Page 122 of The True Garza

“Undo what you did, and I will.”

“What?”

“You put them together. Well, break them up. Then I’ll forgive you.”

I speed off before she can tell me how immature that is.

~

“You need totake me off the managerial duty bullshit and throw me on a field assignment,” I grumble behind a hand of cards. “If I don’t release all this pent-up energy, I’m gonna end up killing somebody.”

“You know the rules,” Trent replies, swiping a card from the deck. “After an injury, a minimum of six months off hostile field assignments ismandatory. No exceptions.”

“It was just a goddamn flesh wound, not an ‘injury.’”

“Take it up with Tor.”

Tripp scratches his jaw. A fake tell. Means he’s got a good hand. Mine’s shit. But I’m good at bluffing.

“Is there a reason why you can’t get rid of your pent-up energy the way you normally do?” Tripp asks, giving off another fake tell. “You know, through a sea of pussy.”

A low thud sounds under the table, and Tripp’s attention snaps to Trent. “The fuck, bro?”

Trent cocks a brow at him.

“What?” Tripp demands. “Did something happen? I haven’t been keeping up in the group chat.”

Trent makes a strange noise in his throat, and Reuben chuckles.

Idiots.

My phone lights up on the table with a text.

Sacha: He’s in the net. Awaiting your orders.

Me:Good job. Be there in fifteen.

How fucking timely. Just when I’m in the mood for blood.

“Gotta run.” I throw down my cards and stand. “And Tripp’s throwing out false tells, so the rest of you might as well fold.”

Fourteen minutes later, I’m in the parking lot of Salt Room Marina. Sacha’s out on the deck puffing a cancer stick. I signal him with my headlights, and he outs his cigarette and jogs down to the lot.

Once he’s in the passenger seat, I motion for him to spill.

“We got the bite about two weeks ago, but I wanted to cover all the bases first before telling you, like you asked,” he says. “Sergeant Ode Jones. From LX-PD. But it’s his accomplice, Alice Crae—who’s seven months pregnant, by the way—that’s the mole at LX-BI. I’m not going to lie, that one shocked me.”

Not me. I’ve seen worse. Some women are vicious animals.

“Anyway, once Jones was convinced I’m legit, he was eager to resume business. I played the ‘reluctant and cautious, things are too hot’ game for a bit, but he was quick to assure me that he’s ‘got us covered.’ He explained how he kept the scent off the men before me. And yes, I made sure to get it all on tape. Long story short, he was impatient to start selling again and pitched me two assets. Showed me pictures. Two girls no older than thirteen….” Sacha groans as if in pain. “For fuck’s sake.” He rubs his hands down his face. “Sorry. So, uh, yeah, I told him I was interested and that I’d get the funds ready for secure transfer. I’m supposed to send him half tonight. Make the trade tomorrow, then pay the other half.”

“You talked to Guy yet?”

“No. I figured I’d find out what step you wanted to take next. In case you wanted to… color out of the lines a bit.”

I slide him a glance. “You and I are gonna get along well, Allard.”

That’s real partnership right there. He’s caught on that this is a little more personal to me. That fucker tried to have London killed in a goddamn parking lot. Damn fucking right I’m going to be coloring out of the lines.