“Honestly, I’m on thefenceabout that,” Tavish says.
“Just like Jackson’s ass. Heh.” I smile at the memory.
Tavish seems to think that wins him another treat because he grabs another cookie then discusses with Ellis which one he’d like before they decide to break them in half so they each get to try two different kinds. It’s sappy and disgusting.
“This wasn’t a roast,” I remind Tavish.
“Woodyou care to explain?” Cassel asks before choosing a cookie.
“Who said anything about puns and jokes! I saidcomplimentsor singing! Jackson, they are refusing to listen.”
“They’re never going to get on ‘board’with your ideas, hon,” Jackson says while I stare at the traitorous man. “But I’ll come to your de-fence.”
“I think Jackson ‘nailed’ it,” Henry comments as he takes one.
“Leland’s just being de-fence-ive,” Micah says.
I sigh, wondering what hell I’ve found myself in where they’re all making fun of my precious fence! “This is never going to end, is it?”
“I don’t gate it,” Everly says as dryly as he could possibly deliver it.
With raised eyebrows, I look over at Everly, astonished that even he is getting in on this. “You too? Alright, Jeremy, lay it on me. You’re the only one without a cookie.”
“I’m just trying to figure out where I’m going but I’m drawing a plank,” Jeremy states.
“Ah, that was a good one, babe. Oh… you’re being serious. Sorry, I totally forgot I was giving you directions,” Cassel says.
I pass a cookie up to him and then grab one for myself before passing the box around for whoever wants a second helping… not that they deserve it.
“Are we killing this Raul guy?” Tavish asks.
“It’s sickening, the way he’s controlling people,” Micah says. “He pushes them until they have nothing left, until they cave and reach out to him for help, and then he takes control over them. He needs to die.”
“Not yet. He has a price on my head. I want to learn what’s going on and possibly get him to call it off—” I start.
Everly looks over at me. “You’re not going to kill him?”
And it reminds me that when I found Everly way back when, he was getting through life by selling his body. But I don’t knowhow much of that was his own choice. Was he like some of Raul’s victims? People who were given absolutely no choice?
“Everly, listen to me, I will not continue allowing him to do this.ButI don’t want to shoot him and run. This isn’t a one-man show, it’s an organization; the moment we kill him, someone else steps up and takes over. They will make the whole organization even harder to infiltrate. We have to destroy the organization before we take that final shot so we’re positive we’re getting all of the roots, not just the tree, if you get what I’m saying. We can’t let any part of that tree survive. Cassel, I’m not sure how much you can learn from his data, but I want to be able to send what I can to Tucker or the police or someone who can abolish this entire business, instead of just allowing it to trade hands.”
“Yeah, makes sense. The easiest way isn’t always the best,” Micah says.
I glance at Everly, who just gives me a nod. Besides Jackson, I’m pretty sure no one knows about his past, and I don’t plan to share it. I still feel like I’m on edge dealing with him because I’d caused him so much pain, but he’s here and he’s not alone, and that’s what really matters to me.
TWENTY-ONE
LELAND
When we get about a mile from Raul Barlow’s estate, we pull off at a place we’d been directed to meet Tucker’s informant. A woman walks over, opens the back door, and slides in.
“The Sandman, hopefully? Otherwise, I’m getting into the vehicle of some strange men,” she says.
“I am,” I respond with a smile. “And you’re Rosie?”
“Yes. I’m happy to do what I can to help, but I’m afraid I won’t have as many answers as you need because I don’t really work directly with Barlow. It’s more of… an on-call thing. My position is with some other heads in the area, but I’m not getting into that. I will tell you what I can about Barlow. From what I’ve heard, he’s put a price on your head of two million dollars. For a man like him, that’s a drop in the bucket.
“Usually, he’d only send out his own people, but he’s not playing around. He wants you dead. I don’t exactly know what’s going on here, I’m not in the loop, but I’ve been at his estate before and can tell you what I know of the layout. Since I’ve worked with him before and he wanted extra manpower, I was called in to help secure the exterior of the estate, so I’ll help you get in through a weak point.
