Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 51900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 260(@200wpm)___ 208(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 260(@200wpm)___ 208(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
I do not reach for my phone, certain we’re being watched, and that I’m expected to reach for my phone to call Kane in a panic. I’m not in a panic, not one fucking little bit. My dance card is filled with monsters, and I’d call Kane’s father just another one of the same, but he’s not so simple. His life and death have consequences for both me and, most importantly, Kane.
In fact, he’s one big mindfuck for Kane.
I slide into the SUV with Enrique following. The door shuts behind him, but I still don’t reach for my phone. This is going to send Kane off the deep end, and he’s already there, locked and loaded and ready for a slaughter.
“I’m loyal, Lilah,” Enrique states, staring at me with steel in his eyes.
Loyalty is a tricky business. It’s rarely about someone else and always about oneself. He knows it. I know it. Jay joins us, and I call out to him. “Airport. Chopper. Hamptons.”
“What’s going on?” he asks over his shoulder.
“Drive now. Talk later,” I say, “and hopefully less than normal.”
Jay grunts and does as I say while I settle into my seat, sinking into the leather, but I don’t reach for my phone. I don’t immediately call Kane. No matter how capable I am of taking care of myself, I’m the line in the sand, and it’s been crossed.
Enrique narrows his eyes on me. “Why aren’t you calling Kane? He needs to know what just happened.”
I lean forward and point at him. “You say you’re loyal; you need to leave this to me.”
“To Kane first. My job—”
“You need to be clear, and I mean crystal fucking clear, Enrique. Kane is never emotional, but he is now, and emotional actions lead to stupid, risky actions.”
“Kane isn’t emotional.”
“He’s human.”
He studies me several hard beats. “What do you need from me?”
“I need to be the one who tells him about Roberto visiting me in person, which allows me to gauge his reaction and control his actions.”
“A delay is not an option, Lilah. He’s Kane Mendez. You know what that means.”
“It means a lot of fucked up shit he needs to navigate with a clear head.”
“Don’t put me in a graveyard position. I cannot hold this back from him. You have to know that.”
“Don’t be a little bitch, Enrique.”
“Lilah,” he breathes out, gravel in his voice, a plea in the depths of his voice that has me grimacing.
He was Kane’s man before he was our man, and Kane’s trust in him is the only reason he’s here with me right now, or ever. I grit my teeth, drag my phone from my pocket, and dial Kane, who’s been MIA for most of the day. I have no doubt this indicates he’s on some mission to destroy his father he knows won’t win my approval. I’d say he’s taking the approach to do the deed and beg for forgiveness later, but he won’t bother.
As Enrique stated, he’s Kane Mendez.
Considering he’s been avoiding me all day, I don’t expect him to answer, and he doesn’t, and my call lands in his voicemail. “There’s been a new development,” I tell him via the recording. “Enrique is with me. He feels the need to tell you, and I told him it’s something I need to tell you in person. Besides, how would he tell you when you won’t fucking answer the phone? We’re following a lead to the Hamptons.” I hang up and glare at Enrique. “Happy?”
We halt at a stoplight and Jay is leaning around the seat, waving a hand at the rear. “For the love of God, will someone please tell me what’s going on?!”
“He’s going to call me,” Enrique replies tightly. “Watch and see.”
My cellphone rings in my hand, and I glance down to find Kane’s number. Normally I’d have a smartass remark to make, but there is nothing but dread in my belly. I answer the call. “Kane.”
“What do you need to tell me?” His voice is the slice of a steel blade.
“I’m headed to the Hamptons to follow up on a lead.”
“You said that in the voicemail.”
“Right. Where are you?”
“I’ll meet you in the Hamptons. Lilah, what aren’t you telling me?”
“A question that seems pretty flipping ironic coming from a man who’s avoided me for hours. What aren’t you telling me, Kane?”
I’m greeted with heavy, thick silence.
“Fine. Fuck you, Kane, for pushing me against my best judgment. I need a minute.” I grit my teeth, and as we are still not moving, scoot to the door before saying, “Drive around the block and come back and get me.” I don’t wait for approval or understanding. I exit the vehicle.
Enrique curses, but I’m already outside, where I dodge a car and step onto a crowded sidewalk. By the time I’m there, Enrique has joined me, and I point at him to stay back, glaring as I do. He’s the reason I’m about to create a shitshow with Kane, and it’s pissing me off.