Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 110550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Groaning, I peeled an eyelid open. Sunlight rained like knives in my eyes.
“About time you woke up.”
“Genny?” I pushed myself up, looking around. We were in a car— Actually, we were in a cab. Familiar surroundings told me we were in Waterford. That was the end of the list of things that made sense.
Genevieve plowed through traffic. Her face was a mass of bruises and scratches. “Graphic, right? Who knew you stitch bitches packed such a punch?”
“Gen, I can’t— You— What were you—?” I threw up my hands, giving up.
“Eloquent. A taste of the smooth talker that got all my brothers to fall for you.”
“Fuck you.”
She laughed. “Relax, Kenzie. We’re off to catch a rat.”
“You mean like you did today when you held innocent people at gunpoint!”
“I did what I had to do,” she breezed. “And it worked. Jace Carter ran out of there so fast; he left his shape in the wall like the Kool-Aid man. I warned them that I knew where they lived. Carter lives at 487B Blueview Apartments in Waterford. We’re dropping by for a visit.”
“What if he’s not there?”
“He can’t hide in my city, Mackenzie. We’ll find him.”
I swallowed the urge to point out that the Brotherhood had been successfully hiding in her city for months, maybe years. No reason to rub that in.
“This is really, really bad, Genny. There’ll be a warrant out for your arrest. And I’m riding shotgun like I’m your accomplice!”
“You’ve got to relax. Actually, don’t.” Genny hit the brakes. “We’re here. Save that freak-out for Carter.” She fished her gun out of the glove box.
“Leave that here!”
Genny popped her gum. When did she have time to get that?!
“Make me.” With that she climbed out, making for the steps of the Blueview building. I sat there for a full minute wondering if Sunny, Liam, and Bane would miss her that much. They had two other sisters. That was more than enough.
You have to go upstairs. If only to make sure Jace doesn’t tell his story under torture. That thought forced me out of the car.
Genny wasn’t in the lobby. I rode the elevator up alone and stuck my head out on the fourth floor. The last door on the end hung ajar.
I walked in on the scene I was expecting.
“Ah, Feisty. Nice of you to join us.”
His place was actually quite nice. Leather sofas, gorgeous paintings, huge entertainment center. Beside me was a kitchen decked out with more high-end gear than Shonda’s domain. That was the bad news. It didn’t add up that he bought all these things on his salary.
Genny knelt over a sobbing Jace. When he saw me, he tried to shout. It was a little hard to do with her gun in his mouth—the worse news.
“Close the door, will you? We’ll need our privacy.”
I scrambled to close it. “Let him up,” I hissed. “At least give him a chance to explain.”
“That’s exactly what I’m going to let you do. I’ll let you explain, Carter, why you sewed trackers into my clothes? Explain how you hooked up with the Brotherhood? What imaginary wrongs deluded you into hating the Merchants so much, you helped your brothers blow me up!
“Hmmph!”
Genny pressed the muzzle between his eyes. “Speak!”
“Blow up? What are you talking about?!” he shrieked. “Holden Shultz pays me to be the middle man between his dealer. His parents are crazy strict. He’s already been busted for possession once. They said if they catch him using, they’ll empty his trust fund and cut him off. They’ve gone so far as to have him followed.” Jace spoke so fast, I was barely keeping up. “His dealer drops off the coke and I put it in his clothes before they’re shipped out.
“Zoe caught onto me and made me ask for more. Word got around. And somehow I ended up using the Closet to supply half the building and our clients with d-drugs.” Tears and snot soaked his face. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I needed the money. I wasn’t trying to hurt anyone, I swear.”
“Shut up,” Genny snapped. “Tell me about the Brotherhood. When did they approach you? Who’s in charge?”
“The Brother-what?”
“That’s it.” Genny cocked her gun.
“No!”
“Wait! Gen, let me talk to him.” I dropped to my knees beside them. “Jace, someone’s been hiding more than drugs inside Caddell outfits. Right now, that person looks like you. Convince us that you’re not hiding trackers inside the clothes for the Johnsons.”
His eyes popped. “Trackers? I don’t know anything about that!”
“Hmm. I’m not convinced.” Genny got in close, making his eyes cross. “Maybe I should count to ten.”
“No, no, no, wait! I don’t know what you’re talking about. What trackers? I never put anything like that in their clothes. Why would I?”
“Why would you put drugs in people’s clothes?” I shot back.
Jace bucked. “That’s different! They paid me to.”