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“My name is not important. Jahmir’s life will be spared because he got me in touch with you. But if you do not comply, I will burn this whole village to the ground.”

“What do I care?” I asked as nonchalantly as possible. If he knew I cared about the people, he would be able to use them as leverage—and I didn’t want that.

“You care, Mr. Lewis. Did you forget what you have done in our country?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You are stealing our resources.”

“I’m not stealing anything,” I said. “By the way, this conversation is probably being recorded.”

“Do I sound like I care?”

“Who am I speaking with?”

“You will know my name soon enough. For now, understand you need to come back to Afghanistan and finish what you started.”

“Look, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Put Jahmir back on the phone.”

“Beware, Mr. Lewis, we have eyes all around the world.”

The call ended. I stared at my phone’s screen, still unable to believe what had just happened.

Did Melvin have something to do with it? If he did, it would explain why he had suddenly reached out to me nearly a year after w

e’d left the Savage Soldiers.

I pushed Afghanistan out of my mind, hoping this was just a dirty joke because Melvin was still bitter that I refused to go into business with him again.

To take my mind off it, I thought about Rose and our night before.

After finishing my coffee, I left my apartment and walked a few blocks to the nearest Central Park entrance. All the while though, I couldn’t stop wondering why Rose hadn’t told me the truth. Determined to confront her about it, I sent her a text saying, ‘Your place or mine tonight?’

She replied quickly with: Start at my place ;)

The winking smiley set off something within me. The more I thought about her not telling me about Melvin, the angrier I became.

Just how much would she lie about and did lies of omission count?

My thoughts went back and forth the rest of the afternoon while I ran errands before returning to my apartment for a nap.

CHAPTER 20

Warren

By the time evening rolled around, I had myself worked up, ready to go off on Rose for keeping secrets from me. The closer I got to her apartment, the more upset I felt.

Sure, she was a good lay, but it wasn’t worth this game she was playing. What the hell had I been thinking? I hit the buzzer for her apartment around six o’clock.

I already had it set in my mind that after confronting her, we would either fuck our brains out or I would leave and get drunk alone.

She buzzed the door open right away, and I went inside.

On the elevator ride up, an apparent housewife, her hair still in curlers, turned to smile at me. I smiled back and nodded, hoping she got off before me.

We stopped. The door slid open and she got out, glancing over her shoulder. I hit the button to close the door, fully prepared to give Rose a piece of my mind. I had given her too much of my time already. If she didn’t come clean about everything, I would kick her out of my life. It was that fucking simple.

The elevator door slid open on her floor. I stepped out and headed toward her apartment. With each step, I mentally prepared myself for the confrontation.