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CHAPTERTHIRTY
Jamie
“My forensics guy is infiltrating his computer system, combing the storage,” Russel says down the phone. “He should have enough, Jamie. He’ll be able to show the link between Lionel Strafer and the butcher.”
“Yeah, but he’ll find a way to wriggle out of it,” I growl. “You’re the one who gave me his location. I’ll make him squeal.”
I drive down the street in my unmarked car. I’ll need to replace the windows in my sedan, fix the door, and hide the bullet holes. I grip the steering wheel hard.“Focus, kid,”but then Imaginary Jack is gone. It’s my woman instead. It’s Lena.“You can do this. For us. For the family.”
“So you could monitor him. Scope it out. Not whatever you’re planning.”
I change lanes, maybe a little too aggressively. “Who says I’m planning anything?”
“You sound like you’re fixing for a fight.”
I change lanes again. “Can you fucking blame me? This prick thinks he’s untouchable. He thinks he’s got us all under his thumb. He thinks he can risk my woman’s life and get away with it.”
“Wait, what?”
“Nothing,” I grunt, coming to a reluctant stop at a red light.
“Jamie, are you talking about Simone?”
“Lena,” I snap.
“Lena?”
“Lena,”I almost roar. “I’ve wanted it ever since I saw her. Say it, man. Tell me she’s too young. Call me a creep. I don’t give a damn. I can’t give a damn about anything anymore. I can’t afford to. Just my family.”
“How does she feel?”
“She wants it, too.” Green light. “We’re going tohaveit—a future together. I’ve never wanted anything more. Hell, man. I never knew a man could want anything this badly.”
“I’m happy for you,” Russel says. “I’ve never heard you like this. We used to think you were made of stone back in the teams, but I mean it. This is good. You’re going to love being a dad.”
I swallow, gripped with emotion, knowing he’s right. It was like Lena and I said. We already love our kids. They’re not even here yet, and Lena is still a virgin.
“Hold on, bro…” Russel trails off, the line going to hold. I keep heading toward the sushi bar just off the Financial District, where the billionaire playboy sadistic douchebag is probably dining with a grin on his face, surrounded by his security, no clue I’m about to charge in there and…
And what? I need to think and plan. I can’t forget the look on my woman’s face when she shot the gun, the recoil blowing it from her hand, and the unearned guilt that flashed into her features.
“Turn around,” Russel snaps when he’s back on the line. “You need to get far away from there.”
“What? Why? What’s going down?”
“The FBI has moved in on him. I’ve sent you a video. They must’ve had a case cooking this whole time. If the Feds are on this, it’s only a matter of time before they get the files fromThe Answer. If this tech douche could get our info…”
“The Feds will have it eventually,” I say, swallowing. “Jesus, man. I’m sorry. Your family.”
“I’ve got a tropical place in mind. They’ll live. We planned for this. We knew this day could come.”
“When will you leave?” I ask.
“Realistically, we could have some time. It depends on how quickly Lionel decides to talk. It depends on how quickly it becomes public.”
“Don’t forget his men,” I say, bringing my car to a stop in an alleyway. I’m close to the sushi bar. I can hear sirens in the air. “They know who we are, too.”
“Hired guns, brother. They don’t give a shit about us. They’d be our friends if we paid them enough.”
