Page 108 of Savannah Royals
“Can ya give me a hand, kid?” Ray grunts as he moves a few boxes around.
I move to help him. “What are you doing?”
“Just a little black-market inventory. Which reminds me…” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out one of his white envelopes. “Can you pass this along to Paul?”
I take it and peek inside. More cash. A lot. Way more than there should be, considering we aren’t getting Magpie tribute anymore.
I shake my head. “What are you moving for him, Ray? Where is this scratch coming from?”
He rubs the back of his neck. “Just give him the money, Kat. Questions aren’t a part of the deal.”
“Is it drugs? Guns? Something worse?”
“Kat.” He looks at me hard. “I’m just the bagman. You want answers? Go to the supplier.”
I sigh and walk away, tucking the envelope into my jacket. I won’t get anywhere with Paul. Especially not now. I should have tried to fuck it out of him months ago, when I had the chance.
Even still, I make a run to the bayou loft that evening to drop off the cash. I’m surprised but pleased to find Paul up and moving around the kitchen.
“Hey, how’re you doing?” I ask, dropping my bag at the table. “You look good.”
“I’ve been up for a few days, Kat. I even went outside with Tony yesterday. Which you’d know if you’d been around.”
“Sorry.” I drop my gaze to the table. “I wasn’t sure how I’d be received if I just stopped by. But I come bearing gifts.” I dig through my pockets and pull out the envelope.
“Thanks.” He swipes the cash and heads for the bedroom.
I cautiously follow him. The bed is unmade, and I automatically start fixing it, tucking in sheets and fanning out the duvet. He watches me with amusement before heading to the safe in his closet. I wander around the room, absentmindedly tidying. My gaze lands on his bedside table, his signet ring still atop it.
When Paul emerges from the closet, he sighs. “Yeah, it’s still there. Right where you left it. In case you ever decide to pick it back up.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea, Paul. We were ripping each other apart. I have questions you refuse to answer, and Matthew makes me happy. I’m sorry for how it happened, but you were right. I’m in love with him.”
“You’re in love with me too,” Paul replies. “You’re just choosing the easier life. The prettier one.”
“I’m not. It’s not that simple, Paul. The way you and I love each other…it’s not a healthy kind of love. It’s consuming and captivating, but it’s not built to last. One way or another, it will end in flames. Whether it’s like this—with me walking away—or with you bleeding out from another bullet in the street…I don’t know how exactly, but this way is for the best. We’re dangerous together.”
“Maybe,” he says, “but if I don’t get to have you, I don’t want him to have you either.”
I laugh. “That’s probably the most honest thing you’ve said to me in months. But the time to say it has come and gone. You should put the ring away, Paul, and we can lay this to rest.”
He sighs but doesn’t budge. “What are the new rules? Are you even allowed to be here? Does he know?”
“Not yet. But I’ll tell him, and he won’t mind. He’s good like that.”
“He’s really willing to look the other way?” Paul scoffs. “We’ll see how long that lasts.”
“Stop.” I put out a hand. “Stop right now. We’re not going down this road, not ever again. Do you hear me? You don’t know anything about Matthew, and you don’t know anything about my relationship with him. You can either shut your mouth and be respectful so we can continue being friends, or you can keep talking, and I’ll walk out that door and never return. I mean it, Paul. I’ll leave, and I won’t look back.”
“I can keep my mouth shut,” Paul mumbles.
“Really?”
He chews his lip, then sighs. “Yes.”
“Okay, then let’s play a few hands of poker. I’m in the mood to kick your ass.”
It’sabouttwoweekslater, near the end of January, that I finally crack the case of Paul, Ray, and the cash envelopes.
