“Relax. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to stick long enough for someone from Maldonado’s organization to find it. And trust me, they already know the LCs are behind this. We’re just giving them a push. Maldonado’s men are out for revenge. They’ll strike back soon to save their territory. All we’re gonna do is give them a trail to follow. They’ll start a World War Three turf war and the chaos will flood local law enforcement, not to mention DEA and ATF. The Lone Coasters will go down for Maldonado’s hit and the government agencies will be pushing each other aside to get at all of them.” He stopped typing and looked up at me. “Now, we wait.”
Everything he said went in one ear and out the other. My concentration shit, I paced the length of the living room again. “Run it by me again.” What the hell was Randy doing with Siren?
“I planted a rumor about the LC’s organization going big by faking some e-mails between their local chapter and their Georgia chapter. The e-mails said they were done paying for their shipments because they’d figured a way around it then I bullshitted a bunch of new shipments and dates and sent anonymous copies to Maldonado’s construction business. Once the e-mails were opened, I hacked back in and deleted them like someone was trying to cover their tracks. Maldonado’s people will put it together.”
“His construction company was shut down when he was arrested.”
“Shut the doors, yes, but not the operations. There’s no new business but the cops didn’t bother seizing their domain name or e-mail accounts. There’s still someone monitoring them.”
Christ. “Sounds like a long shot. Maldonado’s people know the LCs don’t have enough manpower or experience to overtake and run their whole operation.”
“They only have to think they’re stupid enough to try.”
I rubbed a hand over my face.
“Hey.”
“What?” I stared out at the beach with a sinking feeling in my gut. The irony wasn’t lost on me that I’d walked that same damn beach with Leigh before she’d left me.
“She’s gonna be fine.”
I spun on him and snapped. “You don’t know that.”
“I know you played right into Carter’s bullshit when you didn’t deny anything. Now he has you under his thumb.”
“I didn’t play into shit.”
André sighed. “Have you ever heard what Stone’s creed is for the Lone Coasters?”
“No.”
“The only thing an LC loves is the club. Anything else is a weakness. ”
“Your point?” I didn’t want to hear about Stone or his fucked-up creed. I just wanted Siren back.
“If Randy wants back in with Stone, he’s going to have to let Nicole go and figure out a way to contain you so you don’t go mouthing off to Maldonado’s men, try to get Nicole back, or come after him. And he’s going to have to do it quick. Stone won’t put up with any hesitation.” André shrugged. “He’s probably trying to figure out how to kill you without it coming back on him.”
“Let him try.”
“I’d prefer not to.” André looked at me pointedly. “We need to strike first.”
“I thought that’s what you were doin’.”
“For now.”
I nodded. I got it.
“So, what is she to you?” he asked quietly.
“None of your fuckin’ business.” I’d had sex with her once and I was losing my shit over it. I had no hold on her and I hated that thought more than I hated the truth of it, but fuck if I wasn’t going to get her away from Carter.
“The man I knew a week ago was still mourning the loss of his wife.”
“Ex-wife,” I corrected. She’d divorced me before she died.
“I know.” André studied me like I was a fucking science experiment. “But you usually leave that fact out of the equation.”
I left every part out. “I’m not havin’ this conversation.”
“I saw the way you looked at her,” he said solemnly.
“So?” I challenged.
“I’ve never seen that before.” André’s phone rang, saving me from a stupid fucking response. His eyes on mine, he pulled it out and put it on speaker. “Report.”
“Carter left his apartment. I followed him to the shop. Orders?”
André raised an eyebrow at me but I was already grabbing my keys. “I’m going after her.”
André took the phone off speaker and held it to his ear. “Fall back. Meet us at the house.” He hung up. “Wait.”