Page 70 of Mob Princess

“Baltimore is closer to New York than Boston. He overstepped, so I went to deal with it. Schlossberg’s in his fifties. Everything about him speaks to ruthlessness. Your brother is way in over his head. He came back to Boston as fast as he could because Schlossberg is pissed at him. Things didn’t go the way Ewan planned.”

“Because of you.”

I remain silent. The call I got right before I went to sleep was a dock master giving me a courtesy call to say Customs and the DEA planned a bust. They raided the container ship and found the oregano. They were pissed it wasn’t the weed they expected. It also meant the spies Schlossberg had at the port clued him in before Ewan left town. Fortunately for him, he was on the way to the airport when it happened. He was wheels up before Schlossberg found him.

Kelly’s dad went back to the meeting spot after he helped take care of the vehicles. He watched men cut the bolt and go in the shipping container. He said they were pissed when they came out with nothing, but he wasn’t close enough to tell if they were American or German. Whosever stash it was knows it’s gone.

“Does Ewan know?”

“By now, probably.”

“Will Schlossberg kill him?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.”

“Are you in danger? Like, more than usual?”

“If they figure out who interfered, probably.”

I can’t tell her we’ll buy Schlossberg’s secret—a nice way of saying we’ll bribe him to stay quiet. But we’ll welcome Ewan making the first move. We’ll make the last.

“Did you hear about this through Ellie?”

“No.”

She sighs and leans back against me.

“I’m going to tell you what I think happened, knowing my brother. You don’t have to confirm or deny anything. I simply want you to know what I believe. Ewan went to Baltimore to sell marijuana to Schlossberg. I know it’s a possibility. I won’t say how I know for the same reason you won’t tell me things. And it’s not for our safety.”

Because she’s still loyal to her family, just like I am to mine.

“He met with the German to solidify some deal. You have the product now, or you did until you sold it in your own deal. Schlossberg’ll put a hit on him if he hasn’t already.”

She looks over her shoulder at me for a long moment before turning back to the window.

“You won’t let him kill Ewan for my sake. You’ll let them rough him up, but not so badly I’ll panic or feel obligated to go back to help him. I think you have a CI in Baltimore who told you where to go and probably listened to Ewan’s conversation with Ellie. He probably reassured her that Colt will keep me occupied if I get nosey or pissed off. My brother made sure to get home before me—that’s why he didn’t object to me flying commercial—and why he wanted me to keep working for him. He didn’t seem upset, so he either didn’t know something happened to the shipment, or he believes he can handle it.”

That about sums it up. But I can’t agree. I remain quiet.

“What’s the likelihood Schlossberg will find out you’re involved?”

“There’s always the chance.”

“But are we talking five percent or ninety-five percent?”

“Fifty.”

“Does Schlossberg have a history of killing people who cross him?”

“Yes.”

“Will Ewan know you fucked him over?”

“He probably does by now.”

She goes silent again, but her body remains relaxed against me. We just stand looking out the window. It’s a miracle I see something flash near a tree. I twist Lina away and push her to the ground a second before the window shatters. Searing pain shoots through my right ribs. Fuck. I know this pain.

“Lina?” It’s hard to breathe.

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