Page 17 of Fast Justice

Because of Ruiz, the cartel was in far too precarious a position at the moment. Anyone causing more trouble would learn firsthand howEl Escorpionruled this empire like an iron fist.

Chapter Six

When another knock came on her office door that evening, Rowan glanced up expecting to find her assistant standing there. Instead her brother grinned at her. “I come bearing sustenance,” he said, holding up takeout bags.

“Yay!” She got up, her stiff muscles protesting each movement, and rounded her desk to hug her brother. “It’s good to see you. Thanks for bringing me food.”

“Welcome. I’ll think of a way for you to make it up to me.”

“I’m sure you will,” she said with a laugh, pushing piles of papers out of the way to clear a corner of her desk.

“Damn, it looks like a war room in here,” Kevin said in a sort of horrified fascination, taking in the state of her office.

She huffed out a laugh. “It really does. And as of right now, it seems like the good guys are losing the battle.”

“I’m not worried. You’ll prevail in the end.” He set the bags down on her desk, moved a couple boxes off to make room for them to eat, then eyed her. “You really sore still?”

“I’ve felt better,” she said, dropping back into her chair and reaching for the first bag. The savory, garlicky smell of whatever he’d brought was making her mouth water.

He came around behind her to rub her neck and shoulders. She stopped what she was doing, sagging back and letting out a moan. “Your shoulders are rock hard,” he admonished, digging his fingers in while he made gentle circular motions.

“Not surprised,” she muttered, closing her eyes. “Oh my God, don’t stop. Since when can you give a massage like this, anyway?”

“Just another skill I picked up from Nick. I can now melt away muscular tensionandbuild a cabinet with my bare hands.”

“I knew I loved him.” He and her brother had been dating for seven months now, and just moved in together a few weeks ago. “How’s shacked-up life treating you so far? Still amazing?”

“Yep. I’ve definitely found The One.”

The happiness in her brother’s voice made her smile. Kevin had dated a few not-so-nice guys before meeting Nick, so she was even happier for him. “I’m glad. He’s a sweetie.”

“Yeah. And before you take a bite of your dinner, let’s get another dose of whatever pain relievers you have down you.”

“Good call. It’s so handy, having a pharmacist in the family.” She took the bottle out of her top drawer and downed two as her brother kneaded the back of her neck. “Believe me, I’m loving this, but can we eat now before I starve to death?”

“Todeath? Ah, we can’t have that.” He stopped and dug them both plates out of one of the bags. “Let’s do this.”

Within a minute she had a plate piled high with chicken souvlaki, veggies and tzatziki. “Yum,” she mumbled around the first bite.

Kevin’s deep blue eyes sparkled with laughter. “You’re so easy, Ro. I’ll have to make sure the next guy you date knows that one of the quickest ways into your heart is through your stomach.”

She made a face and swallowed her bite. “Don’t go telling my secrets, now. Not that I have to worry about having anyone for you to tell, since I’m going to be buried alive under paperwork for the foreseeable future.”

“Still no one on the radar?”

She broke eye contact and looked down at her food, thinking of Malcolm. “No.”

He paused at that and lowered his fork, watching her. “Thereissomeone,” he said, sounding captivated.

She shook her head, speared another piece of chicken. “No, there’s not.”

“There totally is,” he insisted, and shifted his chair closer. “Who? Come on, tell your little bro.” He leaned an elbow on the desk and propped his cheek on his fist, waiting.

Rowan sighed and finished her mouthful, debating whether she should tell him. Her office door was shut. No one could overhear them, and she told her brother everything anyway. “He’s not on the radar. Not like that. Well, he kind of…reappeared on it all of a sudden, and it feels like our paths keep crossing lately.” She couldn’t help but think there must be a reason for that.

“Interesting. Who is it?”

She hesitated only a moment before answering. “Malcolm.”

---