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“Of course. Did you get your debts taken care of?” I returned.
His shifty gaze roamed around the yard, looking everywhere but at me. “I’m trying to take care of it. But I might have to meet with one of the brothers before it’s completely settled.” He acted as if I knew who he was talking about, and I didn’t disabuse him of the notion. I didn’t particularly care who these players were if they weren’t on my list, but I also didn’t want to appear ignorant.
This sharing between us was new, and I didn’t like it. He’d start spilling more secrets, and then he’d expect me to share some of mine. Worst case scenario, one of his would leak and then he would blame me because he’d told me of his own volition. That didn’t work for me.
“Listen Reuben, I—”
My phone rang. The phone I carried for Fletcher.
I reached through the window to grab it, even as my heart started a jaunty tap dance in my chest.
“Hello?” I clicked the volume down so Reuben wouldn’t be able to hear anything he said.
“You’ll never believe this! It’s down. We’re in. And you’re going to want to see this.” I couldn’t tell if that was fear or excitement in Fletcher's voice. All I knew was, I needed to be home. Now.
Ending the call, I turned to Reuben who gave me a brief smile and even briefer nod. “Business calls.”
“It does.”
“Until next time, Lily.” He gave me a very unreassuring wink. “I’ll keep you in the loop.”
I didn’t want to be in the loop and at the same time…
“I’ll transmit payment through the normal accounts.”
Because his disposal was not a favor he would return to trade on with me, whether he owed me one or not. His response was a grunt before he headed for his driver’s seat. Once back in the car, I checked the phone and sent a message to Rick and Fletcher both to let them know I was on the way back.
Rick replied almost immediately:I told him not to call you.
I didn’t respond to that until I was back on the highway after traveling a few miles in the other direction and cutting back around. The last thing I needed was a tail. All past interactions with Reuben, even the most recent one, marked a history of reliability and a level of professional trustworthiness.
Still, recent events had shown me no one in the network was above suspicion and until I had the answers, I was better off limiting my circle of trust to a very small number. Instead of texting, I called Rick once I was certain no one followed me. The traffic was moderate, mostly people in a hurry to get home or get out to their evening plans. Probably a few work commuters, like me, as well.
“I’m sorry Fletcher bothered you,” Rick said when he answered the phone. “I told him we shouldn’t bother you when you were on an errand unless it was important.”
“It sounded important.” The reply seemed to soothe him. “I’m on my way back now, but it will be another couple of hours before I’m there. Do you need anything before I get back?” Because I had a feeling if Fletcher had uncovered what I really needed off those drives, then I would be very busy going forward.
Anticipation crackled within me, a kind of quivering excitement starting in the pit of my belly, usually reserved for the post-mission when the high hit. Daddy used to warn me about the endorphins released in those first few minutes after a successful hunt and kill. No matter how intoxicating the experience, they were bad for business.
He never seemed to have issues controlling his reactions, so I disciplined myself to follow his example. The night with Rick in the limo had been an aberration for me. As had the rest of that weekend, but I had no complaints at all. It was so much better than trying to contain it all until I could find some hookup in a dirty bar, without Daddy finding out about it.
“No,” Rick answered, pulling me back to the present and sharpening my focus on the immediate task ahead of me, and not the coils of need and desire beginning to tighten inside of me. Now was not the time or the place. “We are well stocked, even with Fletcher here.”
For once, he didn’t sound grudging about it. I’d take that victory, even if it amped up my own excitement. “Let me know within the hour if you notice anything.”
“Of course. I’ll have coffee and food ready for you when you get back here. Do you need anything else?”
A couple of orgasms would be nice, and a shower. Maybe orgasms in a shower. I pressed my thighs tighter together and frowned. This was not a distraction I needed right now. I knew better.
Usually, my body did too.
But my body had already gotten used to Rick being there, as had my brain.
“No,” I said softly because I needed to say something and I didn’t quite trust my voice at the moment. “Not at the moment. Thank you, Rick.”
“My pleasure. Be safe.”
“I will.” Then I ended the call before I could make any other missteps. I’d just finished disposing of a body and I was on the way to review the data Fletcher had retrieved for me. The absolute last thing I needed to be thinking with was my cunt.
