Page 168 of Hidden Ties

“I don’t want anyone I shoot to get up.”

“Yeah, I see your point.” Jackal took a swig of the juice then screwed the cap back on.

“I didn’t fuck up the information I sent you. I gave you a basic workup of who the chick is. She had no dating history. I just know how much money she makes and job history. If you wanted more of her history, you should have asked. I gave you what I normally give you. I didn’t miss the sister and her kids living with her. Sage’s legal address is next door to the one her sister rents.

“Sage lets a former coworker from the temp agency they both worked previously at live in the one she rents. Tayla Stephens. Her husband, Link, has been arrested for a few petty crimes. He was easy to locate last night when I flew in. He’s small fry with a big mouth.” Jackal’s face showed his disgust. “The fucker would sell his mother for a twenty.

“Sage’s sister’s house burned down. Her husband, Denny, died from burns after carrying his wife outside. Glory survived, but the fire seriously fucked her. Her face and legs are scarred. Her lungs and heart were damaged. She needs a heart and lung transplant, which she probably won’t receive in time,” Jackal continued laying out the facts without expression.

“The grandparents—mainly the grandmother—has taken them to court a couple of times, maybe more. You’d find that shit out easier than me.

“Glory allows the grandmother to keep them on the weekends. So far, it seems to be working. The grandmotherseemsto have stopped seeking full custody. Why waste money when it’s only a matter of time before her daughter-in-law willsolve the problem of custody for her?” he said rhetorically. “The only hiccup is Sage. Makes more sense for her to spend her money on having Sage eliminated.”

Kent moved around the counter to make coffee, setting out cups as Jackal talked.

“Victoria and Bradford Ashwood are easy to find—their socials are all over the Internet. You didn’t give me enough time to find out who Victoria hired. Give me a few hours, and I’ll find out a name for you. Max and Stump will be trailing your woman until you decide how you want me to handle the situation, or do you want to handle it personally, like you did with the fucker who took Sage’s watch?”

“I will,” Kent answered, pouring out two cups of coffee and sliding one toward Ice, who hadn’t said one word since entering the hotel room.

The curved scar on Jackal’s face gave him a sinister appearance when he smiled. “I don’t have to ask why the punk who robbed Sage turned himself into the police. I couldn’t have done it better myself,” Jackal complimented him. “You broke every bone in his hand and wrist.”

“Is that all?” Kent asked, blowing on his coffee.

“For now.”

Taking a drink of his black coffee, Kent set the cup down on the counter to stare at Ice.

“Jackal hasn’t told me one thing he couldn’t have told me over the phone. Why are you both here? Anyone could have seen you at my door.”

Ice rested his forearms of the counter. “We have a problem. Mica has been running his mouth.”

“Fuck.” A frustrated sigh escaped him. “Of course, he has.” He ran his hand through his damp hair, then rubbed his chin. “I should fucking retire. Who did he run his mouth to?”

“Two strippers at Henry’s.”

“Did he run his mouth off about what he sold?”

Ice’s jaw clenched. “No, but Mica was bragging he had done a deal with the Phantoms.”

“As long as he hasn’t or doesn’t blab the deal involvedjewelry, Mica might be okay.”

“Might?” Jackal interjected.

“Kaston Castillo has eyes and ears everywhere. The motherfucker has ESP anytime jewelry is mentioned. He doesn’t give a fuck about the swag he lost; he wants the person who knew how to get into his house and about the storage unit. Someone betrayed him, and Kaston won’t stop until he finds out who that person is.”

Kent gave Ice a steady gaze. “Get Mica out of the country and send someone with him who can make him keep his mouth fucking zipped. If Mica kept any pieces of jewelry for himself or gave it away to anyone, find it and destroy it. Not one of those pieces are worth dying over.”

“Which of my men should I send with him?”

Kent had to think it over. “Don’t send any of the Predators, or anyone even remotely connected to the club. Let’s find out who the person Victoria hired to take the hit out on Sage is. You could hire him.”

“You fucking nuts?” Jackal growled. “Why would we hire someone who can’t get the job accomplished?”

“Because I think, if they really wanted Sage dead,” Kent theorized, “she would be dead. Either he’s incompetent, or he wants to keep the money without pulling off the hit by deliberately failing in the attempts. I won’t know who it is until Jackal finds out. I’d do it myself, but I’m already juggling too many balls. I dropped an important ball yesterday. I can’t add any more until I can safely get rid of the ones I’ve got.”

Kent finished his coffee, then walked over to place it in the sink before turning back to Ice. “Jackal, go downstairs and wait for Ice. He’ll be down in a few.”

“I don’t leave Ice,” Jackal refused.

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