Page 58 of To Catch A Rook

“If you had the biggest cock, you wouldn’t need me, no?” Carmen shot back before I could get the chance to reply. My brother’s sneer folded into a murderous scowl.

“Chupamela, cono.”

A knife whipped out from some hidden place on Carmen’s body and speared the ball in Mical’s outstretched hand.

“The next time willbeyour cock,” she hissed, her threat a self-assured promise.

Jonah’s eyes lit up with interest for the first time since I had walked in, and Mical slumped in the adjacent wingback, sulking.

Idiotas, the pair of them.

Ignoring our guest, I turned my attention to the imbeciles of the hour.

“Rally your men. Have everyone on high alert. We don’t need this to be a bloody battle, but we need to get this nipped in the bud quickly.”

Mical’s toddler tantrum transformed into a giddy schoolgirl.

“Bloodshed is not an issue.”

“Yes, I know, Mical, you’re a big, bad killing machine,” I gritted out impatiently. “It’s been a slow progression, but with the Rodriguezes shifting alliances, we need to be ready for anything.”

I turned to Jonah, my slightly less chaotic brother. “I’m doing my best to keep the Bureau out of this, or else the Cartel will have the Feds on its ass too. We’ve been able to operate this long without consequencesbecausewe keep things under control. You know what Antonio will do if we don’t.”

The threat of our father taking our lives was far more terrifying than law enforcement trying to shut us down. Rampant bribery and several well-placed alliances all over this side of the country made us immune to most punishments, but to die by our father’s hands was to die by immeasurably painful torture.

Finally, I had my brothers’ undivided attention. We spent the better part of the next two hours reviewing personnel, business arrangements, and dividing territories across the state between our most trusted men.

Carmen’s role wasn’t clear in the discussion, but Mical informed me she was now working directly for Antonio, and had been invited to this meeting. This situation didn’t call for a trained hit woman, but what Antonio wanted, Antonio got.

I was exhausted by the time our chat came to a close, and eager to get away from the gruesome twosome and out of this town. I couldn’t have been more grateful for the interrupting phone call.

Abruptly, I stood from the couch and nodded a goodbye as I scanned the number.

“I have to take this.”

I stepped out of the office and walked down the narrow staircase toward the side staff entrance.

“Hello?”

“Mr. Carlos.”

The male voice on the other end was perfunctorily polite, with the hint of an accent. German, maybe.

“Yes?”

“Thank you very much for your interest in The Six. We’ve reviewed your contract, but I’m afraid there is a complication with your … target.”

When filling out the request, I’d chosen Hillary as my mark. She was high profile, one of the richest people I could name, and someone I could monitor while The Six were conducting their business. I needed an easy win before this turf war amped up and the FBI caught wind of it.

An issue with the target was not something I’d predicted.

I attempted to keep the irritation out of my response. “What do you mean?”

“At the risk of indiscretion, I’m afraid that target is already … taken.”

My hackles rose at the thought of some other fuck trying to take down Hillary Lane. I made no attempt to keep the ire out of my voice this time.

“What do you mean, ‘taken’?”

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