Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 140940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Lemon came out on the back porch and stood on my right. “Hello, Emily. Our people confirmed that the Lion stopped by the hotel to grab his sister and more men.”
I didn’t turn her way. “Now they’re off to deal with the Alligator Don?”
“Correct.”
“Cool.” For some reason, I continued to study Max.
I swear on everything that something had been off with him since he returned from Italy. And the fact that he wouldn’t let me know what happened with Ufuoma told me that some really fucked up shit had gone down.
Lemon spoke, “Blue also delivered information and pictures on her progress in Moscow. They have a few leads, but not a definite suspect. Would you like me to read it to you?”
“No.” I watched Max. “I’ll check it later.”
He blew smoke into the air and gazed at the newly appearing stars.
I knew that look—the furrowing of the brows and the slight clench of the jaw.
He’s worried about something.
While it could have been about my healing, I knew it wasn’t.
What’s gnawing at his heart? And who do I need to kill so he can get peace?
Dark curiosity twisted within my core, and because I’d been in the zone for these past days. . .I knew that dark curiosity wasn’t me.
It was Lunita.
Even she knows something is wrong with Max.
“Also,” Lemon added. “When I had our men do a search around the perimeter of this property, we discovered the Butcher’s men in their cars and monitoring our visit.”
For the second time, Max’s phone must have buzzed because he took it out and read the message on the screen.
The person sent a text since you didn’t answer.
He let out a long breath, closed his eyes, and then put the phone back in his pocket.
I turned to Lemon. “Are we sure it is the Butcher’s men and not Rafael’s?”
Lemon nodded. “When we put guns on them, my phone rang and the Butcher spoke on the other end.”
I smirked. “That is so J.P. I bet he had Louis watching from a satellite or something. What did the Butcher say to you?”
“He explained that his men were there to monitor and help whenever necessary. He also explained that he didn’t think the Lion would do a good job of not killing anyone in New Orleans, and he wanted to avoid that as much as possible.”
“Everybody better leave my baby alone.” I shook my head and placed my gaze back on Max. “Kaz will not kill anybody this trip.”
Finally, the phone must have vibrated a third time because Max cursed and had it back out of his pocket.
What the fuck? I would have Misha spy on him for me, but he wouldn’t do that to his homey.
I tightened my hold on the railing.
Max stared at the glowing screen. Whatever it was, it had shaken him, pierced the armor he was trying to carefully maintain since he had returned to me.
The phone went back into his pocket.
Dread twisted in my heart. I didn’t know why Max thought I would let him fight his own battles, when he had been helping me fight mine all my life.
Time for me to put my nosey ass into this situation.
I stepped back from the railing. “Lemon.”
“Yes, Emily?”
“I need you to contact the Butcher again and have him get Louis to hack Max’s phone.”
“Oh. . .Max’s phone?”
“Yes. I want to know who keeps calling him and why he won’t answer.”
Lemon widened her eyes. “I can do that.”
“Also, see if Louis will tell me what happened in Italy. He was there with Max and Boris. And if Louis doesn’t say shit, then get some of our people down in Italy to figure that shit out. I need to know.”
“I will work on that now.” Lemon nodded and headed off.
Enough with this bullshit.
My own phone vibrated.
I took it out and checked the screen.
It’s about time you called me back.
I cradled the phone against my ear. “What the hell is going on?”
Baba’s voice remained calm. “How are you, Emily?”
“Are we not going to address the fact that you sped out of here with the kids?”
“The driver maintained a safe speed.”
I rolled my eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me about Delphine going into Paolo’s dreams?”
“Because I would rather you work with her, instead of trying to kill her the moment you met her.”
I frowned.
“Also, I wasn’t sure, until I saw Paolo’s reaction to her.”
“But you did know Paolo should not go in the garden?”
“I did.”
“Then, why not warn Kaz and me?”
“Because you both needed to learn the lesson on your own.”
“And what is the lesson?”
“Never get too comfortable with Delphine. Be on guard.”
“But do you think she can help me?”
“I do. However, regardless of what she does, it will always be you doing the work. She will be your guide, but you must trust in yourself, Emily.”
I let out a long breath. “Anything else?”