Page 2 of Malicious Claim

Leila's face quickly shot up, the lines of her cheeks spreading into a smug smile. The heated look on Kyle's face made her want to explode with laughter. He should have known better, messing with her.

"Sorry," he dragged between his teeth.

"Did you say something? I don't think I heard you," Leila said innocently, but her face did not match her words.

"If you didn't hear me, then you can go fu—"

"Kyle!" His father stabbed a chunk of meat with his fork.

He jerked up, his eyes widening. "I said I was sorry," he quickly said, knowing when a battle was over.

"I forgive you," Leila said brattily, smiling as she did. Paying no attention to the warning look he gave her, she turned to Jenner, her smile not wavering.

The older woman, whom they had grown to see as more than a house help, returned her smile. The strength in her eyes, even at that age, was something Leila envied the most. She could only wish to have such a strong presence when she gets to that age.

Then suddenly, Leila's grip tightened on her glass. She was tired of being ignored but thanks to her father and Mrs Jenner for always coming through for her.

She continued. "If Mateo is talking, we won't be losing only twenty million. We will lose everything. That includes, names, products, routes. We need to deal with him now."

A heavy silence followed. Kyle sighed. "She's right."

Fallon’s gaze softened as he looked at her. “She always is. Mateo’s a problem, and we’ll take care of it tonight.”

Travis rubbed his nose, clearly frustrated. “We still don’t have products to deliver to the Baboas, and the Gallos are getting bolder. The feds are circling. What’s the plan?”

A wry smile twisted Fallon's lips. "We bleed the streets. We eliminate the Gallos. We take back what belongs to us. Every ounce of product and we give it to the Baboas. Nobody screws over the Crawfords and survives. Nobody."

Kyle poured another glass full, his hand shaking, and lifted the drink to his lips. "Should've known something was fishy when the Gallos withdrew at the last minute. They're waiting for us to fall."

Hunter's eyes seemed to narrow even more. "Let them come. I’ll put a bullet in every one of them.”

Leila gave him a sharp look. "It's not that simple. We wait for them to make the first move, we're done. We have to strike first."

Kyle raised an eyebrow. "And you think you're the one to lead the charge?"

"I'm the only one seeing it clearly," she shot back.

Fallon's voice cut through the tension. "Enough. We find Mateo, deal with him, and remind the Gallos who runs this city.

Leila reached for her wine, but before she could lift it, Kyle nudged the table. Her glass tipped, its content spilling on her blouse.

“Goddammit,” she muttered, trying to wipe the stain off with a napkin.

Hunter’s smirk widened. “Better clean it up. That shirt probably cost more than your whole wardrobe.”

"I'll be back soon," she added with a smile and quickly turned around. Dragging down her pink dress suit made from a polyester viscose blend, she pressed her Manolo Blahnik heels to the ground and sashayed away with her head held high.

Jenna's gaze stayed on Leila a second longer before her attention returned to the table as her hand automatically clutched her wine glass.

With Leila down the hall, the raised voice of her brothers distorted.

The cool, tiled bathroom was a brief sanctuary, a temporary reprieve. Leila clung to the rim of the sink, her heart racing in her chest.

She turned the faucet on, running cold water over the wine stain. Her fingers rubbed absently at the fabric, but her mind remained in the dining room. Something was off.

The argument had been heated, but that wasn't unusual. The Crawfords thrived on conflict. And yet, when Travis reminded Kyle that it was he who hired the broker, there was something in his eyes. The way Kyle's hand had trembled when he poured that last drink. The way he spilled wine on her dress. He was fidgeting a lot.

A chill snaked down her spine.