The Untouchables(68)

“Can you all stop acting as if my son is brain-dead? Neal’s talents are far greater than his flaws.” Evelyn frowned, as she drank her coffee. Sedric said nothing as he adjusted his glasses and continued to read through the paper.

“Of course, mother…”

“Anyway!” I snapped, trying to get back on topic. “I told him to even the playing field, and yet, here we are, buried under a mountain of shit. This stupid bitch should be grieving over her husband, not running in his place! No one reacts to assassinations correctly anymore.”

Laughing, Liam shook his head at me, but before he could speak, Jinx’s voice came through the intercom, “Sir, Ma’am, we will be arriving at Chicago International Airport in ten.”

Sighing, I leaned back to buckle my seatbelt. Looking down, I found my stomach hanging over my waist.

When had I gotten so big?

Glancing up, I noticed not only Liam, but Coraline and Evelyn staring at it too.

“Declan, did you contact Roy about the sno-cones?” I asked, trying not to bring any more attention to my stomach.

“Sno-cones?” Sedric asked, folding his paper down to stare at us. “How much?”

“Eight mil,” I answered. “It’s a lot, but we want to make sure it’s pure.”

“If it is, where did a low level dealer like Roy get pure cocaine?” Liam asked, staring me in the eye.

I read them for a moment, tensing as I got what he was implying. “You think it’s a setup.”

“How often do you come across pure smack like he’s selling?” He had a point.

Cracking my neck, I thought about that for a moment. “I warned him the night we took out Chuck.”

“Sadly, stupidity is a force to be reckoned with.”

“Do you trust him?” Coraline asked, almost too innocently.

“I trust no one.” Pausing, I stared at Liam. “I trust no one, but the family. What should we do?”

“Declan and I will go,” Sedric stated as the plane began its descent.

“And I’ll wait nearby to watch.” Because if Roy was stupid enough to set us up only weeks after I had warned him, I wanted to kill him myself.

“Too many family members in one place. If this is a setup, the police will be there,” Declan added, apparently pissed off already.

“The President was just assassinated,” Evelyn reminded us, holding onto her seat as the tires met the strip below us. “Do you really think they would do a sting operation now?”

She also had point. But there were too many criminals in on this plan, and Liam and I needed to think.

“We’ve arrived,” Jinx stated.

Liam simply rolled his eyes as he got out of his seat. “Thank you, Captain…”

“Liam.”

“What? He is a captain, correct?” Liam replied, his smile slick, eyes glinting with something darker.

“That wasn’t what you were going to say and you know it,” I whispered before walking past him.

Sedric held the door open for Evelyn and I. Taking my hand into hers, she walked me down the stairs like an infant needing assistance. Glancing back at Liam, he mouthed, “Be nice.” Sighing, I held onto her as we walked.

At the bottom Olivia and Neal stood in front of our cars, dressed in all white. Even Adriana stood in a white pantsuit.

“Welcome back.” Olivia smiled, pulling me into a hug. “The city hasn’t been the same without you.”

She’s touching me.

“You can let go now, Olivia. People may start to believe you’re genuine,” I said, as I freed myself from her bony arms.

Her eyes narrowed and her nostrils flared, but she smiled anyways, proving my point. Neal stepped forward, preparing to give me a hug as well, but I pulled back and allowed Evelyn to accept it in my place. He played it off, kissing Evelyn on the cheek.

“Is there a reason why you’re all dressed in white?” I asked them.

Neal nodded. “Senator Colemen is having a memorial and charity dinner this evening for both parties. He asked all those attending to wear white as a call for peace, hope, and perseverance in this dark time,” he recited.

I stared at him for a moment before taking Evelyn’s arm once again. “A living breathing teleprompter. I can’t wait to hear your speech as to why Colemen is so behind in the polls. I think he’s been lapped twice.”

Adriana held open the door for us, and as Evelyn took a seat inside, I noticed Liam had yet to get off the plane with Jinx.

“Ma’am?” Adriana called my attention.

Taking a seat, I simply shook my head at Liam. Funnily enough, I wasn’t mad; it was just my husband being my husband.

“So, how are you?” Evelyn asked, petting my hand.