Page 19 of Flame it Up

“Okay, I’m listening. Why don’t I want to do that?” Pyrus asked, sighing in exasperation.

Richard chuckled. “Got your attention now, don’t I?”

“Not for long,” Pyrus warned.

“Well, here’s the thing,” Richard said. His tone was so smug and manipulative that Pyrus knew he had something truly shocking to drop on him.

“Out with it,” Pyrus grumbled.

“See, I never actually told anyone that we weren’t in business anymore. In fact, I might have deliberately given the mob guys the impression I was still working with you.”

“What?” Pyrus asked, his voice soft with disbelief. He wanted to shout so badly, but the shock had hit him too hard. It felt like he’d lost his voice.

“They’re after both of us, old buddy,” Richard said, his voice smooth with satisfaction. Pyrus imagined his old friend would use that tone of voice to say goodbye to someone he was knifing in the gut.

“Both of us?” Pyrus echoed.

“Yup. Both of us,” Richard said cheerfully. “Well … I kind of made it look like your idea. So, they might be a bit more pissed off with you than they are with me.”

Pyrus heard his phone make the tiniest of squeaks as his fingers tightened on it. He pulled it away from his ear very carefully and tapped the screen to end the call. He was moving very slowly and carefully because he wanted to close his fist and crush the device into tiny shards. He couldn’t do that, though. He still had to call Mazie.

And my fucking lawyer.

Pyrus quickly called his top legal advisor and gave him a rundown of what Richard was up to. Chad had been in the business for over twenty years and had seen every kind of hell human beings could wreak upon each other. He did not seem surprised by the news.

“Hold up, hold up,” Chad said as Pyrus finished telling the story. “Why did he call to tell you all this?”

“To shake my cage,” Pyrus said bitterly. “He’s setting me up to take the fall, so he was hoping to get something to make me look bad. He’s not the kind of guy that can do something like this and not gloat about it.”

“Agreed,” Chad said. “Richard was never that smart. I honestly don’t see how he can pull off something like this. Your finances have been separated for some time now.”

“I don’t think the mob has access to my financial records,” Pyrus said wryly.

Chad laughed. “Yes, obviously. Still, the skimmed money will have to be somewhere, and it would be nearly impossible to trace it to you. I don’t think you have much to worry about, but I’ll get on with the legal team and go through everything.”

“Thank you, Chad. I appreciate it.”

“No sweat.”

They both hung up, and Pyrus went back to stand in front of the mirror. He ran a hand through his hair as he stared into his troubled eyes. Here in Africa, he didn’t need to worry about gangsters. Once he got home, though, it would be a different story.

I’d like to see them try anything. Hit me on my worst fucking day, and I can still take out twenty gangsters with one shot.

Pyrus closed his eyes and took a deep breath, letting all the tension out as he did so. It only took him a few seconds to push Richard’s call out of his mind. There was only one thing he wanted to focus on today, and it definitely wasn’t Richard.

He let thoughts of Mazie build in his mind. He couldn’t wait to see her, and the excitement that rose in him obliterated any lingering anger he had toward Richard. He realized he’d forgotten to tell Chad to set up contingencies for the employees, but he could do that next time they talked.

Pyrus decided on a dark gray shirt and a pair of board shorts for the party, so he was ready for anything the party had to throw at him.

After running his hands through his hair and checking himself out once more in the mirror, Pyrus headed out to Mazie’s tent. Every step closer to her also took him further from his troubles. By the time he arrived at her tent, his mind was almost completely clear of Richard and his insane schemes.

Pyrus waited in front of Mazie’s tent, wondering if he should call out. The sun had sunk considerably while he was on the phone, but it was still early afternoon. Pyrus was sure that he was right on time.

Maybe she forgot.

Just as Pyrus was getting ready to call her, he heard a rustling sound inside the tent. He barely had a chance to compose himself before she came out through the tent flap. Pyrus was so shocked that he almost took a step back.

Mazie’s pale brown hair was styled against the back of her head with a delicate pin. Tendrils curled down around her ears, framing her pretty face. She was wearing light touches of makeup that were barely noticeable, yet they enhanced her beauty a great deal.

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