I leaned back, making sure to keep my eyes trained on the building for even the tiniest movement. No cars pulled up and not a single soul walked past. It was like everyone knew to avoid this spot.
I’d done more research on the Order after I left her place. Those people were into some real dark shit—trafficking, black market organ harvesting. The underground gambling was light work for them. They weren’t above snatching and selling off wives to settle debts. This was way beyond anything the Banks Crew ever touched. Money might run drugs and guns, but trading flesh? That would never be our lane.
Nai couldn’t have known what she was walking into. What if they were threatening to take her mother?
I closed my eyes and exhaled, trying to ignore the tightness in my chest.
Why the fuck was I doing all this for this woman?
Crack.
My eyes snapped open.
A web of fractures bloomed where my head was on the windshield.
I kept still and looked in the rearview mirror. Gunnar was still glued to his tablet, chewing a nugget, oblivious.
Blood rushed in my ears.
I’d never been so grateful that I’d gotten my truck outfitted with bulletproof windows. But they hadto have known that. Because it wasn’t a kill shot. If they wanted us dead, we would be.
This was a warning.
I scanned the street and surrounding buildings, hands tightening around the steering wheel. Nothing. No screeching tires, no movement in windows. Just the steady thrum of traffic and my heart pounding against my ribs.
Bile rose in my throat when the severity of what happened hit me. My nephew was in the back seat while somebody just took a shot at my truck. If I hadn’t reinforced this glass?—
“Uncle ‘Taine!”
I flinched, then looked back.
Gunnar held up his empty fry box, “I finished!”
“Good shit, nephew,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. My palms were slick against the wheel.
The phone buzzed in the cup holder.
Drea
Where you and my baby at?
Had to make a quick detour. On our way now.
Drea
If you loaded him up with soda, I’ma beat your ass. It’s hell getting him to sleep after that.
He had a little apple juice. Chill.
I tossed the phone back into the cup holder and stared through the cracked glass at the building across the street. Nairobi had been inside too long. They probably took her phone—but what the fuck were they doing in there?
I turned on the ignition and shifted the car into drive.
One thing was clear: the Order had eyes everywhere.
And now they knew about me.
10 /NAIROBI CRAWFORD
