“Yes, since you guys were together and are still close?”
“First off, Trick and I aren’t that close, not compared to how close Trick is to C or I am to C. And second, I think jealousy comes when you’re afraid someone else will take someone away from you. I get jealous when other women come on to C because I don’t want anyone to replace me. But I think deep down Connor thinks we all belong to him, me and Trick and Anvil and now Rachel too by extension. And he doesn’t get jealous because he doesn’t believe any of us will ever leave him by choice.” She laughs. “He might be worried about you though because of the way Trick loves you. Anvil was surprised that Trick chases you, since he’s never done that before. But Trick shrugged and said, ‘That girl was my very first addiction. All it takes is one hit, and the only thing I think about is when I’ll get my next fix. Of course I chase her.’”
I smile, shaking my head. “That’s flattering… I guess?”
We exchange looks and laugh.
“But as for taking him away, I’m not trying to. It’s clear you guys are his family.”
The door to the suite opens, startling us.
“Come on. Time for everyone to be downstairs,” C says.
Zoe laughs and I smile, standing up.
We head down, and there is a Hummer limo waiting. This crue does like its large vehicles. Trick stands behind me, his left hand sliding down to my lower stomach.
Looking over my shoulder, I tease, “Is your baby where you left it?”
He winks at me.
We arrive in the Hamptons to have dinner with a rap artist and his entourage, but before getting out Trick stares at his phone, then swipes the screen to lock it and drops it in my purse.
“Is something wrong?”
He kisses my temple and then shakes his head, but I know him. Something’s wrong.
* * *
Trick
The light’s fading when we arrive. ‘Vil and I each do a sweep around the house, and I ask C to pull the other C Crue guys in tighter.
“What’s up?” C asks.
“I send Mangia emails to fuck with him, and I hacked his email account so I know when he opens them. Last one he forwarded to Enzo Palermo and Leone.”
“People are worried. We killed the last of the Palermo Coins businesses without ever firing a shot. They can’t have you out there destroying them digitally, Trick. If you’re not willing to make them truckloads of money, you’re too dangerous to leave alive.”
“He’s not so special,” ‘Vil says. “The Palermos and Leones want Rachel dead too, and she never hacked anyone’s computers.”
Anvil’s very ready to end Enzo Palermo and anyone else who’s a threat to his wife.
“I hear you, ‘Vil,” C says. “New York thinks it’s clever, so to hell with them. Literally. Those mountains of cash we need to clean we’ll put through Joe Sullivan. You good with that, Trick?”
We need help laundering money until I can shift over to that side of things. “I think Sullivan’s all right. I don’t want him thinking he can hang targets for me to practice on, but otherwise, I’ve got no objections to working with him. He knew the Callahans helped us and told everyone else to leave them alone.”
“How’d Sullivan get so lucky that you don’t want him hanging targets?”
I smirk. C’s been saying for a while that none of us should be involved directly in wet-works anymore because we’re all too valuable now.
“Where’s Enzo right now? You know, Trick?” Anvil asks, loosening his tie.
“According to his IP, he was in Jersey at Leone’s house earlier. Maybe they’re sitting next to each other at a roll-top desk writing checks to whoever they’re sending here to kill us. Tronex and J Skuff both posted on social media that we’re coming to dinner. They’ve posted pictures of the house all week. Gotta assume anyone who’s looking for us knows exactly where to find us, and it’s no Waldorf or Wolfram hotel out here. Once the sun’s down, the approach is easy.”
“What do you say, C?” Anvil asks.
“We’re not running. But yeah, we need to be ready. If we move the girls it’ll divide us because someone has to cover them. Settling in here and pulling our guys closer seems like the best strategy.”
