Page 61 of Demanding Mob Boss

"Martina is running them, but she's here on behalf of her father. My uncle has dreams of being the next emperor of the underworld."

"Who gave the order to attack my sister?"

"I wasn't aware that your family were targeted, though I wouldn't be surprised to find out they are. Martina has people watching you."

So, the order was either given after we swept up and punished all the dealers working our territory without permission, orEl Fantasmahadn't confided her plans in her cousin.

Either way, the Kicks Bandidos were watching me and learned about my sister. Probably Ma too. Have they seen me with Anna? She works for me, but what if they realize it's more? What if they realize that even more than Shea, Anna is a weakness they can exploit?

As hard as it's going to be, I need to stay away from her outside of the office until we get this threat neutralized. I should fire her. That would be the safest course. Fuck.

Then I think of another option.

I text Connor and Uncle Jimmy.

We question Carmen until she falls asleep mid-sentence.

"I'll be here when she wakes up," Ronan assures me. "I don't want to give her adrenalin to keep her talking."

"It could make her answers erratic," I agree. "Or give her a false sense of strength so she doesn't think she has to answer at all."

"I'll keep her on low level pain meds," Ronan says. "She'll be more amenable."

"She gave us enough to get started on a plan for taking the war to them." First, we identify and neutralize every single member of the Kicks Bandidos.

Carmen has access to the files Martina keeps on her people. If the passwords haven't been changed, then we'll have access too. IfEl Fantasmawas smart, they were changed the day Carmen was sent out on her assignment.

But if Martina is too confident, she wouldn’t see the need. According to Carmen, her cousin's arrogance is only outdone by her father's craving for power.

Chapter 20

ANNA

The woman who wanted to speak to Mr. Byrne comes into the salon a few minutes after Cian leaves.

Her brow furrows when she notices Connor and Arlo standing at attention, then she looks at me. "Are you a new hire?"

"Not really. I've been working for Cian for a couple of months."

"For cripe's sake," Connor says with exasperation. "Minx wants to know if you're an escort."

Arlo coughs. Or it could have been a laugh.

"Oh, no, not an escort. I'm an assistant to his assistant." I lean my head toward Connor, indicating him.

"Is that what they're calling it now?" Minx says in a teasing tone.

"Human resources calls me a clerical assistant, but I do more than file." I frown. "Maybe I should talk to them about changing my title."

The sound coming from Arlo is definitely a laugh.

Why is he laughing at me? Did I get something wrong? Nuance isn't my thing.

"Shut the fu—hell up," Connor barks to Arlo.

Something inside me warms. Connor is defending me, even though I don't know what I got wrong. Iama clerical assistant. Only, I’m more. I'm sure Cian wouldn't mind changing my job title. It should match what I do more closely. It makes me itch that it doesn't, now that I've thought about it.

"No offense meant," Arlo says, his big arms up in a gesture of surrender.

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