Page 113 of Saxon

"Hardly. Trust, remember."

"What business could you have with him?"

"Me? None. You? Plenty."

"What business could I have with my enemy?"

"Rival, Camilla. Not enemy. And what if I said he was willing to explore a business alliance with you?"

I can feel her shock across the line. "I want Jarrod."

"Your revenge on Jarrod solves a problem for him."

"I see."

"He'd like to move the Cabal out of trafficking, following a model more like yours. You'd run the front of the house, so to speak, he'd run the back, and you split the profits."

She sighs. "If we were allies, we could eliminate the Morenos. I wouldn't have to worry about them at my throat. Nor would he." A pause. “I didn’t relish the thought of getting into bed with the Moreno cartel, honestly.”

"Everyone wins."

A long, long silence. "And your cut of the deal?"

"Everyone involved forgets my fucking name. You and Terra can hang out if you want, I don't give a shit. I just want to be left alone. You handling Jarrod takes care of that."

"I accept."

I cover the mouthpiece. "She's in."

"I'll have my lawyers draft a contract, hers can look it over, and we will meet in a neutral location to sign and shake on it." Jean-Paul swirls the last sip in the glass.

I relay this to Camilla, who agrees.

"And when do I get Jarrod?" Camilla asks.

Jean-Paul eyes me, after I've relayed this query. "That's trickier. I can't just hand him to her, and she can't just snatch him."

I sigh. "It's gonna be me, then." I scrub my forehead with a knuckle. "Send him somewhere. I'll ambush him, take out his men, and vanish him. No blowback on you or Camilla."

"One final job," Jean-Paul says.

I shrug. "It's got to be the right location. I have to be able to eliminate his men and isolate him without killing him or them."

Jean-Paul snorts. "Your vow of non-violence is somewhat of a limitation, Saxon."

"It's not a vow of non-violence, it's a vow to not kill."

"Still. A difficult task. Jarrod is not an easy mark."

"I’ll manage." I glance at Terra. "There's no convincing you to sit this one out and let me handle it alone?" Her only response is a single sarcastic bark of laughter. "Thought so." I glance at Jean-Paul. "Dead-end road, lots of cover. Isolated. No witnesses, no collateral damage. I'll need a rifle, an MP5, and a sidearm."

Jean-Paul nods. "I have a place in mind. Go back to the party. Enjoy the food. Rest here tonight while I make the arrangements."

He rises, and Terra and I take that as our cue to get up as well. He pauses in front of Terra.

"If Saxon fails to hold your interest, there is a place here for you, Miss Connelly. You are a remarkable individual."

Terra smiles at him. "I appreciate the offer, Mr. Jean-Paul. And, you know…you kinda scare the shit out of me, but I also sort of like you."