Page 30 of The Killer Who Kept Me

Mike chuckled. “He texts from what he assumes is a secure phone, but it’s not. He’s an idiot.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “His idiocy works in our favor.”

“I got a few names of people he reached out to. Some might help; he’s offering pieces of your territories if they help kill you and return Em.”

“No offense, I like the kid, but what’s so goddamn special that he’s losing his shit?” Cos asked.

“It’s about power. Em was his in his warped little mind. Now he’s not. He wants his toy back.” I cracked my neck, relieving some of the pressure that was building.

“We know Ramsey is trying to make a move. He won’t unless he believes he has enough support. Cos, Benny, get info from Mike on who Ramsey has been talking to. Remind them why that would be a real fucking bad idea.”

“You got it,” they responded in unison.

“Mike, get info on Brandi, keep tabs on Ramsey.”

“No problem.”

“I’m going to be spending the afternoon with Em. Hopefully I’ll find more shit out.”

Benny snorted. “Like that’s the only reason you’re hanging out with him.”

I side-eyed him. I wanted to argue, but it would be a lie. I was drawn to Em; something about him settled the tornado inside me. He was a light. Some might call him a victim, but he was a survivor. He’d been thrust into a shit situation he couldn’t climb out of and too weak to grip the rope I’d thrown to him the firsttime we’d met. I wanted to help him…and yeah, he was beautiful. That didn’t hurt.

“Remember, tomorrow is family dinner,” Cosmo broke the tension.

“Fuck.”

“Nice, Saros. Your niece has been dying to show you her recital dance. This is the reaction you give me.” Cos shook his head.

“You fucking showed me the video. Why do I have to be subjected to that twice?”

Mike and Benny laughed, which earned a glare from Cosmo. “You don’t want to see it? Fine, you tell her.” He pushed his cell toward me.

I stared at the phone angrily and then sighed. “Fuck! Fine!”

Cos nodded and tucked it back into his jacket. “Good, Uncle Sarry.”

“You do not call me that.” I jabbed a finger at him.

The three men chuckled again.Assholes.

Around noon,after a shit-ton of phone calls finalizing the menu for family dinner with Martha and some other things, I made my way up to Em’s bedroom. I knocked and almost too quietly, I heard him say come in.

He was still in bed, but I could tell he’d showered, and he had on some fresh clothes. He shot me a small smile, and I could already see some color in his cheeks.

“You look good.”

He snorted. “Thanks. I still feel like ground-up feces, but thanks.”

“Are the clothes good?”

“Yeah. Martha came up for breakfast and asked me what I liked to wear and what sizes. I told her it wasn’t necessary, but she shut me down.”

I laughed and sat at the foot of the bed. “Sounds about right.”

“Did you have a productive meeting?”

“Productive enough. Maybe we can talk about it over lunch. What did Paulo say?”

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