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Her dad and Sersha’s familiarity was kind of jarring. Their ease was blatant, their trust, their understanding. Did they keep each other’s secrets? Confide in each other. Commiserate? Yes, it was nauseating to think of her dad with a woman younger than her, but it was nauseating to think of him with anyone.
“I’m not calling around on this.”
She groaned. “See, refusal.”
“Because I like you alive, Immie.”
“Tell them I’m asking,” Sersha said on a shrug. “It’s not like our association is a secret anymore. If someone asks why you want to know, use my name.”
“Why would he be okay using your name and not mine?”
“I don’t have to use anyone’s name. I don’t want my little girl mixed up in this.”
“I’ll take it if you want,” Sersha said and briefly sucked her lips around her teeth. “But if anyone tried to take my story out from under me…”
“No one is taking this,” she said. “Help, don’t help, that’s up to you, but I am not letting this go.”
“Do you want me to call Evander?”
“Call him?” she asked, flabbergasted. “You have his phone number?”
“He has me on speed dial. Some nights he doesn’t let me sleep.”
The opening was too good to ignore. “Do you have sex with him?”
Amusement bubbled out of Sersha. “He wishes.”
“And has been wishing for a long time.” Strat didn’t miss the opportunity. “These guys get obsessed, Immie. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. I don’t want you on their radar.”
“But it’s okay for Sersha?”
“You’re my daughter.”
“And she’s your… what? Fuck buddy, friend with benefit—”
“He knows I can handle this,” Sersha said, interrupting again. “And he’s right. If you want someone to deal with Evander, I’m already in his field of fire.”
And since they were there anyway, she asked, “You know a guy called Ludlow?”
Sersha’s brow creased. “Yeah, low level, not a Manzani by blood, he used to run with—”
“Ludlow is bad news.” Her father was just stuck in a groove. “Neither of you should go near him.”
Sersha laughed. “Oh, if that was a challenge, I’ll pick it right up, old man. You’re afraid of Ludlow? I’ve seen you stand up to the scariest sons-of-bitches this city has and you draw the line at Ludlow? Ludlow?” The woman just couldn’t believe it; her head shake carried incredulity and laughter. “One phone call and we can have him trussed up on a platter or behind bars, take your pick. I, for one, wouldn’t be calling in those favors on a nobody like Ludlow. Hell, I’ll kill Ludlow for you. That’s as much as anyone’s paying attention to him.”
“These women are paying attention.” And it wasn’t quite so funny to her. “He’s involved.”
“Ludlow?”
“He drives them. Each of the women was last seen getting into a cab. One of those drivers was Ludlow.”
“Just one of them?”
“So far he’s all we’ve ID’d,” Ford said like he’d be around for a while. “City isn’t as well covered as you’d think.”
“We don’t have access to the city cameras.”
“Lachlan could get you that,” Sersha said. “You never told me why he isn’t chasing it down for you already.”
