Page 2 of His Sacrifice

I held up my hands. “Hey, she’s all yours. And once the Wisco store opens that you’re funding, she’ll be her own boss.”

“Investing,” Murphy growled. “I’m investing in expanding your business.”

I brushed my hand at him. “Just fancy schmancy words.” I gathered the papers on my desk and turned off the lamp. “I’ll see you in the morning, Tatum. Try not to pull a muscle or anything with the mafia man. We’ve got inventory coming up.”

Tatum laughed. “I’ll make sure to stretch.”

Murphy shook his head. “Later, Jada. Try not to bust anyone’s balls on the way home.”

I saluted. “I’ll try, but sometimes it just happens.”

I wasn’t one to take anyone’s shit or have them blow up my ass.

Murphy recognized this, and for as much shit as he gave me about it, we understood each other.

I listened for the bell over the door and immediately locked the door behind Tatum and Murphy.

The last time I had been lax about locking up, trouble had walked right in.

Trouble that I wasn’t sure how I was going to deal with.

“It’s simple, really. Get close to the Banachis, and just tell me.”

“Tell you what?” I asked. “And I haven’t even met any of the Banachis before. I don’t know why you think I can get close to them.”

Candace picked up a book and paged through it. “Something tells me you can make things happen, especially when your life depends on it.” She closed the book and set it down. “Get close, tell me everything. It’s simple.”

“And what happens when I do that?”

A slow smile spread over her lips. “Then you don’t die.” She moved to the door. “I’ll be in touch when I think you have information.” She put her hand on the door handle and looked back at me. “And if you think for a second to tell Leo or the guys about our little chat, then I’ll have to make a visit to Larson House.” She looked me up and down with a smug curl of her lip. “I’ll be in touch, Jada.”

The bell above the door dinged as she exited, and it swooshed shut behind her.

I still didn’t know what the hell I was supposed to be doing.

It had been two weeks since that visit from Candace, and I wasn’t any closer to the Banachis.

Murphy was the only one I had met, and that was only because he was shagging Tatum. It wasn’t like I could just walk into Leo’s big ol’ skyscraper in the sky and ask to be his best friend.

Candace thought I would be able to get some information on the Banachis, but I didn’t think she was right.

I finished shutting down the shop and headed out the back door. My scheduled Uber was waiting by the backdoor, and I slid into the backseat.

“Hello, Hank,” I sighed.

The older man in the front seat turned to smile at me. “Jada,” he called. “How’s my favorite bookseller?” he asked.

I sighed and buckled up. “Oh, I think I’m okay today.”

“Long day?” he asked as he pulled out of the alley and into the busy rush hour traffic.

I owned a car, but taking an Uber to and from the shop was easier. It took me ten minutes to clear my mind and let someone else drive the traffic of Chicago.

“Oh, not really. It just feels like a Thursday. I’m ready for my day off on Sunday.”

“Aren’t we all?” Hank laughed. “Just some music for the ride home?”

I enjoyed talking with Hank most days, but today, I didn’t. Thankfully, Hank picked up on that, and I didn’t need to fake wanting to be social.

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