“He wanted to know why I suddenly wanted to see him after I rejected his last invitation. Wouldn’t give me anything, so I had to keep going back. He called, and I fucking came,” He sneers. “Quite frankly, De Luca, I almost called it. No one treats me like a fucking dog.”
“I get it,” I swallow, “I do, but Cade, please. What happened?”
“He’s agreed to a business deal. He wants guns from me, I want money.”
“What?” I hiss. “Isthat it!?”
Cade chuckles, “The topic of you came up. I have to give it to the man; he almost had me convinced. The grieving uncle, the girl he watched grow up gone too soon, and now the shoes he must fill are full of lead and sorrow. I offered my condolences.”
My lip curls, “And?”
“We’re set to have a meeting in two days, long enough for me to have a shipment brought over and for him to get the money together.”
“This just sounds like you’re doing business with him,” Knox growls, his body vibrating at my side. “You’re turning, aren’t you, you fucking prick!”
I grip Knox’s arm. I know my battles, and this isn’t one either of us will win. Cade and his men will murder every single living thing on this land and walk off it without even blinking. Knox thinks I’m the devil, but right now, he’s standing in front of an even bigger evil.
But Cade chuckles at Knox. “Calm down, Carter,” He replies. “I’m not turning. I’m laying a foundation of trust. We want to catch him off guard.”
“So does he believe I’m dead? What was his story?”
“Accident on the way to a meeting with a man named, Rossi,” Caden flicks his eyes to Knox, “Driver survived and claimed you were killed on impact, but your body was never recovered,they’re still looking, you know, to give closure to the family and the men who served you.”
I scoff, “No, he wants proof.”
“Precisely,” Caden nods, “They’re not loyal to him, Elena, at least not all of them. He has his circle, of course, but seventy-five percent are demanding proof of your death before they swear their loyalty to him.”
Pride shifts inside my chest. Seventy-five percent is good; it gives me a chance to get back what’s been lost, to do exactly as I promised.
“So what is the plan exactly?” Knox presses, “You have your trade and then what? Because you’re arming him, Caden, and that doesn’t seem like the smartest idea.”
“You just have to trust me,” Cade replies. “That’s all.”
“Not fucking likely, Blackwood.” Knox snaps at him.
“Got yourself a guard dog, princess,” Caden chuckles. “You’ll need him.”
His shoes scuff in the dirt as he moves to stand from the hood of the car, tugging at the sleeves of his suit jacket as he walks toward the driver door.
“It’ll all work out,” He says with his back to us.
“What do you need meto do?”
“Meet me in town tomorrow.” He looks over his shoulder. “Only you, Elena.”
Knox moves toward him, but Cade gets in his car and slams the door shut behind him, stopping any argument. I grab him before he can do anything, attempting to hold him back, but this man is much too large to be held back.
“Knox!” I yell.
“The fuck did he mean, only you!?” He snaps his head to me. “I do not fucking like this, Elena.”
“I know,” I sigh, “But I trust him.”
“Why?” Knox growls.
“What does he have to gain by double-crossing me?”
“I don’t fucking know!” Knox explodes, slapping his hand against the side of his truck. His sudden show of anger startles me, making me flinch. “I don’t claim to know the inner thoughts of mad men but there’s a damn reason he wants you there alone. And you’re going to go, aren’t you!? Despite the glaring red flags, you’re going to go!”
