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Holding out his palms, Big Al continues without taking a breath, “She’s fine. Thankfully, it was only a graze on her arm. She was treated and released from the hospital last night. I brought her into HQ today for her protection and my sanity.”
“Mine too,” Leo adds in a low grumble. His eyes remain shut, and he wrings his hands in front of him. There’s a wobble in his jaw from how thoroughly he’s grinding his teeth.
Sue wipes a tear from her cheek, drawing my attention. The typical rosy hue to her complexion is missing. Her eyes are red-rimmed and weary.
Shep’s the first to speak. “We’re all glad to hear she’s all right.” He tips his head in Leo’s direction as a show of respect, then returns his focus to Boss. “How sure are we that Lenkov ordered the hit?”
“One hundred percent,” he replies with certainty. “I returned fire and took out the shooter. My picture was on him, along with one of Savin. I assume he was his other target.”
Jonesy drags his palm over his face. “Doesn’t necessarily implicate Lenkov. Could be someone else in the trafficking ring.”
Boss’s jaw clenches impossibly tighter. “The man I killed was one of Lenkov’s hired guns. He’s the same man who kidnapped Valerie Franco and Kri from the mathletes shit a few months ago. He was there when Valerie’s parents were murdered. The Russian with the silver-tipped cowboy boots.”
A grunted huff comes from Shep. He makes a fist and slams it into the arm of his chair. Not sure if it’s a celebration or an angry gesture.
Given his love for Kri and Valerie, perhaps it’s a little of both. Relief that one of the men who harmed his girls is at the morgue, but also frustration, because he wasn’t the one to fire the shot.
Cal lifts his hand to get Boss’s attention. “I assume you heightened the protocol for Savin and Tasha. Lenkov won’t stop.”
“They’re being transferred into federal witness protection this morning. They’ve agreed to testify against Lenkov, and now that the mole has been exposed at the bureau, I’m assuming they can get a case together that’ll stick. From what I heard, the fraud and laundering case against Lenkov is fizzling out. But he’s not getting away with what he’s done to those girls. And what he did to Maddie last night. Not this time. He wants a war? He’s got one.”
Fuck. To. The. Yes.
Unable to contain my furor, I slap my hand on the table and bolt upright, drawing everyone’s attention, but I don’t give them a second glance. I meet Big Al’s determined scowl head-on. “One hundred damn percent yes, Boss. I’ve been waiting for this for years. I swear I’ll dig up every skeleton in his closet. We’ll gather every shred of evidence so they can throw the fucking book at him. And the whole damn family too. Redleg is taking them down.”
One side of his face lifts in a barely perceptible grin. And he raises his pointer finger at me.
Then he winks.
It’s probably the closest thing to a hug he’s ever given. I’ll take it.
“Fuck yes!” Shep hollers.
Head nods and hoots of agreement sweep around the room.
As I slide down into my seat, trying to calm my racing heart, Sue cups her mouth and dashes out of the room at a speed that would rival an Olympic sprinter.
“Son of a bitch. Not again,” Leo grumbles.
He stands to follow her but pauses a foot away from the table. Glancing over his shoulder at me, he tips his chin toward the door.
Unsure of what he needs, I follow him out of the conference room.
In a hushed tone, he explains, “Can you follow her into the ladies’ room and make sure she’s okay? I can’t go in there, or else I would. I hate not being able to comfort her when she’s sick.”
He’s wrecked. Poor softie.
I squeeze his arm.Fuck.That’s a giant bicep.
“Of course. Tell Big Al I’ll be right back.”
My feet carry me swiftly toward the restroom, where sure enough, Sue is doubled over in the first stall, tossing her cookies.
“It’s Mia. I’m here.” I pat her shoulders and hold her hair. “You let it all out.”
She heaves again, and a putrid smell wafts toward me. The words fly out before I can stop them. “Is that peanut butter? Gah.”
She nods and wails in pain.
