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“I was planning to do ten a piece,” Angel says, and I know that’s fifty thousand out of his own pocket because he’s the one hiring out for this.
“You can have mine,” Nash says.
“And mine,” Liam adds. “We’re stronger with you.”
Fox’s jaw flexes, and I don’t know the man enough to determine if he’s actually considering it or if he’s getting pissed others have offered him something.
“Don’t want anyone’s fucking money,” he growls. “I want to be the one to end him.”
Maybe I was wrong about Fox not being linked to Cortez. It seems the sex trafficker and drug dealer has made a lot of fucking enemies. From the look in Fox’s eyes, things aren’t going to end well for him.
I try to convince myself as the meeting continues that the second Cortez is no longer an issue, I’ll be able to walk away from Alani and my life can go back to normal. But even still, as I work through that plan, I can picture waking up with her beside me.
I know that I’m well and truly fucked where that woman is concerned.
Chapter 31
Alani
“You look nervous,” Madelene says after the guys walk out of the room. “Don’t be.”
I stand a little taller, refusing to walk toward Ayla because I feel like it shows a weakness, as if I’m skittish and still need my big sister to protect me somehow.
“That woman is Lauren, and yes, that’s just her face.”
The woman in question waves but then glares at Madelene.
“Raya is with Liam. He’s the supermodel-looking guy.”
Raya nods at me and I stupidly give her a little wave.
“Of course you know your sister, and I didn’t tell you before, but I’m Donavan’s sister.”
This news floors me, and I jerk my head back in her direction.
“Well, I’m Elio’s sister, but Elio no longer exists.”
She tries to keep her smile on her face, but she just can’t manage it enough to make it believable.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise. I know literally nothing about the man other than he lives out of a duffel bag as if he has no roots at all.
I have so many questions, but I also know I have no right to ask them of Madelene. The woman probably wouldn’t tell me a thing, and I know that Donavan would be pissed.
Now that she’s mentioned being his sister, I can see some of the familial traits, mostly in the eyes because Donavan has a very full beard. I watch as Madelene presses her hand to her round belly, a sad smile on her face.
I realize they aren’t close or at least not as close as this woman would like them to be. With nothing else to go on, I wonder if the burns he tries to hide on his arm have anything to do with the distance between them.
The other women chat some, but I keep my distance. They’re all older than me, although the difference in age has less to do with it than their own life experiences.
I recognize Raya as the daughter of a former presidential candidate, and it makes me wonder how she got mixed up in this group of people. I have no doubt the guys are operating some kind of business the feds would be interested in.
I do my best to pay attention to what they’re saying, but I honestly just can’t pull myself from my thoughts long enough to track their conversation.
I’m lost, wondering about Donavan and what would make him become a different person. I don’t get a witness-protection vibe from him, and he doesn’t seem the type to run away from his problems. The man is ruthless. I saw that side of him both in Austin when he stabbed that man without so much as asking for his name first, and again with the man who drugged me. He’s fearless and brutal, and it should scare the hell out of me, but for some reason, it doesn’t.
I stand a little taller when the guys start filtering back into the room.
Raya and Liam walk out first, followed by Hollis and Madelene.
My heart aches when Donavan walks past me without so much as a glance in my direction. I know the feelings are one-sided. I know caring for him on any level has been a waste of energy on my part, but it’s not like I can control my heart.
“Are you coming?” Donavan asks as he nears the front door.
I don’t know what his plan is, but no matter what it is, I’m not going to turn down an opportunity to spend more time with him.
I don’t even look at my sister as I follow him out of the building. My heart is racing, threatening to take flight as I climb into his truck.
“I thought you were going to walk out and leave me there with Ayla,” I confess as I pull on my seatbelt.
