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“Too bad indeed. I’ll have them sent to her place.”
“Don’t do that. That’s her competition. Just—bring me flowers when you come home. That’s what I want.”
He’s silent a moment. “Feel better. I love you.”
I can’t say it. I can’t say it. “Do you?”
“What kind of question is that?” he demands.
“One from a sick person. Just—I’ll see you this weekend.”
“And I’ll tell you more about how I feel this weekend,” he promises. “Feelings are better expressed in person.”
“Yes. I guess they are. I look forward to it.”
“Do you?”
“What kind of question is that?” I challenge back.
He laughs. “You are feeling better.” And his tone is lighter as he adds, “See you soon, buttercup,” and he hangs up.
I pull up my text messages with Linda and because I’m worried about who might read this, type a coded message: Thanks for letting me stay last night when I was so sick.
She replies with a wink. Just a wink. God, I love her.
I set the phone down and I frown. The call with Gabriel is over and I should be relieved. I’m not. Something feels off. Nothing about that simple exchange was as simple as it seemed. That foreboding feeling is back.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Savage
The Emma suite, or whatever the flip it’s called, sports a long-ass dining room table that is loaded down with coffee, donuts, and random MacBooks belonging to our visitors. Those visitors include Smith, Adam, Asher, and Adrian—who I haven’t decided to like or hate yet. Good thing he’s on the opposite side of the table between Asher and Smith, while I have only Adam, who I’m least likely to punch, but yeah. It could happen.
“You cheap fucks couldn’t afford more than donuts again?” I ask, enjoying the hell out of my fourth donut. Or so it may seem to everyone else, but I’m living one of my moments. Those moments. The seemingly mundane ones that happen not long before the most brutal, bloody moments. I have that sense now, the calm before the storm, and a storm is coming.
“You know what they say about donuts?” Adrian asks. He’s talking about donuts. I still don’t hate him. Still don’t like him either.
“You eat what’s sweet and not the hole,” I say, grabbing another chocolate glazed to finish me off.
He laughs. “And you can only eat just one.”
Smith mumbles. “Please don’t encourage his shit jokes,” Smith mumbles. “I can’t take it.”
“One day you’ll find a woman who doesn’t mind,” I assure him.
“You found a woman,” he snaps. “Anyone can.”
I give him a fake grin and shove a donut into my mouth.
Asher jibes at him and that side of the table gets into a conversation. I lean in closer to Adam and lower my voice. “Kane Mendez of the Mendez Oil Empire. He’s dangerous. He’s brutal. He cannot be controlled, which is why the Society hates him. He’s our resource.”
“A resource you call dangerous. Why is he dangerous?”
“His father was one of the most notorious drug lords to ever live.”
He arches a brow. “Was? Where is his father now?”
“Dead. His uncle runs the cartel, though there are rumors that he’s a front for Kane himself.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? And you want to get him involved?”
“The Society, and that means Pocher, they’re his enemies. My enemy’s enemy is my friend. Gabriel is being supported by Pocher. We need to know our enemy and no one knows him better than Kane Mendez.”
“How do you know Kane Mendez?”
“I made a lot of contacts in my years with Tag. And enemies, too, which is why I stayed away from Candace.”
“You mean Wes? Because, man, I get it. Having a man do what he did to your woman’s bed would fuck with anyone.”
“Wes is a fly that I should have killed years ago. Tag will take care of him to make sure I take care of Gabriel. What I’m concerned about right now is how we take down Gabriel and get rid of Pocher before he decides Candace is too much of a liability to let live. If that means doing things Walker won’t do, then I will step away. I’ll walk away.”
“You aren’t going anywhere,” he says. “I’m all in. You saved my life, man. Whatever that means, I’ll help save your woman, but I need you to exhaust every option that isn’t Kane Mendez first.”
“And what options are there?” I bite out.
“Remember where you put the proof to take this asshole down.” He grabs a piece of paper and sets it in front of me. “Write down mission details.” He motions to Asher, who is now listening in on our conversation. “Then Asher can hack and hunt for the proof that Gabriel broke laws.”
“I’ll get Blake to help, too,” Asher agrees. “We’ll get what we need to ruin him and there’s no reason Pocher will focus on Candace. Gabriel’s nothing but a political puppet to him right now. Put him in jail, and Pocher distances himself.”
