Page 43 of Agent vs. Assassin

“It’s not good,” he says. “When Taylor was in Texas, El Paso to be specific, his wife and baby got in cartel crossfire. They were killed.”

Pretty much the entire vehicle curses, and I feel a twist in my chest. Taylor was a dick to me, but he sees me as an extension of Kane, and Kane the kingpin of the monsters who killed his family.

“Taylor was transferred to Long Island to get him away from the incident, as he was struggling with volatile behavior,” Kane adds. “Which is not so unexpected, considering all, but something like that changes a man. He’s trouble. We’d be good to prepare for him to bring that trouble to us, but it’s not the first time we’ve dealt with someone like him. It won’t be the last.”

I don’t hate Taylor just yet, not with this fresh knowledge to guide my direction with him, but he’s dangerous. None of us can forget that.

Ever.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

We finally have some time alone, just me and Kane, and I don’t even feel the need to be in Purgatory. This case ends with Elsa and Ghost, in different ways, and if I find Elsa, I find Ghost again.

After having our favorite pizza joint deliver, we retreat to our bedroom and sit at a small corner table we often use to eat, enjoying the quiet, the calm before the storm. We aren’t completely alone; we never are. Kit’s here, but that’s the norm, and he has his own room on the lower level. He also knows how to play invisible to us and our enemies.

Jay and Raz are on their way to pick up Tic Tac and Jack from the airport. After which, Raz and Enrique will stay the night at Lucas’ place and allow Enrique a break. Okay, they’re protecting Lucas too, I suppose, but he seems to be the one inviting the trouble, so fuck him right now.

I take a bite of a slice of pineapple, bacon, and jalapeño pizza while Kane fills our wine glasses with a red blend that’s a favorite of ours. “What the hell was Lucas thinking?” Kane asks, setting the bottle down.

“He’s gone off the deep end over the idea of Murphy being in that airport photo right before the crash. He’s not in his right mind, Kane. He needs some grace.”

“You saw the photo, too, and you haven’t gone off the deep end.”

“I did that way back on a beach with a blade in my hand.”

“He’s not you, Lilah, and his drinking problem is proof of that, if you need more than the general way he handles life. And you. I won’t apologize for being possessive of my wife around a man who makes it obvious he wants to fuck her. And him pretending to be family to get close to you is the sign of a low individual.”

“I don’t think it’s like that at all. I believe he attaches himself to me because he has no one else. He lost his parents.”

“You lost your mother, and your father isn’t a father at all.”

“But I always had you, Kane, at least for as long as I can remember.”

“You had me, even before you were willing to admit you needed me. But you’re making excuses for him, and you do him no good by doing so. He has a track record of irrational decisions.”

He’s not wrong. The high target hacking, excessive drinking, kidnapping people.

“I’m not even sure it’s safe to allow him all the knowledge you do, bella. At some point, when he’s drunk, will he sell off the information?”

“He has money.”

“So did a lot of people until drugs and drinking made them do stupid shit and lose it, often a lot of it.”

“I already told him he has to go back to rehab. And enough on Lucas.Please.”

His expression tightens, and he reaches for his glass. “For now. I’m out of patience with him, Lilah.”

I push onward. “How long is Raz staying around?”

“Until your father and Pocher have met him and know he’s submissive to me. That way, when he becomes the head of thecartel, they still see that as me. Ultimately, until my father is dead.”

“When will that be?”

“That’s on the mob. It could be a day, or a week, or maybe longer, but I urged expediency, considering how much damage my father can do in a short time.”

“You really think your father will act against you in that time?”

“He wants my attention. That’s why he cornered you. If I don’t give it to him, he’ll escalate his efforts.”

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