Page 82 of Cash

“I know a lot of shit that sucks donkey balls, KK,” Zane returned.

“Well, currently what sucks monkey balls is,” Kira huffed then continued, “I finally have an arsenal of one-liners and they’re totally useless.” She turned and pinned me with a frown. “My jokes won’t work on Mr. Blank Shooter McBlankerson.”

I heard Jonas snort. “He’s all snipped up and ready to drop duds.”

Before I could tell Jonas his joke was lame, Smith started in. “You can come up with something to rhyme with neuter⁠—”

“Cooter,” Easton joined, earning him a smack to the shoulder from his wife.

“Did you seriously just say cooter?” Nebraska asked with clear disgust.

Completely unfazed, Easton nodded. “Yep.”

I glanced at Zane hoping he’d put an end to the ridiculousness, but Kira snapped her fingers drawing my attention back to her. “Retired the ammo, kept the aim.”

“Snipped but not soft,” Nebraska piped up and smiled at Stella. “Or for your sake I hope not.”

“Not that I disagree my dick is always a worthy topic of discussion but maybe we can get back to the problem at hand,” I suggested.

Kira waved her hand in front of her like she was shooing away a fly. “Someone tried to hack into our server.”

“Tried?”

“Well, technically they got in, because Garrett let them in. Now he’s playing backdoor buddy with them. He’ll have a traceback for us in a few minutes.”

Kira was wrong. Garrett didn’t need a few minutes if him walking into the conference room was anything to go by.

“The breach was isolated,” he started. “Employee records and case files for the last year. It was a grab and go, but as soon as the files are opened, I’ll have access to their system.”

Zane nodded, looking completely undisturbed. Stella caught his bland expression and asked, “That’s it?”

“That’s it what?” Garrett returned.

“No one looks concerned,” she pointed out.

“Woman, do I look stupid?” Zane asked with a smile. “There is absolutely nothing of importance on any machine connected to the internet or Bluetooth. Employee records are bullshit. Case files are non-government contracts, low priority, easy-to-break encryption, and they’re all embedded with a virus. As soon as the files are opened, we’ll have a location and access.”

“Right,” she mumbled.

“Found something else,” Garrett continued. “There’s a hit out on Damion.”

“That’s not unexpected,” Nebraska shared. “Did Kira send you what she found? Damion’s in deep with Vincenzo Greco.”

Garrett’s brows winged up. “No shit.” Then his gaze slid to Nebraska. “Are you setting up a meet?”

I heard Easton’s grunt from across the table, but my attention was taken by the small jot coming from Stella.

I understood her reaction. Not only to Garrett’s question and Easton’s audible displeasure but also the hurt. Though, Stella had brought that particular sting on herself. She’d dropped off the radar. Her choice. But the way she lived her life, it wasn’t a far-out assumption. Nebraska was the closest friend she had, even if she’d kept herself closed off and distant. Learning her friend was pregnant during a discussion and not direct from Nebraska would bite.

“I’m going to reach out,” Nebraska declared. Ignoring her husband’s glare she went on. “I’ll ask if he’s open to sitting down with Lore and Zane.”

I barely swallowed my own growl of displeasure—though my disapproval was two-fold. I was done with this two-name bullshit. Lore was well and truly dead. The second part was Stella would be meeting with a pissed-off mob boss over my dead body. I didn’t give a flying fuck if the man had demonstrated he lived by a moral code that included the protection of females.

“Her name is Stella,” I snapped. “And it will be me and Zane meeting with Vinnie G or whoever he sends as his proxy.”

“I’m sorry,” Stella drawled with faux sweetness. “But have we entered some alternate universe where you think you’re the boss of the womenfolk?”

“No, baby girl, we’re living in the universe where I’m the King.” I paused to watch her eyes flare then catch fire. I gave it another to beat to enjoy the way her irritation darkened the blue and held her stare, knowing I was going to further piss her off which in turn would make that fire burn brighter. “And in that universe, you might be the Queen, and the Snake might have magic, and Dove is beautiful and powerful, but I reign supreme.”