Page 14 of Kings Against the World

“Vegas, huh? When would that be?”

“Two months. Blazing hot in the smack dab of the summer. You accept my invite, you’re playing for me. For my organization. The earnings are divvied up. You know how it goes. You work off what you owe first, then the debt’s a done deal and you earn a pretty penny. You in?”

I stroke my jaw in thought, stalling a few seconds.

“I should clarify,” Boone adds. “If you’re not in, we might have some problems. I might be in a less forgiving mood regarding that debt you owe. You know how I get when I’m feeling that way, don’t you, Oz?”

“Yeah… okay… I’m in. Sounds like a good time with a big payoff. I’ll be there.”

“Glad to hear. And you’ll be bringing sweetheart here, right?”

I keep Strauss at my side, regardless of how tense she is against me. “Maybe. We’ve got stuff to figure out.”

“Let’s hope you do. For your best interest and hers. Your girl’s heard a lot. We don’t like word getting around.”

His threat hangs in the air. His suggestion isn’t a suggestion at all—it’s a demand that he expects to be followed.

“Sure thing,” I say. “You’ve got nothing to worry about.”

“Well… time sure as hell will tell about that, won’t it?” Boone hacks out yet another hoarse laugh, blowing smoke. His dark shades block out his gaze, but I can tell it’s bouncing between me and Strauss. “You two have a good night. See you in the desert.”

5

ZOE

“Look,before you bitch me out—I had to,” Gallagher says the moment we’re alone. “You heard him. You’ve heard too much. Seen too much. I had to vouch for you or shit would’ve got real hardcore real fast. Maybe we can fake break up by the time July rolls around?—”

“You’re stuck with me, Gallagher,” I interrupt sharply, finally finding my voice. I’ve been silent from the moment Boone and his goons cornered me in this alley, but I’m so livid I’m shaking. “You’re stuck with me now, and I’m stuck with you. I’m not giving up my investigation, and it sounds like you’re knee deep in some shit, owing him money?—”

“I don’t owe him money?—”

“According to Boone?—”

“You know nothing about the situation,” he interrupts yet again. “And do you ever let a guy speak without jumping down his fucking throat? Fuck, you must have a real thick stick jammed all the way up your ass! You’re insufferable!”

A scoff leaves me, my arms folding. “I’m insufferable because I want nothing to do with you, Gallagher? You forced your wayinto my situation, and now it seems like we’re in this fucked up arrangement together. You play your role. I’ll play mine. Is that clear?”

“You’re not in charge of me, fed. You get that, right? I don’t do authority. Not even when it’s some hard-ass chick pretending to run shit.”

“We’ll see about that,” I counter, stepping into his face. My insides quiver, whether out of anger or some other emotion I’m not sure. But no one’s ever made me this frustrated. “You are officially part of a federal investigation, which means you aremyoperative. So, yes, Gallagher, Idorun shit. Let’s get that straight right now. I’ll be in touch.”

I spin on my heel, the long, wavy locks from my bubblegum-pink wig whipping him in the chest. I stride off, trying to appear as commanding and unapologetic as possible, yet on the inside I couldn’t feel more differently.

My stomach quakes. My pulse races. I’m dizzy and foggy-brained.

Shaken by Oswald Gallagher and the way he gets under my skin at every opportunity.

In total disbelief that now we really are stuck together. If I want to bring down Boone and his underground operation, Gallagher’s become the in to do it.

A month and a half later…

Duchovny puts me on unpaid admin leave the moment I return from Houston. It’s surprisingly the best of the worst case scenarios, so I can’t even put up a fight. I’m getting off easy if my only punishment is a couple weeks on admin leave.

Dipping into my savings a little is hardly as bad as being terminated or knocked down a grade.

I use the time off to travel to Southern California and check on my parents. They’ve been experiencing the usual marital problems that have plagued their relationship for decades at this point.

My dad’s a gambling addict and my mom’s an enabler. They’re both on and off drugs and alcohol. I’ve spent most of my life trying to get them clean. Even as a young girl, I took on the household responsibilities. I raised Zani while they were off battling their demons.

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