Page 53 of Torched

“And this dumbass’s girlfriend,” Kane adds.

The tension rises, a curtain of disagreement lowering between me and the rest of the room like we’re now on different teams. I hate this feeling. I hate not knowing if my brother has my back.

I keep glaring at him while I feel anger burning up my chest like hot lava, silently telling Kane I’m not having this conversation in front of the cop. Luckily, Jeremy takes the hint better than Kane does, who just keeps daring me with that vicious look in his eyes.

“Thank you for the information, Howard.” Jeremy gets up and holds out his hand to take the folder from him. “I will call you tomorrow.”

Howard gets up with a nod, locking eyes with Kane and I, but we’re both too busy to continue this pissing contest to wave Howard off. My chest is heaving, and Kane’s nostrils are flaring as I brace myself for what’s coming. Jeremy walks Howard out and when he closes the door behind him, Kane is on me like a feral dog.

“When are you going to fucking listen, you asshole?” He shouts loud enough for the rest of the floor to hear. “She is playing you! Have you been telling her shit?"

“No!” I pull my hair, sick of this power play we’re having over a fucking woman, but a tiny twang recalls every conversation Cristina and I have had in the past months. Did tell her something she could use like this? I can’t think of anything other than her occasional foul mood, and that makes me wonder if I know the real Cristina. Though it's not enough to let the inkling of doubt grow any bigger.

“I don’t tell her anything about the business, Kane! You wanna know why?” I rise from my chair. “Because she doesn’t fucking care! She just wants a family like I do! To have a life without this corrupt world we live in!”

“She’s just baiting you! She doesn’t want a family!”

“You don’t know her the way I do!”

“Both of you, keep your voices down before the rest of the company starts whispering shit on the streets!” Jeremy scolds. We give him both a guilty glance, not appreciating being schooled, but also knowing he’s right. The last thing we need is rumors that the Carrillo brothers are not seeing eye to eye. There is no better weakness for our opponents than knowing they can separate us because we are biting each other’s heads off.

“Liam, I know you don’t want to hear this, but if Howard is saying we have a mole, my first thought goes to Cristina as well.” Jeremy offers me a look of sympathy.

“Based on what?”

“A gut feeling.”

I cock my head at him with mockery.

“I know it’s not much. But you know I wouldn’t say this shit if I didn’t think Kane was right. Something doesn’t add up with that girl.”

I shake my head. “That’s because the both of you never liked her. You already decided she was bad news before you knew she was a Reyes.”

“That’s bullshit because we didn’t even know you were seeing her before that,” Kane sputters.

“Plus, I saw her the first day you met.” Jeremy gives me a daring look, his bright eyes dancing with seriousness under the dim light. “She was hot, yeah. But I figured she was good for a night. I never thought you would think she’s girlfriend material because…” he trails off.

“Because what?”

He hesitates to answer, clearly not wanting to piss me off even more, but when I widen my eyes in question, he finishes his sentence. “Because she looked like she was trouble. One of those chicks that is a good lay, but who’s also a whole lot of headache. Finding out her last name only added to that. You have to admit her last name makes her questionable.”

“Then why would she share it? Why not give me a fake last name? She’s a Reyes. I’m sure they can hook her up with a fake identity if she was plotting against us.”

“Because they know we do background checks on anyone who dares to come near us. They can’t risk us finding out she’s not who she says she is.”

“That’s a damn bold move if that would be true.” That would be ballsy, even for Junior Reyes.

“Look, it’s known you are merciful when people are honest with you.” Jeremy’s eyes bore into me with a level of intent that has his words hammering into my brain like nails while Kane still flares his nostrils next to him. “Ever considered she’s playing exactly that game?”

I feel stupid because the answer is no, but at the same time, I don’t want to hear this shit. Even though I do. Their reservations for Cristina, or flat-out dislike, only make me feel sorry for her that she’s being judged for the crimes her family’s committed. Since when is honesty a bad trait?

It’s bullshit.

She did nothing wrong. I have fun with her, and I know I should be smart. I don’t tell her shit about what we do and who we do business with. But she’s the company I’m keeping when the day is over, and I like knowing that I’m not alone at night. I like that I have someone who I can come home to that isn’t my brother or Jeremy. She’s not perfect, I know that. But neither am I. I’m a goddamn criminal, for God’s sake. It’s not like I can be picky.

No, but you also don’t have to settle.

It’s a thought that crawls in unintentionally, but I shake it away, as I keep glaring at the two men in front of me. “You are wrong about her.”

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