Page 103 of Things We Left Behind

“As it happens, I’m uniquely suited to do exactly that,” he said, picking up his wine.

“The FBI is investigating him. You don’t need to go make yourself a target.”

“It almost sounds like you care, Pixie.”

“Lucian, I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

“What can you do that the FBI can’t?” I asked.

“For one, I can expedite things. My team isn’t overworked and understaffed. We have the capabilities to find the right thread to pull on and point the FBI in that direction.” He looked at me, eyes narrowing. “I already regret telling you this.”

“What is Anthony Hugo going to do when he finds out that you’re helping the FBI build a case against him?”

“Become irritated?”

“Don’t play the blasé butthead with me. This guy is dangerous. There’s a three-­part docuseries about him on YouTube that was never finished because the channel ownersdied in a mysterious house fire.”

“I’m perfectly capable of protecting myself,” he insisted.

Now, maybe. But there had been a time when he hadn’t been. When he’d been too busy protecting others to worry about himself. Old habits died hard, especially when the habit holder was a stubborn pain in the ass.

“His organization is rumored to be directly linked to a South American drug cartel, and his right-­hand henchman is serving a life sentence for brutally murdering a federal witnessand his family.” My voice was getting higher pitched by the syllable.

“Someone’s done her homework,” he said, sounding not the least bit concerned.

“Of course I did. Nash is my friend, and Anthony Hugo is still out there walking around.”

“Then you understand why I’m doing what I’m doing.”

“But what if he comes afteryou?” I pressed.

He looked up at me, his eyes flat and cold. “I’ll be ready.”

If we were friends, I could argue with him. I could make him listen to reason. But we weren’t. There was nothing I could do to make him take my opinion seriously. Nothing I could do to change his mind.

I suddenly wasn’t very hungry anymore. “I don’t suppose you’re willing to talk about any of the precautions you’re taking,” I prodded.

“I don’t suppose I am.”

“Is he going to go after Nash again?”

Lucian sighed and put down his utensils. “I didn’t come here to talk about this.”

“Well, tough shit. Because you’re here, and wearetalking about this.”

“All signs point to Hugo focusing on business as usual.”

“That’s not a no.”

“I’m watching him. The FBI is watching him. His enemies are probably watching him to see if they can take advantage. It would be incredibly stupid of him to make a move right now. And Anthony Hugo might be many things, but he isn’t stupid. Nash, Lina, Naomi, Waylay, they’re all safe.”

I crossed my arms. “Are they all safe because Nash and Knox are taking precautions that the rest of us aren’t aware of?” Naomi and Lina would not be pleased when I told them. Of course, telling them would require me confessing to the worst first date of my entire life.

Lucian raised an eyebrow. “I don’t know why I bother asking you to trust me to handle this. You’ve never done anything I wanted you to do before.”

He was baiting me, distracting me. Trying to guide me away from my pointed questions with a pat on the head and a “look at something shiny” redirection.