Page 111 of One Spicy Summer

They say killing someone changes you.

So does losing a child.

I wasn’t there for my Little Hellion before, but I am now. And they’ll pay for it with their lives. Grabbing my phone, I fire off a quickI love youtext. I can’t help the grin when she sends back heart emojis, telling me she’s about to soak for a while.

"So, how does that sound?"

I blink, pulling myself out of my thoughts. I didn’t even hear what the man across from me asked. "I’m sorry, what was that?"

Felix Casey, an older gentleman who’d requested this meeting to discuss a potential business deal, just smiles kindly.

"You’ve got the look, son," he says.

I frown. "What look?"

He chuckles. "The look of love. Someone’s got your mind tied up in knots."

A nervous laugh slips out as I rake a hand through my hair. "Is it that obvious?"

"It’s obvious," he says warmly. "But no worries. You come highly recommended. Having your head in the clouds during aminor meeting? Child’s play. As long as you give one-hundred and ten percent to this deal when the time comes, that’s all I ask."

"You have my word. There’s something I need to take care of first... involving my girl. Once that’s handled, I’ll be all in."

He gives a knowing nod, the kind that says he’s seen a lot more than I realize. "That’s what I like to hear. Go take care of it. I’ll be here getting familiar with the good people of Cedar Creek."

As he leaves, I buzz Julie in.

"Yes, boss?"

"First, don’t call me boss," I laugh. "Second, find out everything you can about Mr. Casey."

"Sure thing. Something wrong?"

"No. I just think he could be more than a business client."

"Say no more. I’ll have something for you within the hour."

I don’t know how she’ll dig it up, and I’m not gonna ask. Heading for my office, I call Rafe. He picks up on the second ring.

"What up?"

"I’m tired of waiting. I’m going to kill him," I growl. "If I hadn’t warned Roman ahead of time, Keifer might’ve succeeded. I’m fucking losing it, Rafe."

"Don’t. Between the three of us, she’s never really alone. It justlookslike she is."

"I know, man. I just want to end this. The cops aren’t doing shit, so I’m handling it."

"I agree. Filing a police report? What a joke. He’s been hiding since it all went down, but now he pops up? Why? I’ll find out when we catch that motherfucker. You’re not a little sorry we’re using Presley to bait him?"

Silence. Then, "Don’t. You know I am. But it has to be done. Otherwise, he wins." More silence.

"I’m sorry, bro. I’m with you. A hundred percent." Rafe says, using our codename again.

"You better be. This isn’t just about me. It’s about Presley, about everything that piece of shit ruined. He’s fucking dead, and I don’t care if I lose myself making it happen."

Julie peeks into the office, confusion on her face. I wave her off, mouthing ‘later.’

"Ry, I get it," Rafe says quietly. "Just tell me when and where."

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