“Fuck you. I’m no snitch.”
“You’re not loyal either, except to the almighty dollar you keep chasing with no regard for the threat Torres and Guzman pose if they find out you’re playing both of them.”
Connor stepped forward, confusion lighting his eyes. He tilted his head, eyes narrowed on Derek. “Is it true? Did you tell the cops? Are you the reason that batch got fucked up? Are you the reason I’ve got Torres breathing down my neck for the hundred grand?”
“Connor, no. You can’t possibly owe that much money,” Sadie said.
Connor turned to her and in a moment of clarity discovered the truth. “This is what they do; they suck you in and make it impossible to get out. I can’t get out.”
“Connor, you can get out. Turn yourself in, and I will help you.”
“There’s no help for him now. He goes to the cops and Torres will have him killed. Don’t you get it, bitch, they own him now.” Derek turned back to Trigger. “But they don’t own you. You’ve stayed on the outside of things. You push to get in, but never quite get your hands dirty. You tipped off the cops.” Derek pointed the knife straight at Trigger’s chest. “You’re a fucking cop, aren’t you?”
“Shifting the blame? Covering up what you did by accusing me?” Trigger shook his head, his lips drawn back in a tight line. “If anyone fucked up, it’s you and him.” Trigger cocked his head toward Connor. “You two are bumbling your way through this shit instead of keeping your heads clear and sticking to business. You should be cooking up the next batch,” he said to Connor. “Instead, you’ve stolen a car and kidnapped your sister. What the fuck were you thinking?”
Connor grew even more agitated, scratching at his arm and making it bleed. “I did what I had to do.”
“The only thing you had to do was deliver,” Trigger snapped. “And you, you stupid fuck. Who the hell goes into a bar and brags about a drug shipment and a big score? It’s no wonder Torres is trying to cut you out and replace you with someone who knows their shit.”
Derek remained calm while Connor fidgeted and paced back and forth. Sadie stood absolutely still, trying not to draw anyone’s attention.
“Let me guess, you want to be the one Torres puts in my place. That’s why you’ve been working me to introduce you to him,” Derek said, going utterly still. The ominous vibe rolling off him frightened Sadie. One spark could ignite a fire and start a fight that no one would win.
Trigger planted his hands on his hips. “Which is it, asshole? I’m a snitch out to take you down, or I’m the one who wants to take your place?”
“Either one puts you in line to work with Torres.”
“I don’t know why I fucking try to keep you two in line and focused on the business. We’re supposed to be making money, instead we spend all our time cleaning up one mess after the next.” Trigger glared at Connor. “There’s no getting out of this fuckup. You’re going down for kidnapping.”
“No, I won’t.”
Trigger raised his hands and let them fall and slap his thighs. “What are you going to do? Go for broke and kill her? You really want to spend the rest of your life in jail? Face it, you couldn’t live with yourself if something happened to her.”
“Maybe all we need to do is get rid of her and make it look like you did it,” Derek suggested, crouching, ready to strike, the knife held out in front of him.
Trigger pointed his finger at Derek. “You better put me down first, because there’s no fucking way I let you put a hand on her again.”
“Is that right?”
“Try it and find out,” Trigger taunted.
An engine rumbled in the distance drawing closer.
“Looks like you get to meet the big boss man himself.”
Trigger locked eyes with Derek. “You invited Torres here?”
“He wants to see what we’ve got going. He wants to pick up what we’ve got. Connor made up a really clean and pure batch. This will appease Torres and set things right.”
Trigger frowned. “You’re lying to yourself if you think Torres will ever trust you.”
The car drove in behind Trigger. Armed men poured out of the SUV ahead of a man in khaki pants and a denim shirt, his black hair slicked back, his dark brown eyes locked on them.
Sadie didn’t need any introductions. The man had power and death in his eyes. He commanded the space around him. One look made his men fan out as they approached.
Connor tilted his head to the side. “Do you hear that? It’s another helicopter,” Connor blurted out. “I told you. It’s the cops.”