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“Now, I’d hate for a pretty young thing like you to go away for something she had no involvement in, but I’m not above using you to make a point.”
“That point being?” Aella raised an eyebrow.
“That at some point, everyone has to pay for the consequences of their actions. The mighty Severo Torrisi included.”
“As I said, I have no idea what you’re talking about. But if at any time you’d like to talk to my father about these accusations, I’m sure he’ll be more than willing to sit down with you.”
“It’s not him I want to talk to,” Calder revealed, making Aella’s blood run still. “It’s you. Aged Creek Whiskey is yours now, along with the blame for anything I uncover during my investigation. Which doesn’t sound too fair to me. But if you were willing to help me put away whoever is responsible, I wouldn’t mind putting in a good word for you with the—”
Aella’s laughter drowned out the rest of his words. “So, let me get this straight,” she said after composing herself. “You followed, I’m sorry, stalked me to get me alone in this parking lot and ask me to rat on my father about what you think he’s doing? How high are the IQ requirements for the FBI again?”
Calder’s calm and agreeable facade disappeared.
“I expected some pushback, but your arrogance will be your and your family’s downfall.”
“And your ignorance of how things work in this city will be yours,” Aella replied without an ounce of fear.
“Is that a threat?”
“It’s whatever you want to take it as.”
“You do know I have the power to—”
“Everything a’ight?” Smoke, Aella’s security detail/best friend-turned-brother, asked, approaching the two, his eyes trained on Calder.
“Everything is fine,” Aella said coolly. “We were just having a little chat about boundaries. Isn’t that right, Detective Calder?”
“I think we’re both crystal clear about where the other stands,” Calder eyed her with disdain.
“Good. I’d hate for us to have to have this chat again.”
Aella kept her eyes on Calder as he reluctantly backed away, leaving her and Smoke alone.
“Wait,” she called, grabbing Smoke’s arm as he moved forward, undoubtedly to make sure Detective Calder was no longer breathing. “Don’t.”
“That nigga said some shit to make you pull a gun out on him, and you think I’ma let that slide?”
“He said he’s part of a task force investigating my father,” she revealed. “I’m not sure how true that is, but I don’t want to run the risk of something happening to him and leave my family at the mercy of the fallout.”
“He’s telling the truth,” Smoke confirmed. “That’s what your father wanted to meet about tonight.”
“Smoke, what the fuck is going on?”
“I don’t know, Elle. But I need to get you back to the house in one piece. For now, put a pause on talking about anything until we have your car swept for bugs.”
Again, he tried to move forward, and again Aella grabbed his arm to still him. “What do you mean, get me back to the house in one piece?”
“It’s just an expression, sis.”
Despite his attempt to pacify her, Aella could tell by his expression that something was amiss. Nodding, she allowed him to walk her to the door, check inside and out, and give her the okay to climb inside.
“You should be good for right now. Just keep any conversation to a minimum. I’ll follow you back to the house.”
Nodding, Aella wondered at what point she had accepted that this was her life. Security, bodyguards, the occasional checking for explosives and wiretaps—it was so normal to her that, at this point, she couldn’t remember what things were like before. Releasing a deep breath, she pushed the button to start the engine and waited until she saw Smoke’s car in her rearview mirror before pulling off and heading home.
“You’re late,” Severo said as Aella and Smoke entered the tasting room and closed the door.
“Sorry,” she quickly apologized. “I had some work I needed to get done and then—” Aella paused, looking at Smoke.
