“This is a backup supply for the dispensaries we supply around the country. He wanted to come with us to make sure it was still okay, but I convinced him that he needed to do what he promised and take Addi shopping. He would have hovered like a mother hen.”
“Thank you for that. We hate letting her down and don’t make promises we can’t keep,” Xavier says as Tristan steps up to me and runs a finger down my front. I frown in confusion when he gets to the bottom of the sweater and starts sliding his hands under it and up my body. My eyes grow wide as he gets to my boobs. Is he just going to grope me with no other interaction? Instead, he reaches between them and pulls out my knife.
He chuckles as he removes it and joins Colton before slicing a hole in one of the bags. “Have to test the product.” He pulls out a bud and moves to the small bench at the side of the room. Sage keeps backup smoking supplies in all our stash houses, and I watch, bemused, as Tristan rolls a joint before flicking the lighter and lighting it up.
He takes a big drag, holding it before releasing it in a cloud of skunky smoke. He nods and smiles. “Still good.”
I roll my eyes. “Of course it is. It was vacuum sealed. Come on, let’s get this shit loaded, then you will have more time to spend with Addison.” And me with Sage. I can’t wait for this all to be over.
Three hours later, I head back into the room for one last check to make sure we didn’t miss anything and find Xavier on the phone again. He rolls his eyes and gestures to the phone, mouthing, “Mario,” before switching it to speaker so I can listen in.
“What do you mean you won’t be home tonight?” Mario screeches, sounding very much like Stacey. I stifle a giggle.
“We decided that instead of waiting for you to send trucks, we’d use the ones here. They are already set up for transporting the merchandise with hidden areas to avoid detection. That way we don’t have to wait longer for distribution.”
Mario is quiet for a moment before he grunts. “Good idea,” he says reluctantly. “Where are you going to be staying?”
We decided to tell him the truth, kind of. “Victoria’s family has an old hunting cabin close by. It isn’t much, basically a hovel to be honest,” Xavier explains, feigning disgust so Mario doesn’t get any ideas about claiming it for his own—not that he will have time in the next couple of days. “We’re going to stay there tonight then get moving first thing tomorrow.”
“Fine, send the chopper back with the girls on it. Stacey requires them for some wedding shit,” Mario demands, and Xavier’s eyes widen with panic for a moment.
“We can’t,” he stutters. “It needs to refuel, and the tanker can’t come until tomorrow morning.”
He isn’t actually lying. Dan does need to refuel, and we keep a tank here for that, but Mario doesn’t know.
“Fuck. Now I’ll have to listen to Stacey bitch at me. Can’t fucking wait until she’s out of this house. I’m going to make her and Tristan live at the Banebridge house. She’s getting on my last fucking nerve,” he grumbles but doesn’t argue.
“How did things go with the FBI?” Xavier asks, and Mario scoffs.
“Those agents are idiots. They only cared about seizing the drugs and stopping the cartel. They had no proof that I was the one doing business with the cartel and found no evidence when they searched the house. My lawyers got me out within an hour.”
“And the men?” Xavier questions.
“Who cares? They are expendable. It’s my word against theirs, and all of them have rap sheets a mile long. Perfect scapegoats,” he gloats, and Xavier scowls as he replies.
“Good to hear. So we will see you tomorrow afternoon. We will try to get away early, but we need to take back roads, so we probably won’t be back until late.”
“Fine, as long as you are back before the wedding rehearsal. If I have to placate Stacey because her fiancé isn’t here, someone will pay for it,” he threatens, and we all know that someone is Vienna, and there is no way any of us will risk that.
Xavier hangs up with a terse assurance and goodbye. He sighs, and I see how tense he is. It must be exhausting living like they have for the last four years.
“It’s almost over,” I promise him, moving closer and wrapping my arms around his waist. He startles at my casual display of affection, but I’m trying to do better and be better, for everyone.
“I really wish I was going to be the one looking down the barrel of a gun at him when the time comes,” he murmurs, returning my hug. I lean my head on his chest and listen to the steady thump of his heart.
“I know, but trust Mickey, Sage, and Gio to wring every ounce of retribution out of him. They won’t go easy on him, I can promise you. Each of them wants their pound of flesh.” I smile wickedly against his chest at the thought.
“Yeah, I know, but it still isn’t the same.”
“I bet it’s going to be so pretty.” I shudder in his arms, and he chuckles.
“Bloodthirsty wench,” he teases, and I look up at him, worried I’m going to see disgust, but there is nothing but amusement in his eyes.
“Come on, let’s get out of here. I’m starving, and I’m sure Sage, Vienna, and Addi will be done shopping by now.” I step back but take his hand and lead him out of the hidden room, pushing the bookcase closed behind us.
A moan echoes through the warehouse, and I reach for my gun and curse when I remember I don’t have it. I look at Xavier, but he hasn’t even reached for a weapon. He just smirks and tugs me into the racks. We weave our way through the supplies but stop before we get to the ones for the brothel. He moves me in front of him and nods around the corner, whispering in my ear.
“I recognize that moan. Have a look. I bet our boys are sampling the wares.”
