Page 93 of Rush and Ruin

“Tell me about the promise.”

“What promise?”

“The one from your past. The one you mentioned to Ella before she boarded my jet.”

My eyes flick up in surprise as the blade slows to a ragged stop, the tip pointing directly at him. The moment is weighted in significance, but I choose not to confirm or deny his suspicions. Some things are best left to die in the past instead of bleeding all over the present.

Seeing the steel shutters in my gaze, he concedes with a grimace, and pours himself another drink. Our battle was fought in a lobby three years ago. Since then, time’s become our equalizer. If he hit me now, I’d hit him straight back. If I don’t feel like answering his question, there’s nothing he can do to make me.

More bourbon hits his glass before he’s glancing at me speculatively. “Would you like to do the honors, or shall I? I think we’ve toyed with her for long enough.”

“My lawyer. My problem.”

A beat later, I’m pointing my Glock at Queenie’s head with an expression as cold as ice.

“Don’t,” I grit out, as she tries to stand—shock written all over her face. “I’m in a savage enough mood as it is. Betrayal does bad things to a man, especially when it’s a woman who’s guilty of it.”

“What are you talking about?” she whispers. “I’m your lawyer, Grayson. You know me.”

“On the contrary, it turns out I know you very little.” She’s acting up a storm already, even her lower lip is trembling in a most un-Queenie-like way, but I’m done with her bullshit. “Besides, like I told you before, no allegiance is eternal…”

“What the hell am I supposed to have betrayed you over?” she gasps out.

“The list is extensive. Let’s start with how a spare set of my apartment keys was found in your bag this morning.”

Her face blanches. “I can explain.”

“Good. I was hoping you’d be amenable to talking. The alternative would necessitate the ruining of a brand new Brioni suit.” Rising from my chair, I lean against the side of the table, the aim of my weapon never straying. “It’s a little unfortunate how I gave you an apartment, clothes, money, and a college education…only to have you lie to myfucking face.” My fury echoes before my voice slips back into that ice-cool tone again. “Your first mistake was showing too much interest in Ella. The second was giving me something that doesn’tbelong to you.”

Reaching into my inside pocket again, I toss the Montblancpen at her, the one I appropriated at Red Hook. It skids off the glass table in a graceful pirouette and lands on her lap, but she makes no move to pick it up.

“Turns out, it’s engraved with the name of a holding company with links to a Russian Bratva. Peel back another layer of shit, and they’re the ones still shipping girls to the US… Now, why would you have that, Queenie?” I ponder slowly. “Santiago isn’t too happy, given his interest in eradicating human trafficking.”

I watch her eyes flit nervously to him and her whole body trembles.

“The Russians sawEl Alquimistacoming four years ago and moved out of New York because they’re a bunch of superstitiousmalparidos.What I want to know is howEl Alquimistaturned you to such a point you’re now brokering deals between them to bring girls back into my city?”

Her head drops forward in defeat, her once-stylish blonde hair falling messily into her face.

I’m disappointed. I expected more of a fight from her.

“I want his true identity, Queenie.”

“I honestly…” She flinches as I advance on her, stopping just short of her chair. “I swear to you, Grayson, none of us know who he is! He communicates through a man called Quito Moreno. That’s our handler.”

Interesting.

Carrera’s ‘gift’ finally broke last night. This was the only name we got from him before he died of his wounds.

“How did you meet?”

She hesitates. “He was the man I kept out of jail on my first case.”

Hijueputa…I grind my teeth together to keep my composure. “Since then, you’ve been working on the side as his set-up girl: causing dissent with the Italians and making it look like the cartel, using fake whores in hotel rooms to take me down…” I shake my head in disapproval. “It can’t be for the money.I made you two million this quarter alone.”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” Even her voice sounds dull and defeated. “Just go ahead and shoot me. If you don’t, he will.”

“Give me something and I’ll make it quick.”

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