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“I don’t knowwhat you’re talking about. We buried my father yesterday. I assure you, I haven’t seen your brother since our meeting last month. Hold on.” I mute the phone and hold it down by my side while stepping closer to Amelia, who’s seated on the bed, her face drained of all color.
She must have figured out this has something to do with her.
I planned to fill her in as much as I could. Eventually. When it was safe.
I didn’t plan to blindside her with this.
Cupping her face in my hand, I kiss her lips quickly. “Stay here until I get back.” When she raises her brown eyes to mine, I add, “Don’t go anywhere until I’m home. I promise I’ll explain everything I can then.” I take a step back, but she grabs my hand, her eyes darting between the phone and my face.
“Sam...” She swallows, then looks back at the phone.
“When I get back, Amelia. Just wait for me. Don’t leave. I need you to promise me that. I need to focus right now and can’t be worried you won’t stay here.”
She stands on shaky feet and kisses me. “Come home, Sam. Do what you’ve got to do, then come home to me.”
“Always.” I step out of the room, closing the door behind me and tucking in my shirt. I’m about to head downstairs, but I think better of it and walk into Sebastian’s old room for some privacy to finish this conversation. “What do you want, Tremblay?”
The voice coming through the phone is calm.
Rational.
Not at all like the unhinged brother he sat next to that night in Canada. Yet again proving by his actions that although his words may say he and his brother share control, he’s the one in charge. “I want to discuss terms, Sam.”
“Why would I discuss anything with you? Seems to me you and your brother made your own terms with no regard to our agreement.” It may have only been a month ago, but it feels like another lifetime.
“Sam.” There’s a hitch in his voice, a crack in the façade. “Ask me how I know you have my brother. Ask me,” he pushes harder. “You want to know my answer.”
I wish I didn’t want to know what he’s talking about.
But as I replay the last few days in my mind, I know I have to ask.
“Tell me why you think I have your brother,” I demand. Fuck him.
“You’ve got a rat, Sam. I got a call a few minutes ago. They called a number only a few people have access to. They told me Louis was in Philadelphia, that he was in trouble, and you have him.” He waits after that, letting those words sink in.
I don’t know how many people know we’ve got Louis Tremblay.
I don’t know who was involved in getting him from the motel where they found him.
Or how many men it took.
Fuck.
“You have no proof.” I consider how to play this when George speaks up.
“You’re young, Sam. You’re in a new position of power. And you’ve got to show strength to keep the respect of your men. I know what happens next. And I fear I know why. I’m not calling you—”
I cut him off. “I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, but I don’t need some wannabe-wise, old Canadian fuck who didn’t even know not to cross the Mexicans telling me how to run my business. So you can crawl back into the hole you came out of and find your brother yourself. I’m sure someone as smart as you doesn’t need my help.”
“I want his body, Sam.” There’s a pause. “Once it’s done, I want his body.” His voice is detached. Cold. Emotionless. “He has a wife and two daughters. I need to bring him home for them.”
What the fuck? “You’re assuming I have him.”
“You have him. You have him because I’massuming he’s the reason you buried your father. If he was, he acted without consulting me. He acted without permission. He acted alone. He went rogue. And then, I’m assuming he was idiotic enough to fly back there to watch your father’s body be lowered into the ground. He likes to know it’s done.” Another sigh. “You’re within your rights to do what you’ve got to do. My brother is impulsive. He’s trouble. He’s brought us more trouble lately. He hated you because you came here calmly. You came here ready to deal, and you had us by the balls because of something he fucked up. He hated you on sight, Sam. But even more, he hated that I liked you. That I respected what you came here to do and how you did it.”
Having heard enough, I cut him off. “And if I find your brother for you and make sure you have something to bring home, what do I get in return?”
“I’ll send you the information on the phone that was used to call me.” George Tremblay must think I’m stupid.
I scoff. “A burner phone won’t tell me shit, Tremblay. And anyone worth their salt would have used a burner phone.”
“And if I tell you the person whose pockets you need to check for the burner phone?” There’s a pause before he adds, “I recognized the voice, Sam.”
Having heard enough to understand what he’s telling me, I end the call and dial Sebastian.
“Whatever it is, make it quick, Sammy. I’m a little busy.” Lenny is laughing in the background, and I know he’s gonna be pissed.
“I need a favor.”
