Page 22

22

REMY

I shift another crate into position while Cade hands me the inventory list. The early morning sun beats down on us as we prepare for tonight’s exchange at the lumber yard.

“So,” Cade says with a smirk. “Saw you and the podcaster getting cozy in the forest yesterday.”

I shoot him a warning glare. “Focus on the job.”

“Hey, I was setting up my own fun with Lily when I spotted you two.” He chuckles, checking off items on the list. “Never thought I’d see the day the mighty Remy would let someone get that close.”

“Drop it.” My voice carries an edge that would make most men flinch. Not Cade, though. We’ve worked together too long.

“She’s got you wrapped around her finger, doesn’t she?” He hands me another crate. “The way you were looking at her, that’s not just playing with your food anymore.”

I slam the crate down harder than necessary. “You’re crossing a line.”

“Am I wrong, though?” Cade raises an eyebrow. “Eden’s different than the girls you usually fuck. I can tell. You’re actually letting her in.”

My jaw clenches as I continue working. He’s right, but I’ll never admit it out loud. Eden’s gotten under my skin in ways I never expected—ways that could be dangerous in our line of work.

“Just be careful,” Cade says, his tone growing serious. “Distractions can get messy in this business.”

I nod, knowing he’s speaking from experience with Lily. We finish loading the crates in silence, both lost in thoughts about the women who’ve complicated our carefully ordered lives.

I stretch my shoulders, working out the tension from moving crates all morning. Cade lounges against a stack of boxes, taking another unauthorized break.

“You know what your problem is?” He grins, that manic gleam in his eyes. “You think too much. All that brooding and calculating.”

“Better than not thinking at all,” I shoot back, but there’s no real heat. Cade’s unhinged, but he’s also my closest friend.

“Hey, I think plenty.” He pulls out a cigarette. “Like right now, I think you need to get laid more. Loosen up that stick up your ass.”

I snort. “Says the guy who can’t shut up about his girlfriend.”

“At least I’m honest about what I want.” He blows smoke rings, oddly precise for someone so chaotic. “You’re all...” He waves his hand vaguely. “Mysterious and shit. Must be exhausting.”

“Working with you is exhausting.”

“You love it.” Cade grins wider. “I keep things interesting.”

“That’s one word for it.” I grab his clipboard, checking the numbers myself. “You’re the reason my hair’s going gray.”

“Please, you’d be bored without me.” He flicks ash onto the ground. “Remember that time in Denver?—”

“We agreed never to talk about Denver.”

He laughs, the sound echoing off the metal walls. “Good times, though, right?”

I shake my head but can’t quite hide my smirk. For all his chaos, Cade’s reliable in his own twisted way. He might be crazy, but he’s my kind of crazy.

I hear the crunch of boots on gravel before Colt’s massive frame appears around the corner of the container. His usual scowl is firmly in place as he approaches.

“Need an extra pair of hands?” he asks, already grabbing a crate.

“Thought you had a rehearsal with Nash,” I say, checking off another item.

Colt shrugs. “Finished early. Flora’s got him distracted anyway.”

“Speaking of distractions,” Cade pipes up with that shit-eating grin. “Our boy Remy here?—”

“Shut it,” I cut him off. “We need to focus on tonight’s exchange.”

“Right.” Colt’s expression darkens. “Ty said there might be trouble?”

“When isn’t there?” I hand him the manifest. “Ten crates, fifty thousand each. Buyers are getting antsy about the price hike.”

“Let them get antsy,” Cade says, cracking his knuckles. “More fun that way.”

Colt rolls his eyes. “Not everything needs to end in bloodshed.”

“You’re no fun anymore since Nash got his hooks in you,” Cade pouts.

“And you’re too eager to start shit,” Colt growls. “Remember Pittsburgh?”

“That wasn’t my fault! How was I supposed to know?—”

“Both of you, enough.” I snap. “Midnight. South entrance. We go in quiet, make the exchange, get out. No complications.”

“Yes, boss,” Cade mock salutes while Colt just nods.

After that, we fall into a rhythm, moving crates and checking inventory. The familiar work helps clear my head, pushing thoughts of Eden aside—for now, at least.