Page 10 of Up in Flames

“Night, Kaylie,” she chirps back, using her nickname for me that I’ve had since we were kids.

I love this girl.

Even if she is a bitch to me sometimes.

Resting my head on the fluffy cloud-like pillow, my eyes close, and my thoughts instantly wander to brilliant blue eyes searching mine as a hand caresses my cheek tenderly, and a buzz filters around us in the pouring rain.

What a vision to fall asleep to…

CAIN

“Bring him in,” I mumble to Morgan as I scroll through my cell for the contact I’m looking for.

Morgan laughs and rushes off.

Trap paces the room. “You think this is a good idea, Cain?”

I look up from my cell and glare at Trap. “Really? You’re going to question my judgment?”

He huffs and shakes his head, stopping his rapid pacing as he runs his hands through his ratty hair. “I just think that doing it this way—”

“Is what?” I cut him off. “Going to get the job done a hell of a lot quicker? Yes, me too.” I answer my own question before continuing, “Stop doubting me, Trap. If you want to move up in ranks, then this is what you have to do. This is how the job is done. If you can’t deal with it, you may be better off staying as you are.”

He swallows hard and shakes his head. “No. No, I can handle it. Just don’t go after his woman. Okay?”

Raising my brow, I smirk. Trap, besides Boss, is the only one with a partner in the brotherhood. Her name is Selene, and the bitch is a real piece of work. Tough as fucking nails—gives the men a run for their money. She’s even been to jail when most of the men here haven’t.

Trap is weak when it comes to Selene.

She is theonething that can undo him.

Their love is unbreakable.

And that shit makes you soft.

It undermines you.

Love breaks your soul and cracks your foundations.

And Trap has just proved that to me.

I don’t agree to anything as Morgan walks in with Pyke, one of Zorko’s cronies.

Zorko is on our books and does a lot of deals with us. He’s one of our major clients. But the man is also a fucking dog who undermines us every chance he gets.

“Gabriel Pyke, it’s so good to see you again,” I say politely as he struts into the room.

This is our yellow room used purely for interrogation. The color puts people off. The brightness and general cheery color make people think it’s a ‘happy’ place, but typically, it’s quite the opposite.

“Cain, pleasure as always,” Pyke replies while putting his hand out for me to shake.

Morgan shuts the door, trapping him, Pyke, Trap, and me inside.

Pyke looks to the closed door and rolls his shoulders as if to ease some tension, then looks back at me. “Cain, Zorko wants to keep things flowing with the Baton Rouge Bachelors as much as the next guy. Your elite establishment is well known, but Zorko wants to figure out where his money is best spent, you know?”

I walk over to Pyke, place my hand on his shoulder, and give him a curt nod. “I get it, I do. But you see, Pyke, I have to report to my boss, just like you have to report to Zorko. Andmy bosswon’t take it well if Zorko folds on the Bachelors.” I set my mouth in a hard line, my eyes glinty. “You see my dilemma?”

Pyke winces. “Well, yeah, but I’m only the messenger, Cain. And really, that’s notmyproblem, right?”

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