Page 29
O ne by one, I’ve listened to everyone at my round table spout off ideas and strategies about how they think we should handle this rat infestation once and for all, but none of them give me anything I can actually use.
As much as I pay the idiots, one would think they’d be able to come up with something, but yet, none of them can.
The gun guy, Alassane, wants to bomb the whole state.
Our cousin agrees.
My brother, Niko, suggests abducting the higher ups and rotating them through torture.
A panther tamer, Slein, says we should wait until they cross over to our side again before rushing things prematurely.
My lawyer wants to call a fucking truce—likely that fiancée of his putting dumb shit in his ear.
While the newest addition, plant gal and her little FBI fuck toy, suggests continuing to research and investigate who the gang leader is.
None of those are sound ideas, all with flaws we’ve encountered before.
Bombing the state would mean innocent people—women in particular—would get caught in the crossfire. And I refuse to have my mother beat my ass when I make it to her after my likely untimely death.
Abducting people is too much work, especially if you want to keep them alive. Not only do you have to figure out the right ones to take, but then you have to feed them and clean any wounds so they don’t get infected and die before giving me what I need.
Waiting for them to come over here would mean losing good men in the war and probably more property, which equals more money. Something I refuse to lose when I’m about to have a leech attached to my account.
A truce? I’d kill Lucian if I didn’t like him so much.
And again, research. Who the fuck has time for that?
I guess I could always delegate and have everyone do a little bit of everything, but really, the idea of that feels fucking daunting.
Scratching my scar with the blunt end of my knife, I look at Ellie again. “And you’re sure you didn’t hear a name or see anything that might help us figure out who this bastard is?”
The redhead shakes her head. “I’m not inept, Alexi. I memorized everything about the man in our two second interaction and Jessica has scoured the database to find a match. Nothing has popped.”
“Useless,” I cough into my sleeve, fully aware my words are clear enough that the entire table can make them out.
The agent simply rolls her eyes, and goes back to playing in Elberta’s hair. It reminds me of when monkeys prune lice from each other. I almost ask her if she’ll eat whatever she might find but the thought of monkeys reminds me I need to check on my banana tree. This is the first time I’ve grown one and I swear I thought I saw a purple flower when I passed by yesterday on my golf cart.
“What’s the purpose in rushing this, Babin?” The panther’s purr beside Shelly is almost louder than her voice. “You’ve been having fun fucking with them for the last few years. Why all of a sudden do you need to cut all these loose ends so quickly?”
My lawyer speaks, his explanation much more descriptive than my intended “because I fucking said so” response.
“His marriage to Miss Sofia Accardi is nearing. Should anything happen to her, or word get out about how our territory is being threatened, it would mean facing a much larger, more dangerous threat.”
“So postpone the wedding.” Alassane says it as though I’m an idiot for not considering the idea before today.
Unable—or perhaps, not wanting—to stop myself, I chunk my blade at him, laughing when he screams as it jams into the wooden table three inches away from his chest. Lucian’s eyes slither to mine and I mouth the word “oops” very, very sarcastically. He hates when I pretend to kill the people that keep us running so smoothly.
He shakes his head and returns to those at the round table. “That has been attempted, but met with rejection. The wedding must move forward. Miss Accardi will be here next week. We understand this may not be resolved by then so we are asking that new security be vetted and hired to ensure all business and Babin’s estate is safe.”
“Yes,” I mutter. “Can’t have this bride running off like the last.”
The jab at Lucian misses its mark, but it always does. He gives absolutely zero fucks that he stole the first woman I was supposed to marry, and really—though I’ll never admit it aloud—I’m grateful. If I have to marry an Accardi, at least I’m getting the hot one with the accent.
Eddie looks up from his computer and nods. “Yeah, I got that part. We got plenty of people wanting to work.”
“Yeah, but this time perhaps make sure they aren’t being double paid.” My brother narrows his eyes at our cousin who holds up his hands in faux surrender.
“Look, they must have a tech guy over there who can wipe the guys from the system. I also fucking vet them.”
“Perhaps you’re getting lazy.” Alassane huffs. “Or perhaps their IT guy is better than you.”
Eddie slips a gun from his pocket and sets it on the table. “And perhaps you want a hole in your fucking face.”
A low grumble vibrates from the panther, and my smile immediately melts. While I enjoy watching the heads duel it out on occasion, I don’t like when that fucking panther gets involved. That thing is the very reason I have the scar on my face.
“Alright, fine.” I clear my throat, the black cat in my periphery as I run a hand through my hair. “You two continue trying to find some type of record, whether on him or known members that are higher up that Niko can abduct.”
The fed nods while Ellen is so lost in tracing the veins in her partner’s arm, I’m not even sure she heard me. So my next line is to both see if I have her attention but also to piss her off.
“Also, don’t forget you need to help Alassane with his new drug.”
As predicted, her head snaps up, and Alassane’s smug grin is immediate. Her lips pop open but before she can say anything, I move on to my cousin and Sydney.
“You two handle all the security, including all the businesses, Noxus’ borders, and my betrothed’s detail. The last thing I need is to draw any more attention from the Accardi family. And you.”
I turn toward my lawyer last. “Call Ezekiel. It’s time the King of Wonderland repays us that favor.”