Page 20 of Lenkov

“What did you just say to me?” I come across the table, in her face. “Because I think I heard you wrong.”

“I know. Be a shame if others did, too.”

“Are you really threatening me in my territory?” I cupped her jaw and tightened my hold, digging my fingers into her soft flesh. “Because I can and will end you where you sit. If you’re as smart as you think you are. You’ll walk out of here and never look back. I’m not the only one who’s been waiting for a chance to pay you back for the shit you did.”

“P-Please, Lenk, I’m in trouble.”

My fingers spasm, and she cries out. “Why would you think I’d give a fuck?”

“We-we had something good going once.” Her voice shakes, and tears spill from her dark blue eyes.

I chuckle. “You threaten me in one breath and try to remind me of the good times in another? Sloppy. They’ve got you running scared, huh?”

I shove her face away, releasing her. She slams back into the seat, breathing hard. Shoulders shaking, she peers up at me.

“W-what happened to you?”

“Nothing. You made yourself my enemy. And now you see the other side of my personality. Consider this my ultimate act of goodwill. The bill is on the house. If I see you again.” I make a gun with my finger and pull the trigger. “It’s open season.”

“I’m trying to help—.”

“Yourself. Like always. Goodbye, Katherine.” I stand and wait for her to follow suit. The tears flowing freely do nothing to move me as she rises and rushes from the restaurant. I have more important things to worry about.

***

“KATHY WALKED INTO OURrestaurant and demanded to talk to you?” Vas asks.

“Like she didn’t have a care in the world.”

“What did she want?”

“Blackmail. Kathy threatened to go public with Rylee and Jaycee.” I admit, as my shoulders droop.

“Fuck.” Vas slams his hands on the desk. “So she knows?”

“She thinks she does.”

“Why you?” Vas mumbles.

“She thought she could play on my sympathies. We always believed she was working for someone. She all but admitted it at the table.”

“Any clue who?”

I shake my head and pace the room. “Someone scary enough to bring her to our door.”

“Fuck. We need to bring the others in on this.”

“The more people know, the faster it’ll spread. They’re not ready.”

“We both know this life doesn’t give a damn about that. You need to prepare them for the worse. You let her go back to work?”

“With discreet protection. Anything else would be a silent admission of guilt. Rylee’s putting in her two weeks like a normal person, not running from something.”

Vas rubs his chin. “I can see the validity of that decision.”

“You’re not the only one looking out for the well-being of the family, Vas. I never understood why you felt you had to shoulder that burden alone.”

“I take the blood on my own hands to spare the lot of you.”

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