AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Quinn lets go of his shirt and backs away. “What the fuck is happening here?”
With a look that could freeze ice, Alek regards Quinn. “You knew this could happen. They’re trying to hit you where they know it’ll hurt because they want revenge for what you did to El Azul. Did you think they were just gonna run away with their dicks between their legs and let you get away with it, you moron?”
Quinn sweeps a hand through his hair and leans back against a wall. “I wanted them to come forme.”
“Cartel bosses don’t typically take direction well. They only give it, dipshit. Next time, don’t fuck with their organization.”
Quinn glares at him. “I need to go back. I have to stop them from hurting anyone else. Next time, my nephew could be targeted. I’d never be able to forgive myself if something happened to him.”
“Then you should have considered the consequences of your actions before you unleashed your rage all over El Azul.” Alek’s nostrils flare. “And going back to New York won’t save your family. Killing Branko will.”
Boris holds up a hand to Alek and then turns to Quinn. “They’re waiting for you. If you make a move, what will happen then? They hit you and then Patrick will do the same back to them. It will start a war. A brutal, bloody war. We all know it. You need to stand down and get to the head. Don’t risk more bloodshed by going after the soldiers.”
“The war has already started,” Quinn growls.
“And you’re the one who can end it.” Boris pats his arm. “But you have to keep a clear head. If you go running into the flames, you’re not the only one who will suffer. Patty and Kyla are okay. That’s the important thing.”
“Yeah, for how long?” Quinn’s lips twist into a grimace.
“It’s just a little odd, the timing. How do we know for sure that Mercer hasn’t been compromised?” I ask the question and Alek turns his icy stare at me.
“You’re saying you don’t trust me?”
“I’m saying that we have a lot riding on this plan going smoothly. He’s your contact. How can you be so sure the information he gave you is legit?”
“Because Branko fucked him over, too. He wants that bastard dead as much as we do, but nobody’s paid him to do it, and he’s got clients who need him on other jobs. He’d be very happy if we found Branko and plugged him full of bullets.”
“Tonight you can put all this to bed, Val.” Kat steps forward with some bags. “Everything is ready for you. Mercer’s contact will meet you at the club and get you set up. This is in your hands. You can end this. Youwillend it.”
“She can’t go in there alone,” Quinn bellows.
My spine stiffens. I level him with a hard stare. “I can and I will. This is my show now. Right now, you need to stay here under the radar. If you show up at the club, anyone looking will find you and blow the whole plan to shit.”
His jaw tenses. He does an about-face and storms into the bedroom. The door slams shut so hard, the walls shake. Alek rolls his eyes and nods toward an open door. Kat and I walk into an empty bedroom with the bags.
“Okay, the guy you’re going to meet is named Zavion. He’ll meet you inside one of the performer entrances.” She pulls out a wig. The hair is black with dark-blue streaks, and it’s shaped into a bob that grazes the top of my shoulders. Then she takes out bits and pieces of what I can only imagine is part of my costume. Black patent leather bra and matching panties, long over the thigh black high-heeled boots.
Kat settles the wig on my head and pins it in place. “You like him, don’t you?”
I rub the stress knot at the base of my skull. “He’s crazy and outrageous and unpredictable.”
“And so youreallylike him, then?” Her lips quirk up. “’Cause he’s completely in it with you, that’s for damn sure.”
I bite the inside of my mouth. “He’s risky and dangerous.”
“And sexy as hell.” She giggles. “Hey, I’m married but not even close to dead yet.”
With a small smile, I shrug. “It doesn’t matter though. Once this is over, we’ll be over.”
“What makes you so sure about that?” Kat lifts a perfectly waxed eyebrow. “Why do you think he’ll take off?”
“Because he’s got a savior complex. He’ll be on to the next person who needs saving. And we both know that will never be me.”
“That’s because I trained you.” Kat’s smile widens. “But, sweetie, don’t you realize you suffer from the same affliction?”
“I think about possible consequences before I make any moves. I plan my actions and have backup plans in case something goes wrong. He just flies in, out of control like a freaking funnel cloud. And whatever gets sucked in is destroyed in his wake. That isnotlike me.”
“I just think you should be open to the possibility that he’s not ready to say goodbye once we nail Branko and those fuckers in the Sinalia Cartel. I think he’s got other plans, and they includeyou.”
