Page 99 of Into the Blue

I press a hand to the inside of my wrist, where my pulse flutters like crazy. A finger brushes over his name. The slightly raised letters taking me back to that time.

It stirs something in me. Something too close to regret… or maybe grief.

I have to leave it behind though. I must push it aside.

I didn’t just climb the ladder. I stepped into my power and left everything else behind.

Nothing is more important than the money.

Repeating it in my head does nothing to make it feel more true.

I think of Blue. His scent. His hands. His laugh like smoke in his lungs. He still doesn’t know who I am—what I’ve done.

But he will.

And when he does, he’ll either destroy everything trying to get to me… Or stand beside me and rule what’s left of it.

I’m hoping for the latter while trying to accept that it might be the former.

And if he does get to me, it won’t be to cuddle.

Either way, the blood’s already on my hands. I made these decisions knowing exactly where they would get me. No hesitation because my feelings for him couldn’t cloud the plan that was already in place.

And I’m not done yet.

It’s time to take the call that I have been dreading.

Chapter 30

I don’t want to call Senior.

But what choice do I have?

Redd put a bullet in his son, against my direct orders, but a life has been taken. Not just any life either.

The head of the Lafayette family.

I hate that son of a bitch more than anyone else. Maybe even more than Redd.

Might be more upset because he was the one to end that fuckers life and not me.

I rub a hand over my face and make a different call first.

The phone rings and rings. She’s not picking up. There hasn’t been a single time since I’ve known her that she hasn’t picked up the phone.

Where is Racquelle?

Have to trust that my team is keeping her safe.

The next call is more important right now. Damage control or mitigation takes precedence. I’ll check on Racquelle as soon as I’m done with this shit.

It’s been a while but thankfully, Senior’s number hasn’t changed. The old man picks up on the third ring.

“You’ve got some nerve callin’ me,” he says without preamble.

“This wasn’t my shit, Terrell. Redd actedagainst my orders.”

“I know,” is all he says. A heavy sigh rings weary in my ears. “In this life, you can’t get attached to much. Never did I ever want to bury my son. Your kids ain’t supposed to go before you are.”