Page 43 of Tasting Sin

“You’re going to be looking a long time, little man,” I said, taking a towering step toward him and forcing him back one. I flashed a smile at him when he stumbled over his feet briefly before he caught his balance. “There’s no connection between me and the Cassidys. Don’t ever put our names in your mouth at the same time again.”

Stanton glared at me, and Ramsey stood between us, looking like he was nervous he was going to have to get involved. “You and I both know that’s not true.” He lowered his voice, like he was only suddenly aware of the crowd around us dispersing as quicky as they could. Some hung in the corners of the coffee shop, watching and trying to listen while pretending to read the ads plastered over the bulletin board. “We know they vandalized your girlfriend’s bakery. Now, one of them is missing, and I have a feeling you know something about that.”

I huffed, grabbing the lapel of his jacket and tugging him close enough that I knew he could smell the few bitter sips I had taken of my coffee. He tried and failed to hide his wince. “You leave Nellie out of it, or there will be a real issue that actually needs taking care of.” I dropped him back to his feet, and he wobbled for a second to catch his balance.

“Is that a threat, Moretti?” Stanton brushed his hands over his suit as if I’d left debris behind, and I clenched my fists at my sides to avoid grabbing him again. If I did, I wouldn’t be setting him down nearly as gently.

Next to him, his partner almost bounced from one foot to the other. He reminded me of a yippy chihuahua squaring off against a rottweiler that would be able to eat it in a bite. I wouldn’t hesitate to do the same thing if they brought Nellie into this again.

“Yeah, was that a threat?” he echoed. I cocked my head to the side and glared at him, and Ramsey stilled instantly. The regret was painted on his face, like he wished he could take back his words and disappear into the shadows. It wasn’t a bad thing to stay off my radar, or the radar of anyone in my family.

“It’s a fucking promise,” I sneered, gritting my teeth. “Leave my girl out of it.”

Stanton chuckled, even though his hands shook when he lifted his arm to elbow his partner in the side. “Looks like we struck a nerve with the girl,” he said. His partner forced a laugh that couldn’t be considered natural, and Stanton turned his attention back to me. “You’ll let your guard down, and when you do, we’ll be watching.” Then, they turned around to leave.

I nodded, unamused by the assumption. “You fellas forgot your coffee,” I said behind them, chuckling when Stanton’s spine stiffened briefly. I took another sip from my cup, already knowing it wouldn’t be enough to chase away the annoyance I felt. Just before the door to the coffee shop closed behind them, I raised my voice and called after them. “See you around!”

Detective Dickhead’s threat echoed on repeat in my mind the entire drive to my office. We struck a nerve with the girl. I huffed, slamming my fist against my desk. They were right. Nellie in general had struck a nerve with me that I wasn’t used to. Women didn’t get under my skin, but it was different when that woman was the now breathtakingly beautiful sister of the man I owed my life to. Even more so when she sounded the way she did last night.

“Damn it,” I grumbled, picking up my phone. I scrolled through my contacts list, clicking on the name of the only real estate agent I could trust with this.

“This is Drake,” he said, answering the phone. He sounded as gruff as always, almost like I had caught him at a bad time.

“It’s me.” I waited while the realization registered with him, first with a confused inhale and then a quick exhale.

“Fuckin’ hell, Ronan. What’s going on?” He sounded almost excited, followed immediately by suspicion. He knew I wasn’t just calling for a friendly chat.

I sighed. “I need to cash in that favor.” I didn’t have to remind Drake I had helped him with his own problem a couple years back, and favors always came back to the surface.

“What’s going on?” Drake lowered his voice, and after a quiet rustle, I heard a door close in the background. “Is everything alright with you and Giaco?”

“Everything is fine.” I considered where to start. “I need your help buying a building.”

“Really?” He laughed on the other end of the line. “Dude, I thought this was going to be something serious!”

I cleared my throat. “This is serious.” Drake coughed to stifle the last of his laughter while I continued. “From what I understand, the sale is almost finalized. I don’t know how far is too far to stop it, but I’ll pay any cost. I need your help to make that happen.”

“What kind of building?” Drake asked, and I could hear him typing in the background.

“A bakery.”

The typing stopped, and Drake laughed again. “A bakery? Really?” He continued typing. “What happened? Did you guys get bored of making pizza?”

“It’s not for me.” I was debating how much to tell him when he gasped theatrically and loudly enough that I had to pull the phone away from my ear. I rolled my eyes. I knew he was going to be amused by it.

“Not your bakery. Don’t tell me it’s for a girl.” He paused, but not long enough for me to answer his question. “It is, isn’t it? Who is she?”

“It doesn’t matter.” I sucked in a deep breath, pinching the bridge of my nose between my finger and thumb. She was all that mattered. “I just need your help, okay?”

“Yeah, you’re in love.” Drake laughed, deciding for himself that he was right. “What’s the address?” I gave him the address to the bakery, waiting anxiously while he pulled it up. “You’re right. It’s already under contract.”

“Is it too late to stop it from going through?” I already knew it wasn’t, but it wasn’t going to be easy. I would do whatever it took. Drake hummed in the background, and I could practically see him rocking his head side to side. “How much?”

“I’d say you need to go at least twenty percent above the current sale price. If you really want the guarantee, I’d go with thirty.” Drake had gotten me every building I’d wanted in the past, some with a battle, but I always walked away with the deed. I trusted him to make sure this would be no different.

I nodded. “Think you can make it happen?”

“Of course, I can,” Drake assured me, laughing like he was almost offended I’d even asked. I could hear his keyboard clicking more furiously in the background—the sound of determination. “So, who is she?” he asked when the typing slowed.

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