Page 69 of When Sinners Fall
We pull up, and she just sits there.
“Spit it out, Wren.”
“What are you doing today?” I stay focused on the road and people milling around out front. She shifts sideways to look at me. “It’s just, if we don’t talk about work, what do we talk about? That’s what couples do. Share each other’s days. Chat through things. And I know you don’t want to hear about weddings all night, so… just, well I’m a little lost with what we talk about if you can’t share what’s going on with your day too. See? And you did say all in, so we need this. I need this. I mean, you can’t be doing anything too bad if you’re in a suit.” I can in her estimation of the facts I’ll be getting up to. And am doing. “So, what?”
Fuck it then.
“Alright. I’ve got to pick up money from some places with Knox. After that, I’m gonna work out why we’re thousands of dollars down on something we should be up on, which will probably mean I’m beating the crap out of something, or killing it. And when I’ve done that, I’ve got to watch fourteen women fuck a pole to see if they’re worth investing time in.”
She glares at me for that last bit. I don’t give a damn. It’s only part of the actual truth of the matter. She should be thankful she didn’t get the whole of it because poles will be the least of the new intake’s concerns today.
I chuckle, though. I chuckle at the look on her face and the fact that she’s not ready for what she thinks she wants to hear. “Good talk. Enjoyed it. Let’s do it again later.”
“Do you want to run that last part by me again?”
I light a smoke. “No.”
“Just strip clubs?”
I don’t answer.
Her face pales. “So, you do own brothels.”
“You really want the rest of this talk?”
She stays quiet. I’m not surprised. She might think she’s ready for her nights-in and talking through my day. She isn’t. Not many people would be, and I’m damn sure I don’t even want her understanding that side of me. It’s not for her. Never was, other than me being able to protect her because of it. “Go to work, Wren. I’ll see you at seven.”
“You can’t say things like that and just-”
“Then why the fuck are you asking?” My fists tighten up, frown dropping down. “You keep asking and I’m gonna end up telling you things you don’t want to hear, Wren. I don’t lie, so stop pushing when you can’t deal with the goddamn answer. Just…. I don’t know. Take the best of me, enjoy it, and leave the worst the hell alone.”
Her head nods, and she goes to open the car door. “I…” I look at her, waiting, expecting another round of let's push and see where round two gets her, but she just gets out and shakes her head to herself. So I watch her walk into the building, not sure how that’s going to play out in her thoughts all day. Nothing I can do about that, though. She asked.
Hopefully she won’t again.
Twenty minutes later, I pull up alongside Knox’s car. He’s leaning on it and talking to someone on the phone when I get out. We both start walking toward the luxury high-rise, and I keep listening to him as he tries explaining sense to someone on the other end. Doesn’t seem like it’s working because Cortez’ features are beginning to set in heavy on his face as he ends the call.
He scowls as we get into an elevator, then nods at the only door when we arrive on the eighteenth floor. “Break it the fuck down.”
Three hard kicks and I’m getting somewhere. The wood starts buckling, the lock giving, and after the fifth kick, I use my shoulder to barge the remaining wood out of the way. He’s past me and sweeping the room instantly, all hell breaking free on his features.
I watch as he goes about remembering who he is, and then look on as he finds some dick who’s hiding out in the bathroom. The guy gets shoved into the middle of the main room, his feet tripping up like the pansy-ass fuck he is. Not that I know who this one is. Abel just asked me to meet Knox here as backup. It’s something I’m happy enough to do on most days, and given the last half hour of my life, and the constant confusion that is Wren fucking Campbell and what I can and can’t tell her, I’m about ready to blow.
“Levi, I don’t like being told no,” Knox says, getting in front of him. “Where’s the fucking debt payment?”
The guy goes on about some reason he couldn’t deliver the cash yesterday. I’m barely listening. There’s no reason to not pay up when you’re on our books. Maybe it was a big payment, and maybe he can’t afford it, but he sure as shit seems to be able to afford this place.
I walk around and take the place in. Modern. Smells newly done out. Freshly painted walls and cameras showing the security he’s installed in case this kinda thing comes knocking. High angles of glass everywhere. Nice. Still, I end up toppling pieces of art to the ground, so they crash and break and become worthless. It’s a bit like this dick’s life is gonna turn any minute if he doesn’t point either Knox or me in the direction of wherever he’s stashed the money.
The heavy sound of knuckles meeting bone sounds, and I look back around the corner to see Knox starting to kick hell out of the guy who’s now on the floor.
“You need me to do that for you? I ask.
Because I could use that to get rid of my own fucking irritation.
He glares at me, and I watch him toss his jacket to the floor.
Well, shit, something’s grating his bones this morning. So I sit on the white, pristine leather couch and watch the carnage unfold. Not often I get to see it out of him. He’s a controlled guy, usually. Not today, though. He never did like this kind of breed when they interfere with us. Assholes and club owners, yes, but uptown, money-bred scholars who try playing with us? No.
