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They do stay… Because, of course, they have no regard for protocol right now. Not that Kane or Ezra know anything about it. But Lory and Riot do.
“Shut up, Quin,” I whisper, though it rings loudly in the room. “You fucked with my shipment. If anyone were to find out, they would expect me to make an example out of you. I can’t hold them all back. They’ll kill you without thought.”
I pace as I rant at him, needing to move to avoid glancing at Kane.
“You left a trail of evidence a mile long. I can’t fucking believe anyone in this town is that goddamn stupid. I really want to shoot you right now, just to teach you a fucking lesson. But I’d rather you return the shipment you stole.”
Quin looks at the guys, his outrage clear as his voice raises. “So she’s a gang member. And apparently she’s a homicidal drug dealer too? Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you let them in? Are you fucking insane?”
“I’m not getting shot over whatever you did, so you need to come clean,” Ezra states, ignoring everything his brother said.
“She’s not a drug dealer,” Kane argues. “Just shut up for a minute.”
Everyone ignores Kane. He doesn’t know about Quin’s theft or our drugs… Or the body Riot disposed of last week. Or Ezra tagging along to make it a field trip. Or why Lory has been so quiet.
Fuck. This is a mess.
“Why did you steal from her?” Riley asks, turning stormy, ocean blue eyes to his cousin.
“How do you know I stole from her?” Quin petulantly counters.
“Don’t play games with me,” I warn him, stepping closer to pass him his cell phone. “You dropped this earlier.”
“What the fuck?” Ezra snarls.
Quin shrugs at his brother. “I saw them meeting with Dad two weeks ago, so I followed her for a couple of days. They went to some trap houses in the fucking ghetto. I assumed they were getting his drugs.”
“I don’t sell drugs,” I tell him, clarifying that issue. “Nor am I a drug runner of any sort. Why are you concerned with where Mr. Copeland gets his ecstasy from?”
“I’ll be your best fucking friend if you can get me some pot. Not the garbage my dad gets.” Sarcasm oozes from Quin’s words, as if he can force me to defend where his father gets his drugs.
I really, really want to shoot him right now, but instead, I play his game. “I suppose I could make an exception if you plan to buy several pounds every week?”
Quin shakes his head. “I don’t need that much at once. One pound isn’t so bad, but that would last…” He blows out a breath, staring at the ceiling as he does the math in his head. “A while.”
“Then shut the fuck up,” I snap. “I don’t sell grams of weed. I barely tolerate Ridge Copeland. Keep fucking with me, and you will be the next package I deliver to him.”
“Ouch, gorgeous,” he drawls, unfazed. “It hurts my feelings that you don’t know about me. You just keep threatening me, and they’re starting to feel pretty empty. Listen, if you want to act out some kind of stalker-killer fantasy, then I’m all for the foreplay. The threats aren’t necessary.”
“She knows who you are, Quin.” Riot rolls his eyes. “She’s going to kill you. And there’s nothing we can do to stop her now. You’ve pissed her off.”
“Does he have no self-preservation instincts?” Lory asks the room.
Kane shakes his head. “No. None.”
“You listen, Quin,” I murmur, standing toe-to-toe with him. “And listen very closely. You can talk all the shit you want, but what you can’t do is fuck with family business. It will get you killed. Quick.”
He goes to interrupt me, and I slap my hand over his mouth. If he licks me, or spits on me, I’ll throat-punch him, but I refuse to warn him. His eyes cross as he tries to look at my fingers.
“I hope you understand the repercussions of your actions. I’ve been more than lenient with you today. Normally, this level of running one’s mouth would result in his tongue in my pocket. Yes, literally.”
I shake my head at him. “I’ve covered everything I can without knowing all the evidence you left behind for others to find. But you’re tying my hands; and not in a fun way. You’re also dragging them with you. I’m not okay with that. The only reason you live to see another day is because of those guys.”
I remove my hand from his mouth to point over my shoulder. He nods like he’s finally understanding… Almost.
“Stop associating with my dad, and I won’t do anything else,” Quin negotiates.
“No.” I grin at him, laughter clear in my voice. “He’s… a valuable client. You won’t do anything else. There will not be another time, because there isn’t room for another warning. Take this olive branch seriously. Don’t make me return for you.”
