The lump in my throat is too big to swallow this time. As soon as I step out the door of his apartment and close it behind me, tears spill onto my cheeks.
I’ve lost everything. The pieces of glass that remain of me fall to the ground, a thousand shards of broken hopes and dreams.
22
Phoenix
I don’t knowwho I’m more mad at—Kennedy, Coco, or myself. I knew Kennedy had a secret and that I was playing a dangerous game inviting her into my life and my bed. But I thought I had it handled. I did have it under control. Kennedy hadn’t seen or heard anything that could have incriminated me.
But there’s always a wrinkle. I should’ve known that. I’ve been at this too long not to know that everyone has a weak spot. I played with fire, and fuckin’ A…I got burned. I hadn’t planned on Coco’s stupid shenanigans to get me popped by the Feds. I knew as soon as she told me what she’d done that it would bring nothing but trouble.
When Kennedy left, I was raging with anger. I misplaced it and aimed it directly at her. Even though I knew she was playing me the entire time, it didn’t make it sting less to finally hear her say it.
Before I left the penthouse, I made a phone call to my lawyer. I made him aware of the situation, and since I pay him a hefty sum of money every month, it is time for him to start earning every penny.
As I walk out the door, I dial Kennedy, fully expecting her not to pick up.
“Hello?” she says, but it comes out as a question.
I close my eyes and try to keep the emotion in my voice to a minimum. “Ken, where’s Coco?”
“I don’t have clearance to tell you that, Nix.”
“Fuck,” I hiss through gritted teeth and jab at the elevator button, growing more impatient. “I’m not letting her be detained any longer than she has been.”
“I don’t want you to go to prison. Talk to us, Nix. Help us, and we’ll help you.”
“Call me back in five with a location,” I tell her and disconnect the call as I walk into the elevator to make my way to my car.
Crane won’t be driving me. He doesn’t need to know what’s going on. He already doesn’t like or trust Kennedy, and the last thing I need is to involve him. By the time I climb into my Lexus LFA, my anger is a slow burn. Even with the entire fucked-up situation, I can only be pissed at myself.
My phone rings as I wait for the parking garage door to open to the street.
“Yeah?” I say when the call connects through the car speakers.
“Meet me at Beans to an End.”
I tighten my hands around the steering wheel, the leather squeaking beneath my grip. “I’m not in the fucking mood for coffee. Don’t play games with me anymore, Kennedy.”
“It’s not a game, Nix. Just go there. I’ll meet you there in five.” She disconnects before I can say another word.
I break every speed limit and blow every red light on the way to Beans to an End. Kennedy’s standing in front of the joint, pacing like a caged animal when I pull up. Her eyes are clearly swollen and red, even from a few feet away.
“Nix,” she says quietly as I approach.
I glance inside the bustling coffee shop and feel the slow simmer of my anger about to boil over. “Where’s Coco? Why the fuck are we at a coffee shop?”
“Listen.” She takes a step forward, closing the distance between us. “I can’t bring you in unless you’re willing to talk.”
I roll my head around on my shoulders, cracking my neck and trying to ease the tension that’s settled into my muscles. “If I don’t talk, you’re going to arrest me, yeah?”
Her eyes drop to the ground. “Yeah.”
I keep my hands to my sides, not trusting myself not to get too rough with her. “Either way, I’m going to find out where you work. So, what’s the difference? Make the call and get me inside.”
She pulls her phone from her pocket and takes a few steps away from me. “He’s here,” she tells the person on the other end of the call. “He wants to come in.” She pauses, and she darts her eyes to mine. “I don’t know.” She sucks her lip into her mouth, toying with the ring that first infatuated me. “Yeah.” She walks toward me and blows out a breath as she shoves the phone back in her pocket. “Okay. I can bring you in, but can we talk first?”
“No, Kennedy. I never lied to you about who I am, but you’ve never been truthful with me. Right now, there’s no time to talk about anything except for Coco.”
