Page 235 of Don’t Say Mafia

“They still gave him a shot,” Eli continued.

“And?” I asked lazily, already knowing what he was going to say.

“And he fell apart,” Eli said. “Started rambling. Lost his point mid-sentence and started sweating. Five minutes in, security was called, and he was walked out.”

Zachary flicked a glance at me in the rearview mirror, and I’m sure I looked like a maniac the way I was grinning.

“Any detours after?” I asked.

“Liquor store,” Eli said without hesitation. “ATM. Then back to the apartment. Passed out on the couch before noon. He got up an hour ago, though, and left.”

“What about women?” I asked. “Did you find anyone he’s been with?”

“Oddly enough, no,” Eli replied. “He goes to bars and clubs with the same group but always stays away from the women.”

That was annoying, but I guess even an idiot could understand there wasn’t an upgrade from Eden.

I leaned forward slightly. “Where is he now?”

There was a brief pause as Eli checked. “Corner of Maple and Fourth. He’s walking, and he just popped something else judging by the way he’s weaving down the sidewalk.”

I glanced at the street sign and saw we were actually not too far from there. I covered the receiver and looked at Zachary. “Maple and Fourth.” He nodded and made the turn down a side street without comment.

I brought the phone back to my ear. “Keep watching him. I’ll be there in a few minutes,” I told him before hanging up.

I stared out the window, already mapping out possibilities.

Was I really about to do this?

I wasn’t a man who let opportunity rot. If something rare crossed my path, I took it. That rule had built everything I owned. It was why Cruz and I worked so well—we didn’t hesitate.

Ryan was clearly digging his own grave. I didn’t have to shove him. He was high before noon, bombing interviews, draining their funds . . . The man was doing a stellar job of ruining his life all on his own. A cautionary tale in real time.

The problem was that Eden was standing right beside him while he shoveled. The ultimatum I’d heard her give him the other day or not, I wasn’t sure she had it in her to actually walk. She was still acting like everything would magically change if she just worked harder, loved harder, and held everything together with both hands.

Eden was stubbornly, and painfully, loyal. Which I guess was just another reason I wanted her. Even if it was inconvenient at the moment.

That loyalty meant that I needed to be careful, though. I didn’t want her sanctifying the man and unable to love me just because he’d met a tragic end before she was done with him.

I’d have to give her one more chance to see him fail so completely she couldn’t rationalize it away. If she walked on her own, I wouldn’t have to do anything permanent.

If she didn’t . . . then I would.

My jaw tightened as I spotted Ryan stumbling down the sidewalk, one hand dragging along the brick wall like it was the only thing keeping him upright.

“Pull over,” I told Zachary, and he eased the car to the curb.

“You want backup?” he asked, and I scoffed because the idea of me needing backup for someone like Ryan was hilarious.

“I’m offended that you just said that,” I answered, and Zachary rolled his eyes like he thought I was being cocky as I reached down and opened the small compartment hidden beneath the center console. The safe was built into the frame of the car, reinforced and invisible unless you knew exactly where to look. Inside were a few items I kept for . . . situations. I grabbed the baggie of white powder and slipped it into my pocket.

I stepped out of the car, and the stench of rotting food and stale beer immediately assaulted my nostrils. There were trash bags slumped against a battered dumpster halfway down the block, one torn open and bleeding its contents onto the sidewalk. I started walking toward Ryan and nearly stepped on a rat that shot out from the curb.

Fucking hell.

Ryan didn’t notice me at first; he was too busy bracing himself against the graffitied wall, breathing hard as though he’d just done something strenuous.

“Long day?” I asked.