Page 72 of Cook

Scratching my beard, I ran through a list of the guys we had in town. “I’ll round up the prospects on border patrol and make sure they’ve got eyes peeled.”

“Good deal,” Wilde said. “One thing you three should consider.”

We all gave the Prez our full attention.

“If the Mafia and cartel are using our routes for trade, we should use that to our advantage.”

“What’cha thinkin’?” asked Celt.

Wilde looked us each in the eye, then answered, “I’m not interested in arms dealing, but our finances have taken a hit since the legalization. Sasquatch up in LA tried to make a deal, but remember what Ward said at church last? ’Bout Enzo.”

“The motherfucking Mafia,” growled Angel, and if anyone had a bone to pick with them, it was him.

Well, him, Lanie, Maddie, and now me!

“Yep.” Wilde pushed off the counter. “LAPD has our dockside warehouse taped off for the fucking investigation, so we’re not getting at the warehouse anytime soon.”

“So,” I began, “what’s that got to do with the pew-pews out there?”

“That is the fucking question of the day.” Wilde grinned. “Answer’s plain and simple. From now on, we take a cut for giving them a lane for their goddamn trafficking.”

Angel bristled. “No.”

“Armstrafficking, man.” Wilde clapped a hand on his shoulder, a silentsorry.

The Quechan man visibly relaxed. “None of the tribe though.”

“Never,” answered Wilde.

“Good deal.” Angel got to his feet from the barstool.

Celt marched toward the door. “Let’s get it unloaded then.”

“Get the word out.” Wilde smacked the granite and followed Celt.

Angel, though, lingered.

He rounded the island and stood toe-to-toe with me.

I straightened, but Angel was taller. Everyone had left, but us, and I was sure as hell wasn’t about to have my ass beaten. I reached behind my back for my gun as he stalked forward.

He stalked forward, his palm landing on my chest as he fisted my shirt. “You gotta get Madeline to see her sister. Lanie’s driving me ape-shit crazy.”

Was his posturing seriously all about Maddie? I knocked his hand away. “I’m not putting Maddie into a situation she doesn’t want to be in,” I said, voice low. That had been my goal the whole time, including why I took her out of the recovery house.

“Are you telling me that you can’t get Maddie to even talk to Lanie?” Angel’s eyes narrowed.

I glared up at him. “None of your business.”

“It is when it’s my ol’ lady’s sister.”

I wasn’t justifying my actions to him or his ol’ lady. I tried to walk past him, but he put his big hand on my shoulder. My gaze dropped to his hand and then dragged up his arm.

He might have a few inches on me, but Angel was kind of lanky. I had the bulk and would snap him if he pressed the issue.

“Get your fucking hand off of me,” I snarled.

Angel stepped closer, balling his fingers into my shirt.

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