My son has a new woman in his life. Soon, he’ll be off to college and having his own children. Swallowing hard, I remember why I called.
“If you need us, we’re heading to Patten’s Fifth Avenue office. I’m not sure how long we’ll be. There’s dinner in the fridge.”
“No worries. I got this. Take your time.” As her image disappears, I wipe a sleeve across my wet face.
My husband lifts my chin. “What’s wrong, babe?”
Beautiful dark eyes penetrate my soul, forcing me to address my pettiness. “I hate her. Just kidding. No, I’m not. Shit. Fuck. She’s perfect. She’s… more fun than me.” Nails digging into my palms, I bite my lower lip and slide into the back seat of Slate’s SUV.
Suds jumps in beside me. “In due time, she’ll have to discipline him, and the honeymoon will end.”
“I know, it’s not only that. Do you think we’ll need to go into wit-sec?” At the thought of living far away from my cousins, my parents, and Coney Island, I shudder.
“It’s not like you to be so negative. Wherever we go, as long as we’re together, it doesn’t matter where we are. We can start a new career as dairy farmers.”
“Cows? Manure? Are you fucking insane?” When my eyes bug out of my head, he chuckles.
“There’s my snarky girl.” He kisses my cheek and my lips. “I’m not sayin’ we’ll have to move, but if we do, why not Italy?”
My eyes roll so high into my forehead, I get dizzy. “Riiiight. I’m sure my uncle has Sicilian associates who’re dying to hire us. Thanks, sweetheart. You have such fantastic ideas. I love you so much.” I could go on, but more sarcasm has to wait because my phone rings.
Stuck in crosstown traffic, I glance down at the number, tap the speaker icon, and hold the electronics up in the air.
“What’s up?” Emulating Slate, I leave out the salutation and get right to business. Whatever our undercover employee has to say, it must be important for her to call.
“I don’t have long. This is big. The FBI is going to be all over-” Her agitated whisper stops midsentence.
“Landy? You there?” My worried gaze lifts to my partner. “If she’s in trouble, we need to pull her out.”
Our breaths let out in unison and when her voice returns, it has less volume than before. “I’m fine. I’m in the restroom. Someone came in but they’re gone now.”
Slate glances at us from the rearview mirror as my husband’s mouth inches toward my palm. “Did you find out who told Vincent Vitale about the Chinese fentanyl?”
“Not yet, but I’ve narrowed it down to a handful. They’re not the same people selling the data. The only thing they have in common is neither wants the dolls stolen.”
“There must be some evidence of contact.” Picturing myself knee deep in cow shit, I pray my uncle was smart enough to use a computer with an IP address somewhere in Russia.
She whistles through her teeth. “Why? Were you two involved?”
“Not me.” Taking a leap of faith, I relate how Vinny stole the AI toys, sold them to The Kings, and planned on stealing them back. I skip the part where Patten Securities blew up the truck.
When I finish, she’s silent for a moment. “So now, because of him, this gang is after your family. Where does Dashiell Montclair fit into the picture?”
“Here’s the thing. He showed up on our doorstep and asked us to help him investigate fraud, but why?” Biting my lower lip, I lift my gaze to Suds’ frowny face and wait for her to confirm what we’ve been concerned about since day one.
“I don’t think he’s who he says he is.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck.“We thought the same thing. Do you have proof?”
“Well, he’s paying Big Rock Insurance, not the other way around. I’d say that’s a red flag, wouldn’t you?”
I don’t bother to ask if she’s certain. “Dammit. I need to talk to him. Is he still in Seattle with you?”
“He left for New York this morning.” Her sharp tone makes me wonder what went down between the two of them.
“Are you okay?”
“I will be, yeah.” Her voice cracks. Damn, the bastard must’ve conned his way into her heart. Fuck, I hate guys like that.
