Page 127 of Steal My Heart

Maks enters the room, flashing a phone.

“The study,” I tell him, and he nods, taking off.

“Al, I am not your enemy, despite what Fabien has put in your head.”

She narrows her eyes at me. “You act like I can’t think for myself.”

“Then what doyouthink? That I should let our brother kill me?” I say, my voice cutting like a knife. “Take over as boss because his precious ego couldn’t stand the fact that he fucked up?”

“Why does it have to be so black and white?” Al cries.

“When Fabien ordered bullets with my name on them, it became black and white.”

I spin on my heel, storming to the study, where I slam the French doors so hard the glass panels shatter.

Cursing, I step over the shards and join Maks, who silently holds out the phone.

“Tell me we have something to work with.” I growl.

“Pull up the message thread between the mayor and Laurie.”

“Laurie?”

It’s the top exchange, and I start from the most recent messages.

Laurie: Angelo’s been at the hospital poking around. Idiot administrator let him in the storage area where there is nothing in storage. It could be a problem.

Mayor: If it’s a problem, fix it.

Laurie: Fixed, courtesy of Angelo’s black card.

Mayor: ????

Laurie: He let me borrow his credit card. I gave it back, but kept the card number. Ha ha! The Mini Mardi Gras parade is now a go, no expense spared!

Mayor: Good. I need another campaign contribution.

Laurie: 10,000 will be coming your way. I’ll have to drum up another fundraiser ASAP.

Grabbing my phone, I call the account manager for my card. “Yes, I want to know about any unusual charges on my card over the past twenty-four hours.”

“Let me pull up those transactions for you, Mr. Calvani.” There’s a pause, and he begins rattling off charges, but my ears perk up when he reports, “$20,413.29 at Carnival World. Is this an unauthorized charge?”

“I’ll get back to you.”

Ending the call, I furiously scroll through the months’ worth of messages.

Mayor: I need a favor.

Laurie: Anything for the future mayor.

Mayor: Angelo Calvani is endangering my campaign.

Laurie: You know Angelo’s loyal to our bumbling incumbent.

Mayor: Persuade him to switch horses.

Laurie: Are you calling yourself a horse’s ass, James?