I stare at him as I debate whether to tell him or not. “Promise you will only listen and not confront her.”
“Thorny, I don’t confront women.”
“You confronted me,” I remind him.
“That’s because you’re my woman.”
“I was not your woman when you ‘confronted’ me.” I put confront in air quotes.
“Like hell you weren’t, but I promise.”
“She says I can’t see her kids anymore.” Saying the words forms a lump in my throat.
“Because of me?” he asks.
I nod.
He snorts. “Well, I’m not giving you up, so she’s going to have to get over it.”
“Don’t worry about her. I have to go.” I lean in for a kiss, and he cups my face and kisses me with all the passion he has. “I love you,” I say when I finally manage to pull away. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He pulls me closer and presses his forehead on mine. “Forever,” he whispers. “Go before I come in with you and make Oscar shit his pants.”
Chapter 43
Rip
I stand to the side while Preacher talks to Dax. It’s like a PowerPoint presentation with graphs and videos. There’s even a video of Brennan sitting in his living room watching obscene things on his laptop.
Fucking monster. I knew something was off about him since the minute we were introduced. The man is also an idiot, which is something I can’t stand.
“His brothers have no idea,” Preacher says.
I roll my eyes and look away from the screen when Brennan pulls out his dick and masturbates. Preacher stops the recording and drops a folder on top of Dax’s mahogany desk.
“His financials. He did his best to hide them, but the guy’s kind of an idiot,” Preacher says. “He’s involved in a drug cartel. He’s using one of his family’s importing businesses to smuggle drugs. That’s not the worst part,” Preacher says.
Dax’s head snaps up. I remain stoic. I already know what Preacher is going to say.
“Human trafficking.”
The words hang in the air like a bad smell. Preacher resumes the video, but fast-forwards through the masturbation. We watch as Brennan does lines of coke and a few shots of vodka.
After dropping himself into the chair behind his desk, Dax rubs his hands over his face. I keep my mouth shut. There would be no point in reminding him that I never wanted to work with Brennan and his family.
“Speak your mind, King,” Dax says.
“This asshole will bring the feds,” is all I say.
Dax knows what that means. It’s possible, and oftentimes easy, to bribe or blackmail the local boys in blue. The feds are a different story. It’s easy to operate in small towns where no one pays attention. That’s why we’re here, on the periphery of major cities.
“End it,” Preacher says. “He’s dangerous.” Preacher never offers an opinion. He does his work and lets Dax run the show.
Daxton squints while he reads the file. Cursing, he finally puts on his reading glasses. “Fuck.” He shuts the file and slams it on his desk. “It’s done. Effective immediately.”
He shrugs, and I’m relieved. There’s never any shortage of business for us. Preacher vets them, and Dax either agrees to work with them or not. I’m the face and muscle when necessary. Over the years, I’ve made more money than I ever could have dreamed of. I’m set for many lifetimes. Losing Brennan and his family’s business won’t be a blip on the radar.
We’ll have ten businesses ready to take their place by tomorrow.
