Page 8 of Wicked Attraction

“Mexican food? Seriously?” Kat glared at me; her blue eyes narrowed to angry slits. “Not evengoodMexican food cooked by the professionals in our kitchen?”

She shoved a platter of fish tacos away like it had bugs on it. “Just garbage-ass food.”

I rolled my eyes at her histrionics. “No Sunday dinners until Sadie wakes up.”

“Then might I suggest we do these family meetings over brunch?” She reached across the table and grabbed a bowl of guacamole. “Good guac, though,” she said and shoved a spoonful into her mouth.

“Nasty,” Virgil growled and looked at Terry. “How do you stand this pig?”

Terry shrugged. “I love it when my girl gets nasty.”

Virgil flipped him off and Terry laughed. It was good to see, given our present situation and the purpose of this meeting. “That’s my sister, asshole.”

“She’s my wife, dick.” Terry kissed Kat’s cheek, and she continued to eat the guac with a fucking spoon.

I took my seat at the table, redirecting the focus away from Sadie’s empty chair. “Are you pregnant or something? Because that might change what I have to say.”

Terry looked at Kat with another mound of mashed avocado halfway to her mouth. “Well?”

She shoved it into her mouth and took her sweet-ass time chewing.

“No, not pregnant. It’s called stress eating, boys. You know, because my mom is in a goddamn coma?”

With her words, eating resumed, and I relaxed in my chair. “Okay, then. I need everyone to step up while Sadie’s in the hospital.”

My gaze landed on each of my siblings. Kat’s blue eyes were defiant. Virgil nodded, ready to step up and do whatever was needed of him. Cal was there, silent and brooding but present. Terry nodded; a loyal non-blood brother I knew I could count on to have my back. Always.

Kat sighed. “Why? You’re in charge of everything anyway.”

It was a sore spot between us, had been since she came home after college and found herself workingforme instead ofwithme.

“Because Kat, I need to find who the fuck did this, which means I need you all to pick up the slack.”

“Any news?” Instantly, her defiance disappeared and was replaced with concern.

“Nothing yet, but I’m not stopping until I find the shooter and who hired him. Kat, you’re in charge of the casinos and the other legit businesses. They need no gap in leadership, so you’re it. And I mean all the casinos, not just the Emerald Isle. Get Maisie to help if need be.”

“Got it,” she nodded quietly and reached for more guac.

“Virgil, I need you to arrange family security every day. Make sure everyone is covered at all times.”

Virgil nodded. “Is that all?”

“No. I’ll need you to step in for me occasionally with suppliers and shit. Let them see that we’re still in control of everything.”

“Got it.”

“Terry will cover business security, making sure the card games have increased security, making sure waitresses, whores, and anyone else who might be a target has protection. That includes the properties too.”

Terry stood a little taller, happy to be included. “You can count on me, Jas.”

“Always.”

We’d been friends since we were kids, two fucked-up boys with more anger than sense. Of course, we got into a ton of shit, but always, Terry had my back. “Everyone check in with me. Daily.”

Cal continued to stare at his plate, filled with two tacos and an enchilada, all uneaten. “And me?”

“Find every fucking second of surveillance footage on every possible route to and from Lucky Lopez. I want to see it all myself.”

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