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I’d never thought I’d be provided with a chance to use it, but I’d learned a long time ago to be as observant as possible. That had been something else my father had taught. He’d said that I could learn a lot about a person from his or her habits. Simple actions provided intent as well as allowed a vision of their weaknesses. At the time, I thought he was giving me a different kind of ‘boy’ talk. Maybe he’d been providing me with trade secrets.
What couldn’t happen was to be caught by one of them. I’d make a call upstairs then see if I could slide back down. Worst case scenario, I’d return it to his bedroom. What I was attempting was risky, but there was a slight chance I could help.
Or damn us.
* * *
Constantine
Treachery.
The concept was a part of my world just like it was for any successful businessman or woman. The only difference was that lives were often put on the line when someone in my organization betrayed me. I was uncertain why the hell Tristen had decided to treat Jade in a disrespectful manner, but it didn’t matter. I was livid and had been since she told me.
As soon as Tristen was in the room, Zane remaining, I took long strides toward him, throwing a solid punch to his jaw.
Tristen grunted from the blow, the force enough to pummel him back by several feet. I’d known the man long enough to realize he would come back swinging, which he did.
“What the hell?” Barrett snapped.
“Stay out of this,” I snarled and issued two jabs in rapid succession.
“This is long overdue,” Tristen hissed as he came at me again, managing to slam his fist against my cheek.
The pain was nothing in comparison to the concept of his betrayal and I swung and connected to his kidney, then under his jaw.
“Gentlemen,” Barrett yelled, trying to get in the middle of us. “We’re all friends here.”
Friends? I had no friends, especially ones I could trust.
Tristen backed away, rubbing his jaw then throwing a hateful look toward Zane. “The fucker ratted me out.”
“He didn’t have to. He was going to take the blame for the way you treated Jade.”
“Jesus Christ,” Barrett muttered. “The two of you need to act like adults. What the hell is going on?”
“She won’t stop asking questions. She is undermining our organization,” Tristen stated with conviction. “She’s a weakness.”
“Yeah? Well, the last time I checked this is my organization.” I hated the words as soon as I’d spouted them off.
“No. That’s where you’re wrong. I’ve been with you for twelve years. Twelve. Maybe you forget how I started, a goddamn foot soldier for your father. I’m amazed I was allowed to go to college.” Tristen shook his head. “Blood, sweat, and tears. Isn’t that the expression? Well, there was a lot of all three. I sacrificed foryourorganization, including losing the woman I loved.”
I took a deep breath, closing my eyes. “Zane wasn’t responsible for your loss, Tristen. I was. He was only following my orders. However, the situation was unavoidable. The woman you loved wasn’t the person you thought she was.”
“Don’t you dare talk bad about her!”
The sudden silence in the room was unyielding. “I won’t disparage her, but when you’re ready, I’ll tell you what I never wanted to. Zane should never have carried the burden. That was my job.”
I studied Tristen and sighed. He hadn’t betrayed me. In fact, I’d been the one to betray him for far too long when I thought I’d protected him.
He lowered his head and nodded several times. “She was with the Santiago Cartel.”
“You knew.”
“I suspected. Maybe I was a fool to hold onto the anger and bitterness for this long. But I did care about her.”
“I know you did,” I told him.
“Just like you care about Jade. You love her.” He finally looked me in the eyes.
