Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
“I thought you said you didn’t know my dad, Knuckles.”
“Said I hadn’t met him. Cain and I have worked on different sides of the table a few times.” Knuckles gave Cain a level look.
“Someone has to nudge people in the right direction when they’re being dumbasses.” The two men chuckled before clasping hands in a firm shake. “Good to finally meet you.”
“Likewise.”
“Fuck me,” I bit out.
Pippa narrowed her eyes at Knuckles, then shifted her focus to Cain. “Did you set all this up?”
“Does Mom know about this?”
Cain and Knuckles exchanged a look. “Well.” Cain scrubbed his hand through his beard. “I mean, you wouldn’t let me keep you out of prison. The only other option I had was to make sure you had help on the inside.”
“Son of a bitch.” I shook my head, but I could totally see the beauty of it. “You’re a sneaky bastard.”
“No sneakier than you.”
“Did you know what really happened?” I knew Dad would know what I was talking about. God knew it had been a topic of conversation every fucking week I saw him in prison.
“Of course, I knew what fuckin’ happened. I know you’re all adults, but I know everything about all of you. I’ve made it my business to know so I could make sure you always had someone at your back. No matter where you are.”
There was a beat of silence before Pippa piped up cheerfully, “Well, that’s not creepy or anything. But just so we’re clear, you ever barge in our personal space like you did again, you deserve every fucking thing you see. And I’ll bring it up at family reunions and Christmas dinners. You’ll never hear the end of it. I’ll be a scourge on your sanity --”
“OK. OK. I get the message. Knock.”
“What exactly was the deal you made with Knuckles?” I had to know what had happened and how Dad intended this to end for me.
“Just a favor. A big one.” Dad sat back and crossed one ankle over the opposite knee. “Knuckles was in prison for killin’ men who raped and murdered his sister. You know that. But what I doubt Knuckles told you was that, about the time of the killin’, his cover with the CIA was about to be compromised. He could have stayed out of prison, but he and his entire team would have been outed. It would have been a death sentence for all of them.”
“How does that play with him going to prison?” I turned to Knuckles, wanting an explanation.
“The reason my sister was… hurt, was to get me in a compromising situation. They never factored in that I’d kill the men they’d hired. They’d hoped to maybe get me on video beatin’ the piss outta the bastards. What they got was way the fuck more. And by ‘they’ I mean one of the groups I’d infiltrated and was steering negotiations from behind the scenes. It’s what I do. I’m paid by someone to help get the outcome they want out of these deals. I infiltrate a group, gain their trust, and offer advice. I’d been in with that particular group, deep, for several years. I’d done enough to put the right people in place that, as long as I was in their sphere of influence, he’d never have full control over his military again. He couldn’t kill me because he wasn’t sure what my death or disappearance would do with his relations with the U.S. agencies he was working with. Since he couldn’t afford to lose those agencies’ support or business, he set me up to go to prison.” Knuckles shook his head slightly before continuing, as if remembering the moment he was describing. “When they filmed me killing those bastards, I was given the choice to plead guilty and it would be assured I wouldn’t get the death penalty. But I’d be in prison for the rest of my life. In return, my team got to live.”
“You sacrificed yourself for your team?” Pippa’s eyes shimmered, the story obviously striking a chord with her.
“Honey, if you think that’s big, you have no idea what I’d sacrifice for you. You’re the most important person in my life. Ever. But yeah. I went to prison to save the lives of my team and I don’t regret it. Though, I’ll admit, had I known it was all a setup, I’d have been more careful in the killing, then I’d have gone after that bastard, El Diablo, himself.”
A chill went up my spine and my gaze snapped to my father’s. Cain’s mien hardened, and he was laser-focused on Knuckles. I tightened my grip on Pippa’s hand, not daring to say anything. If Knuckles was fishing, I wasn’t giving him anything other than the unavoidable initial reaction.
“What dealings did you have with El Diablo?” Cain was all business now, the cunning warrior of his well-earned reputation.