She’s right and I hate that she is. She’s exposed a weakness we didn’t know was there, and after we iron things out, we’ll have to find the weak spots and fortify shit nice and tight.
For now I need to think of something that will satisfy us both, because if not, I’ll either have to let her go or tie her to me till this shit ends.
“Can’t you transfer—”
“Nope. Tried that already when Jerry deadlocked a vote and I was undecided. It’s mine till Cleo wakes up.”
“Shit,” I growl, pushing her to the bed to stand and start pacing.
I can’t stand the thought of her going into danger and it’s killing me that by doing this, I would be breaking one of the vows I made to her after finding her in that alley just days ago.
It feels like an eternity has passed in the last few days, and I could almost forgive myself for the weakness that keeps gripping me if not for the reminder that she could die twice in less than a week if anything goes wrong.
But I also have my family to think about. Paulie is right and I hate it, but I can’t ignore it. She has to go or the first place these pigs will go is to my family.
We’re strong and I’m not afraid of them, but as we’ve already noted, they have weapons that could kill my entire clan so quickly, it’s terrifying. That’s why we’re here in the first place, because Uncle Sam asked us to shut this shit down before innocent lives are lost.
Lives like Ma and Pop and little Al and my precious Josh.
“Tell me then,” I finally say, lowering myself into a chair to face her.
Paulie smiles softly and shrugs, a move that drives me nuts and she knows it.
“I called Clyde while you were chasing me.”
“Paulette.”
Those lips twitch again and I pull at my hair in an attempt not to start yelling at her.
“Calm down, baby. He’s not exactly in any position to hurt me with what I have on him, so you need to calm down and listen to me,” she says slowly, waiting patiently for me as I struggle with my temper before taking another breath and nodding.
“Tell me.”
“About three months ago the cops brought in another shipment stolen from evidence. Seems that it’s easy to get it all in one go because they’re paying off the receiver at the police compound where the drugs go to be destroyed. So anyway, the shipment came in and Cleo put me in charge of it from start to finish. Only I never got to execute my plans because I caught Clyde doing a double deal. He was fudging the intake records and selling to one of the gangs in the city.”
Ah, so she’s got him.
“You caught him stealing and kept it quiet?”
“Nope.” She smiles, making me fall in love with her even more. “I got it on tape. That’s the only reason he didn’t kill me like he was ordered to, and instead dumped me in that alley for you to find. He got scared when I finally got to tell him about the video evidence I have. They wouldn’t just kill him for stealing, Jared, you know that.”
I do know and that’s why when she’s out of this and clear of it all, I will personally send that video to Jerry and watch them tear the shit apart.
“So what now?”
“Now I go to that meeting with Clyde Rydell and his lover Andrew Huley at my back, ready to vote my way.” She chuckles, nodding at my shocked expression.
“Clyde and Andrew?”
“Nuh-uh. Clyde, Andrew, and Cleo.”
Well shit.
“I have to be there.”
“Sure if you can be there and still be far enough away not to get us busted.”
That’s when I smile because I know exactly how I’ll protect her without being right beside her, and I honestly look forward to it.
Chapter Ten
Paulette
After my little bombshell and one of the most terrifyingly confident smiles I’ve ever seen from Jared, he picks me up and carries me to the car.
We drive for exactly an hour before reaching a hotel that looks clean enough to eat off the floor and books us all in under false names that are written on the back of a few hundred-dollar bills.
The ride up is exhausting because I haven’t slept at all besides that fitful sleep on the flea motel’s bed, but the minute I get into the room I feel it all melt away when he grabs me and pulls me into his body.
His mouth lands on mine and I moan when his hard length pushes closer, thrusting at my sex in slow circles that have my blood and need boiling to a point that has me desperate in under a minute.
“Jared.”
“Shh, baby, it’s okay,” he murmurs, holding my mouth open to lick at me while he methodically strips us both and pushes me down onto the bed.
I’m not nervous as he slowly comes down over me and pushes my legs apart with his hips.