“Your dick isn’t injured.”
“I’ll have you know you can’t thrust without two good arms.”
The mental picture is bad enough that I answer just to get it out of my head. “I had three weeks before I turned thirty. I needed to expedite thepakhanprocess just in case Tristan made any sudden moves. So I followed the truce and said my vows to ensure my status. There. Happy?”
“Or maybe you still think you can’t possibly get your rocks off in a woman who isn’t?—”
“Donot,” I snarl, “say her name.”
Maverick holds his hands up. “I’m not wrong. I won’t say her name, but you can’t say that I’m wrong.”
“You’re out of line.”
“Yeah, let’s just drop it,” Baron says to Mav. “We’re here to have a good time. To forget about work for a minute.”
“I saw Daniil and Yury the other day,” Mav goes on, clearly paying attention to no one. “They looked like they saw a ghost.”
“You almost were a ghost,” Baron says.
“I thought we weren’t talking about work,” I mutter.
“Unfortunately, this ain’t work.” Mav takes another painful shot. Painful because he misses, and also because it’s obvious the strain the game is putting on his shoulder. “This is life. Our life.”
“No sign of Tristan though, right?” Baron asks the question I’m not in the mood to ask.
“Nope,” Maverick answers. “Probably hiding in a gutter somewhere. I’m sure he’s underground and knows it’s best if he just stays there.”
“Well unless he’s six feet under, he’s not deep enough.” I take my shot with more force than necessary. “And you’re all stupid if you think that he’s going to hide forever. He’s clearly planning his next move.”
“What do you think he’s up to?” Baron asks as he shoots.
“He knows about El Paso,” I say. “More information than I thought. He made that clear at the warehouse that day.”
“Okay, but how much does hereallyknow?” Maverick asks. “I mean, he was holding the Parker kid hostage, pumping him for info. Sounds like someone grasping at straws to me.”
“You’re assuming Tristan isn’t smart.” Baron echoes my thoughts exactly. “He might be smug and reckless, but he knows the game. He’s also ruthless. Honestly, I’m surprised he didn’t kill Amar—” Baron stops just before saying her full name. “I mean, the Parker kid just to do it.”
“He wasn’t ready to start a full-blown war,” I say. “But now that I’mpakhanand the power tables have shifted? He’s hiring men. He’s got eyes everywhere. And he’s building an army, I guarantee you that.”
Baron nods slowly, thinking about that for a minute. “So what do you think our next move needs to be?”
“I can tell you what I’d do,” Mav mutters before taking a sip of his beer.
We all know what he would do. But unhinged violence isn’t the answer. Opening fire in the streets so to speak is how people get killed, people who don’t even need to be involved.
People like Nik.
I flood the sudden ache in my chest with alcohol to numb the sting.
“We need to keep things locked. No detail can go unnoticed. Trust no one and nothing. Our guards stay up at all times with everyone. Anyone could be an eye for him. Anyone could leak information.”
“Do you trust your wife?” Maverick asks.
I clench my teeth at the word. I hate when they refer to Jenica as my wife, even though that’s what she legally is.
“We have an agreement,” I say. “She’s not exactly Tristan’s biggest fan. She’s playing the game like everyone else.”
“Yeah, but whose team is she playing for?” Baron asks.
