman. I’d carry her on my back everywhere if I could.”
“You trapped her. She ain’t forgotten.” King looks at his watch. “And what the fuck is taking the Titans so long?”
“Why is she still holding on to that old shit?” My question isn’t to anyone in particular, and no one answers, but I hear King scoff. “Have you heard anything? Since you’re friends.” I roll my eyes.
“How the fuck does King have the good marriage and friendships? Are we in some weird twilight zone?” Preacher shakes his head in confusion.
“My marriage is fine,” I snap.
“Then why are you asking me for intel?” King asks. “I ain’t heard shit.” There’s a part of me that wonders if that’s true. “You can just ask her if something is wrong.”
After my talk with Cori last night, she made dinner, and we sat down together like a normal couple. During the meal, I had her on my lap, and we fed each other. We kissed throughout, and made love twice before showering together and falling asleep wrapped in each other’s arms.
The only reason why I left the bed as early as I did was that Finch needed to be walked. When I returned, I slid back into bed with my wife, and she sighed in contentment. I kissed her naked shoulder and cupped one of her breasts before lulling myself back to sleep.
There’s no way she can fake all of that, but I’m not a man who wrings his hands and waits for answers. I’ll find out, and it will be soon. If my duplicitous wife is conning me, she’s going to live to regret it.
“So, Eden hasn’t told you anything?”
King furrows his brows at me before he leans back in his chair and stares at the ceiling.
“No. We don’t spend our time talking about you and the situation you created.” He has the nerve to point at me.
“I can’t imagine the dirty shit you did to get your wife,” I counter.
“My wife didn’t buy an entire house behind my back, did she?” He smirks.
The loud banging on the door saves him from my sharp rebuke. Preacher opens it, and the Titan brothers enter the room. Steel and his salt and pepper dreads lead the way. Stone, dressed in expensive yet casual clothes, follows behind his brother almost as if he’s bored by the entire situation. The youngest, Rock, is the last in the room.
I can’t stand that little prick, so I hope he shuts the fuck up for the remainder of this meeting.
“Gentlemen.” Steel gestures at us, but we don’t reply. “Well, hello to you, too. I have news.”
I point to the long couch, and all three of them sit.
“The Brennans are ready to strike.” Nothing Steel says surprises me. I’ve been watching the Brennans since before Jack was found hanging in his cell. I know every move they make, maybe even more.
“What makes you say that?” King knows everything, so his question is only to get the Titans to reveal more of their hand.
“Let’s not play games.” Unlike Steel, Stone doesn’t do pleasantries. “We know you’ve been following them. Hell, we know you’ve bugged their office. We found your bug.” The bastard is smug while he looks around. “Don’t waste our time and bullshit us. We have a common interest, or it’s going to be all our asses. Stop the games.”
“They need to be dealt with once and for all.” Steel stands.
“And they will be,” I announce.
“Dax, you don’t do violence.” Steel waves around my office. “That’s why your operation is so successful. We don’t have those hangups.”
I tilt my head in Preacher’s direction. He gets a folder from his desk and drops it on the coffee table in front of the Titans.
“That’s a list of everyone who works for the Brennans. The ones in yellow are the easiest to flip. We have video of their shipments. We have to figure out a way for them to be arrested,” I announce.
“We’ll take care of the rest.” Steel licks his thumb as he flips through the pictures.
“Page six. Paul Wolzski. He served eight years for drug trafficking. I suggest we set him up.” Preacher looks at our guests. “I’m sure the three of you can cough up some product to put in Wolzki’s car. Get one of your cop buddies to pull him over and find it on him. After some pressure, he’ll give them up to save his ass. Once the Brennans are behind bars, they will meet a very unfortunate demise. Steel, you bribe the judge to deny him bail.”
All three men on the couch nod in agreement. I hate that it has to come to that. I don’t do violence, but I will do what I need to do to save my own ass.
