Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
“In other words,” Kane adds, “Junior never went away.”
“By your theory, he was simply too lazy to chase me to New York City,” I conclude.
“Until now.”
“Right, until now, but before tonight, I’d decide that laziness meant he’s irrelevant and should be dismissed. However, when a lazy person is suddenly motivated to make something happen, as in tonight’s message, it’s worthy of notice.” I stick the note in my purse, any chance to bag it for prints long gone, which makes me think of Jack, my forensics dude who actually does resemble a stalker himself the way he follows me around, but he’s no Junior. Jack does not have the discipline to hide behind words, nor would he want to miss out on credit where credit is due.
“If you’re right, and the ‘she’ in question is connected to your father, Junior must hold a connection to your father in both locations.”
Which means there might be a connection to Pocher as well. It’s long past time to rip away Junior’s mask and with it, the glory of being unknown.
Chapter Six
Two stalkers in one night doesn’t quite add up, like two plus three is not four, though I once had a guy I was arresting argue that with me until I put tape on his mouth. He really did get it, and I don’t buy this, not on the same night, but that’s a problem for later.
Right now, Kit’s pulling up to our apartment building and I have a fight to finish with Kane. The vehicle halts and Kane opens his door, sliding out of the vehicle. By the time he’s offering me his hand, I’m already at the edge of the seat, handling my own self, but Kane isn’t having it. He captures my waist, lifts me and sets me on the ground, the door at my back, and him at my front. “We have too many enemies.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t have insisted I stop stabbing people.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t have,” he surprises me by saying. “You make the mess. I clean it up. It works for us.”
In other words, his father has him as fucked in the head as mine usually does me and he’s out for blood and a shovel. “What is going on?” My voice is cool and calm, and Kane knows me well enough to know there’s a darkness inside the quiet paces of my mind, and that darkness is far more lethal than any other part of me. But he has that in him, too.
“A conversation better undertaken later.”
In other words, he might not keep me in the dark about his family business any longer, but he tells me what I need to know when it’s too late to stop him. And it’s a shit field I’m going to throw him in. Later.
“Go do what you have to do, Kane. I know that’s why we’re still standing outside. You’re leaving and you’re not coming up first. We’ll talk when you get back.”
His chin lowers and he breaths out my name, “Lilah—”
I grab his lapels and when his gaze snaps to mine I say, “Get your head on straight. You believe you need to do what you plan to do. Clear your fucking mind and do it without getting killed. And as for me, I’m pissed, but you can fight that battle with me as you said—later. Now, step aside and let me go so you can go.”
His hands come down on my upper arms. “I did that once. I’m not doing it again.” He drags me close, every hard, stubborn inch of him pressed against me. “The cartel and the mob are both in panic mode over my father and the mob hitman going missing when the hitman was targeting my father. I’m the only one—”
“You always are,” I say, “and I get that. I do, Kane. You didn’t choose this life but neither did I. When I said ‘yes’ to marrying you we agreed we fight together. We’re honest. And yet, over and over—”
He curses in Spanish and then, “I don’t know how to not protect you.”
“I’m Lilah fucking–”
“Mendez,” he supplies before I can say Love. “You’re a fucking Mendez.”
“And Lilah fucking Mendez is gangster and my motto is ‘stab thy enemy.’ Remember that. And stop fucking hiding from me. Now, for real this time, go do what you need to do and come back home.”
He studies me with hooded eyes and then he kisses me, desperation in the depths of that kiss that’s so unlike Kane it scares the shit out of me. But he’s already stepping away from the vehicle and taking me with him, shutting the door behind me. Kit and Jay stand on the sidewalk waiting on us. “Kit goes with you,” I say. “That’s our deal. We each have our man.” He opens his mouth to argue and I hold up a finger. “The end, Kane.” I eye Kit. “If you get anywhere near me after I go inside, I’ll shoot you. And just thinking about how I’d have to lift my dress and flash you to make that happen, makes me want to shoot you twice.”