Fuck that.
“We need to get this to therighthands ASAP.” I think of Josie, still upstairs, probably already reviewing case files despite my orders to rest.
“You want Josie to add it to her file?” Lee asks, reading my mind.
I hesitate.
“We’ll need to be careful if Caruso has guys on the inside of the bureau,” Hawk warns.
That’s what I’m afraid of. But letting this guy slip through our fingers isn’t an option.
“Josie’s still got contacts from her Atlanta days. People she trusts. If we can get this to the right people?—”
“We end Summit and Caruso in one move,” Hawk finishes.
“I still think it’s a risky move, bringing in even more feds,” Tank points out. “They’re not exactly our biggest fans.”
“Neither is the cartel.” I stand, signaling the end of the meeting. “I’d rather deal with federal scrutiny than a bullet in the back of my head. Steel, get me everything you have. I’ll brief Josie this afternoon.”
The brothers file out, but Lee hangs back.
“You okay?” he asks.
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because you’ve got that look.” He crosses his arms. “The one you get when something’s eating at you.”
My son knows me too well.
“Just thinking about next steps.”
“Uh huh.” Lee doesn’t buy it for a second. “This about the club? Or about the woman upstairs?”
I should have known he’d call me on it. The whole damn club probably has bets going on how long I’d hold out. Fuckers.
“Both,” I admit.
“You love her.”
It’s not a question.
“Yeah. I do. How you feel about that?”
Lee studies me for a long moment. Then, slowly, he smiles.
“Good. It’s about time you let yourself have some good.”
“Lee—”
“I mean it, Dad.” He grips my shoulder. “You’ve been a ghost since Mom left. Going through the motions. Running the club. Raising us. But not really living. Mom moved on, it’s about time you did as well.”
I reach out, scuffing his hair. “Get out of here before I get sappy and hug you.”
He grins, clapping me on the shoulder as he goes.
He’s right, it is about time I move on. I just need to dismantle the cartel first.
13
