Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
“The money was too good, and I didn’t owe you anything.”
“No, you didn’t, but you do realize that you should be dead right now, correct?” I hold his gaze and he eventually breaks, looking down at the floor.
“I know,” he mutters. “Casey married you to keep me alive.”
“What are you doing, Adler?” The worried tone in her voice almost softens me, but I can’t afford that right now.
“We’re discussing business.”
“You’re bullying him. You can tell he’s sick, right?”
“Dope sick,” I correct. “Not the same thing.”
“It’s the same.” She glares at me, standing. “What’s the deal with all this?”
I take a breath and let the silence settle for a moment. “This is about what we discussed at dinner.”
“You’ll have to be a bit more specific.”
“Tony Vetch is a problem. Shane is going to be part of the solution.”
For his part, and to his credit, the junkie doesn’t immediately run away screaming. He seems paler than when I first entered the room, but I can’t fault him for that.
“Now you’re using my brother in your little war? I told you Adler, I don’t want any of this. Leave Shane out of it.”
“Shane is going to be my go-between. Tony’s men have gone dark ever since the incident with you and Roxie, which means he expects a violent answer to his transgressions. That’s exactly what he deserves—but I’m thinking bigger right now.”
Casey’s face screws up. “And what’s that have to do with Shane again?”
“Shane here has contacts in Tony’s organization. I can’t get them to talk to me, but Shane can. Isn’t that right?”
Shane nods, looking exhausted. “I know some guys I can talk to.”
“Okay, great, Shane can make some calls, but what then?” Casey crosses her arms.
Will gives me a look, one eyebrow raised. I rub my temple—I’m not used to people talking to me like that, and it’s not great that she’s doing it in front of my subordinate. Will’s going to give me so much shit for it later.
“Then we negotiate.”
“We’re not doing violence,” Will adds. “Which leaves our options limited. Adler here isn’t going to let Tony walk, but we can’t just start burning the whole town to ashes.”
“Erick said something last night that’s sticking with me.” I gesture at Casey. “You remember, don’t you?”
“Tony’s going to be a congressman.” She shakes her head. “I still don’t see how that’s helpful.”
“We are going to own him,” I say, speaking softly. “One way or another, I am going to grind him down under my thumb. No, I won’t kill him, but I’ll do something worse. I’ll control him.”
The room’s silent. Will looks skeptical. Shane looks like he might puke. Only Casey seems thoughtful, like she’s seriously considering my plan.
“Do you think that might work? I don’t see how you could get Tony to do what you want.”
“We have leverage. We have you.” I gesture for her to come closer. She hesitates then crosses the room. “I won’t directly involve you if you don’t want me to, but this is how it has to go. Shane makes the connection. We explain to Tony that he has no other options. If he doesn’t do what we ask, we’ll leak everything we know about him to the press, from the accident up to the shady Chinese businessmen with dubious ties to the communist party back home backing his new hotel.”
“And if he refuses?”
“We apply more pressure. It’s going to work.”
She doesn’t look convinced.
But Shane speaks up. “I’ll help,” he says. “It’s the least I can do.”
“You don’t have to,” Casey starts, but he interrupts her.
“I want to do it. I’ve been such a piece of shit for a long time and I just… I want to be useful again.”
I nod once to him. “I can respect that.”
“I’ll work out the details,” Will says. “Who he’s contacting, how he’s doing it. The manpower we’ll put behind him, everything.”
“Good. Make the connection. Then I’ll do the rest.” I take Casey’s hand in mine. She hesitates, looks back at her brother, but lets me lead her from the room. “How’s Roxie?”
“Hurt but enjoying herself.”
“I’m sure. I was told her bill is getting somewhat outrageous.”
“I can ask her to tone it down.”
“No, don’t. Let her enjoy.”
“Thank you.” She stops and gets up on her toes then does something I don’t expect—
She kisses me.
I hold onto her hips and return the kiss.
“You’re welcome,” I say quietly. “If I knew you’d kiss me for being nice to your friend, I would’ve comped her room much sooner.”
Casey laughs and pats a hand against my chest. “No, it’s more, thank you for getting Shane off the street and helping him get cleaned up.”
“I can’t promise he’ll stay that way.”
“It’s a start at least, right?”
“You’re a good sister. You care about him.”
“Sometimes I worry I don’t care enough, that I’m not doing enough.”