“Do you really want to go down this road?”
I think about my brother and Kane, and the lives we won’t ever get to live fully until this is over.
“I don’t have any other choice.”
43
Kane
“What the fuck? Are you serious?” I stare at Mount like he’s just told me he has four balls and a double dick.
“Do you think I make up shit about human trafficking? Even I have lines. Having a shipment change hands in my city when I have advance notice of it is unacceptable. You’re taking out the buyer and the seller tonight. I want to send a message to anyone who even thinks about running people through my city.”
I appreciate his sentiments but ... he’s got one thing wrong.
“I don’t take orders from you,” I reply. “That’s not how we work anymore.”
He narrows his nearly black gaze on me. “Then consider this returning the favor that I did for you.”
Ransom said he was closing in on Lagarto, so there’s a fucking good chance I already need to be there. As soon as I get out of this cell-phone dead spot that’s Mount’s office, I’ll get in touch with him to find out where the hell he’s at.
“I take the job, and then we’re even.”
“Fine. As long as you end this. Tonight.”
“It’ll be done.”
44
Temperance
Kane isn’t returning my texts or calls, and I’m starting to worry. Skip starting, my mind is already running down all the rabbit holes of what could have possibly happened to him.
He’s fine. He’s capable. He’s probably just doing recon or something and turned his phone off.
I rationalize his silence any way I can as I pace my apartment, staring down at the app Ariel installed on my phone that allows me to track Magnolia. I don’t know how Ariel did it, but as long as Magnolia has her phone on her, I know where she is.
She’s been to the club and is now at her downtown penthouse. I can’t confirm any of my crazy suspicions until I talk to her, but I don’t want to confront her without Kane. I have no doubt that she’s dangerous.
And my fucking brother ... he might be on a mission to kill his goddamned girlfriend and doesn’t even know it.
I don’t know how she could have pulled it off, but she’s wily as hell.
There’s only one other person I can call who might be able to shed some light on the situation, but I hesitate. It’s Sunday night, and my questions will certainly be unwelcome.
But what other choice do I have?
I exit the app and tap on my former boss’s contact. Keira knows Magnolia better than anyone.
“Hey, Temperance. Is something wrong?”
I suppose that would be my first reaction if she were calling me on a Sunday night too, so it’s fair.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Can I ask you about someone?”
She goes quiet for a beat. “You know I can’t and won’t tell you anything about Mount.”
“No, no, of course not. And that’s not what I’m after.”