Page 70 of Saving Grace

“Remember I asked Trent about the missing ambulances?”

“Yeah?”

“They found one and there were traces of heroin in the vehicle.”

“Damn.”

“They used ambulances to ferret out the heroin from the airport when there were more than two hundred wounded,” I said trying to control the rage I felt every time I thought about it. “This is what the war on drugs has become, and to say that I am sick to my stomach that my boss might be involved is an understatement.”

“What do need from me?”

“We need to know who supplied the Dixie Mafia with the heroin.”

“You know you probably wouldn’t be needing that info from me if only you’d remember what the accountant told you,” Troy said, scratching the beard on his chin.

“Don’t you think I know that?” I said in annoyance. “At least I’m not waiting on my ass doing nothing.”

“Matt wasn’t kidding when he said you had the tenacity of a pit bull.”

“Did you turn down the Dixie Mafia?”

“Yes,” Troy replied regretfully. “I’m not losing another man as long as The Reaper is at large. All my men and their families are in the compound on lockdown. I’m not sure if that invitation from the Dixie Mafia wasn’t a trap.”

“You think the cartel knows you’ve been trying to get the accountant out, and that’s why he sent The Reaper after your men?”

“Difficult to determine at this point,” Troy answered with a deep exhale. “There are loyalties and alliances both within the cartel and its cronies. As far as I know, The Reaper has been carrying out cartel-sanctioned executions, but that doesn’t mean anything.”

I was about to speculate on The Reaper’s next move when Troy stiffened and Roger rose to his feet. An unfamiliar car screeched to a halt by the curb right in front of our table. My heart leapt to my throat as Roger scrambled to my side. Alarm lessened to consternation as Kyra staggered out of the vehicle. I had not seen her since the diner incident, and I knew Millie told her to take a few days off. Judging from her disheveled and gaunt appearance, she had not spent that time regrouping.

She stumbled around the vehicle and leaned against it so she was facing me.

“Are you drunk, Kyra?” Roger demanded.

“Drunk?” she sniffed as she swiped her nose with the edge of her long-sleeved tee. “I haven’t had a drop of alcohol.”

She wasn’t drunk; she was high. Years working for the DEA had trained me well to spot the signs.

Kyra looked at me with glassy eyes, her lips sneering. “You’re a scheming bitch, trapping a man into marrying you by getting pregnant.”

“Kyra, I think you need help.” I stood and tried to reach out to her, but Roger pulled me back.

The other woman laughed shrilly. “Oh, this is priceless. Matt’s so crazy about you, he gave you your own bodyguard. What do you have? A golden cunt?”

Heat crept up to my hairline as I noticed spectators starting to gather.

“Go home, Kyra,” Roger ordered.

“Did you fuck her too? Is that why you’re protective of her?” Kyra taunted.

I convinced myself that it was the drugs talking and tried to tamp down the angry retort that I wanted to unleash on her.

“Troy,” I turned to the biker who seemed to be enjoying the show.Motherfucker. “Can you help her?” I didn’t add “dry out.” I suspected heroin.

The lazy amusement on Troy’s face turned darkly forbidding when I heard gasps and muffled cries from the spectators around me. Confused, I spun back in time to see Kyra drawing a gun and pointing it at me. She was backing away, so as not to get jumped by any of the guys.

Everyone was frozen as I belatedly heard a gun cock.

“Put that gun away,” Roger growled, moving to shove me behind him when a shot rang out and kicked up debris from the pavement right where Roger and I were standing, separating us.

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