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“Fuck. Nothing slows him down,” Becca says.

Mark purses his lips and continues, “He’s putting his pieces in order, and I need to read the new chess board right quick. Whatever trap you want to set for him in LA, he’s several steps ahead of you, I promise.”

Brick crosses his arms. “Is he ahead of us, though?”

Mark looks back at him, crossing his arms over his cut chest. “I’m ahead of you too. Who’s listening? And why is the bouncer from your burned-out bar skulking in the parking lot? You don’t know how to hire bodyguards. He’s not Sal’s crew. Who the fuck is that guy and how is he vetted?”

“He’s loyal and strong,” I say, defending Boomer.

“Former military by his stance, I’d say he played at least semi-pro ball the way he carries himself and the bulk he keeps. There’s pride in his appearance, but he’s skilled enough to slip into the shadows. I’d say he’s packing at least three pistols by the slight cock in his hips. There’s a knife strapped to his left leg. He’s smart but protective. Too protective. You want someone who’s going to take a bullet for you, not dive in front of every flinch or asshole who gets handsy. You want a 360 view of things not a pit bull.”

“He’s that. I want to send him to Sonoma after the LA. stuff. I want him to be there for them and run that team there.”

“And now you’re thinking like a boss.” I tip my head to him. He sits back in his chair. “All this time I thought I was hiding, you all found me easily?”

“Not easily,” Mark says, “but it appears we all picked up on your one mistake.”

Brick shakes his head. “Not easily, darling.”

Mark pushes my sleeve up and says, “Skylark.” Pointing to the small bird I had tattooed on the inside of my arm.

“Uck. Fine.”

Mark asks, “Do I need to be worried about who is listening?” He picks up the tray of discarded oyster shells, pulls the bug off, and places it on the table.

Becca leans in. “How?”

“Little Miss Café served me at this spot. Made sure I had a fresh napkin and new silverware. She wiped down the table but left the discarded oysters shells. And clearly they’ve been sitting here for a while. Don’t fucking play me. I trust you all but apparently, you’ve lost trust in me, and that’s not how I operate.” He stands up and takes a few steps before turning around. This doesn’t work without Mark.

He scolds us. “You’re the fucking Scooby gang and about to fuck up an international multi-government task force. And my career, which after chasing Cady the ghost for so many years without so much as even a picture of the man, is hanging by a thread. No thanks, this time.”

Brick stands as Mark paces in a tight circle. “Brick, I respect you, but you need more of a strategist in this. Someone who’s been in the shadows and muck.”

“Someone like Sal.”

“To be blunt, yes. This crew is one Capo short of a complete plan. I’m sorry. Stay out of it,”

“Mark,” I call out.

He rounds on me and for an even keel man, we’ve pushed him too far. “You’re going to get killed. All of you and your families. You need to back the fuck off. I think the renewed interest in you has something to do with you being the only heir apparent to the Los Angeles underworld.”

Brick moves closer. Mark holds his lips tight trying not to tell us something. “Spill it. We’re all in for a penny and a pound of flesh.”

Mark clasps his hands in front of himself and grunts. “Enzo is not biologically related to Sal. He knows this. I’m certain that Cady is about to. He won’t keep him around long now that he’s simply a fucking associate. Unless he can be useful. And you, Pop, Queen of City of Angels, are useful. He needs to deliver those ports, which means you.” His voice is harsh and our jaws are on the floor.

“How?”

Mark shrugs. “He was the mistress’s kid. She was killed when there was an attempt on Sal’s brother-in laws’ life.”

Becca slams her twisted tea and pours herself another one. I look around the room. I desperately want to run in there and hold him.

He sips some water and continues. “The piece of human trash used her like a shield. The slime blamed it on Gia because she couldn’t stop the hit. They were living in New Jersey long enough that it was possible the family didn’t know about the pregnancy. So, Gia pretended she gave birth to him. Under the threat of his family, she had to raise the kid.”

I slam my hands onto the back of a chair. “That’s when they came back to LA. She’s kept it a secret from everyone, as far as I know. I pieced this together. She sent detectives to sniff out the cheating, but it was a rival family that found the brother-in-law first.” We’re all stunned.

“But what the fuck do I know? I only do this for a fucking living.”

“Mark,” I plead. I’ve never seen him angry. If Sal heard any of this, it will be too much so fast.