Page 61 of Say I Do

“Don’t worry, today I acquired something new. Hopefully, he will fill the hole you left.”

What?My brain was slowing down, and I needed it to stay on track.

“Bai will give you the information.” Qiang sighed. “For old times’ sake, I’ll give you the information. After all, you were my favorite.”

There was no way it was going to be that easy. As if Qiang read my mind, he opened his mouth and delivered a line I never wanted to hear from him.

“You owe me.”

Fuck. “Fine.”

A cruel smile took over Qiang’s face as he stepped toward me and grabbed my face. “Enter my business like this again, and I will forget everything you were to me. I’d hate to have to kill you after all this time, pet.” He released me and stepped out.

I wasted no time getting out of there.

“Finally,” Quincy said, relief on his face before he frowned. “Oh fuck, Harlow.”

I made it past three buildings before I dipped down a narrow passage. I bent over and puked until nothing was left. My back arched with each violent tremor that passed through my body as I dry heaved.

“Har, shit. I knew I shouldn’t have let you go alone.” Quincy stayed against the wall, making sure not to touch me.

“I’m good,” I said. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.

“You sure?” Quincy asked.

Yeah, I was. I got what I needed, and I was able to take some of my anger out on Qiang’s men. “Trade clothes with me.”

“You owe me after this,” Quincy said.

I’m just owing everyone today.

The moment Benitostepped through the door, Tony left. He really was angry with me. What was I supposed to do? There was no way in hell I would have been able to meet Qiang with Benito’s man on my tail.

He’ll get over it.

I sauntered up to Benito, tension making me feel sick.Don’t think about it. I repeated the mantra in my head.

“Picked up food on the way home. I wasn’t sure about your Chinese food order, and Tony was no help this time, so I got a little of everything. Although American Chinese is sweeter than authentic Chinese food. You should like a lot of what I grabbed.”Was I talking too much? Did I come off nervous?

My head was a mess. I didn’t do this. Anyone who stayed around me long enough knew who and what I was. Plenty of people knew my past because, in the dirty underbelly of the world, secrets like mine had the power to destroy you. So I’d always let my past be out there unfiltered. However, a part of me didn’t want Benito to know about it.

“Did you find any leads?” I asked as I broke my chopsticks. I sat a fork and a pair of chopsticks next to Benito.

He wasn’t talking.Why isn’t he talking?My blood rushed as I shoveled fried rice into my mouth. He had to saysomething. Benito’s face was blank as he stared at the food before him. He didn’t move to grab anything. The longer we sat there in silence, the antsier I got.

“The two families you mentioned. One of them is making a play for your territory. Apparently, you going legit means you’re relinquishing control.” My foot bounced under the table as I gave over the information I got. “It’s all in a folder over there.” I pointed to the counter with the coffee machine.

“You two sounded close,” Benito said, finally breaking his silence.

My back stiffened. Why couldn’t he just say thanks and take the info? It had been stupid of me to allow Benito to listen in.

“What are you trying to ask me?” I knew this would come up. Did I want it to? No. Was it a secret? No. My stomach knotted regardless of my nonchalant approach to it. Bile burned the back of my throat, threatening to have me bent over and puking again.

“You know what I’m asking,” Benito said.

I shook my head. I did know; I just didn’t want him to ask. Fuck, I hadn’t ever cared before, and now I cared entirely too much about what Benito thought of me.

“Harlow.”

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