Ruthless Sinner (Ashby Crime Family)

“Kat was out of line, but she also isn’t wrong. You know, no one would think you were anything but the ruthless asshole your reputation indicates if you were also nice to your super smart kid sister.”

I rolled my shoulders in disgust. “I would if she didn’t always act like such a pain in the ass. What does she want me to do, manufacture Sadie’s shooter out of thin air?” Was he on Kat’s side now?

“Forget Kat for now. We need to talk about our Beck problem.”

Virgil turned at my words, brows raised. “Did you try to pay her off?”

“Of course. She turned me down. Easily.”

A ghost of a smile played around his lips, and I knew exactly what he was thinking. “Have you considered increasing the amount? She lives in a hovel back East and a shitty hotel here in town. That bitch definitely has a number.”

I growled at his smiling face, “I’m not done trying.” That got his attention. “But I thought she would be easier to buy off.” If shit wasn’t so serious, I might actually admire her integrity.

Virgil stroked his chin. “Bitch has to have a number.”

“She does. The question becomes, is her number going to be worth the payoff, or would it be cheaper to bury her in the desert.”

Virgil’s broad shoulders squared, and he stood a little taller, damn near giddy at the idea of getting rid of Agent Beck.

I was thinking the same thing, unfortunately, and shook my head.

“We have to try everything else before we put that option on the table. The heat hasn’t faded over Bonnie and Mueller or those goddamn priests.”

Beck’s evidence might be unusable, but that didn’t mean she was ready to give up.

“You could always try to dick her down to get a price cut to get rid of her.” He laughed, the sound rich and deep, at odds with the somber tone of our surroundings. “If you even have the game to pull it off.”

I thought of the heat in Addison’s eyes when we were at the bar, the way she leaned in, so damn close to throwing caution to the wind. I grinned at Virgil.

“Don’t worry about me, little brother. I got the game.”

“But you don’t know if your dick is good enough to get the job done?” Virgil shrugged and laughed. “Maybe give her the worst fuck of her life, and she’ll run away free of charge?” He chuckled. “Just make sure you get video evidence.”

“I’m not going to be on camera fucking anybody.” I flipped off my brother and turned my focus to Sadie, lying in bed like a fucking corpse.

“I wish she would just fucking wake up,” I growled, angry and worried as hell.

Virgil nodded. “Sleep is the best way to heal, or so Maisie keeps telling me.” He laid a hand on top of Sadie’s and gave it a small pat. “She’s the toughest person I ever met, and I know some mean sons of bitches. She’s gonna pull through. She has to.”

“I know she will,” I told him and pulled out my flask. “In the meantime, we all need to step up. Take care of the business she dedicated her life to, and when she finally wakes up, we won’t all get our asses kicked to kingdom come.”

Virgil shook off my offer of a drink. “Doesn’t mean you’ll get your ass kicked to kingdom come. You are the boss, after all.”

I took a swig.. “I may be in charge, but we all have our roles to play in this family, like it or not.”

“The roles aren’t the problem, Jas. It’s you.”

My brows dipped into a frown. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“It means that the last thing anyone needs right now is you acting like the kid put in charge while the parents are at dinner. Act like the leader you want everyone to see.”

Virgil stared at me for a long time, studying me, assessing me. There was no judgment in his gaze, just facts as he saw them. “It’s just a suggestion, Jas, don’t go getting all pissed. I know seeing her like this is toughest on you, but remember we didn’t shoot her.”

“I know that.”

Virgil nodded. “Then act like it.” He dropped a kiss on Sadie’s forehead and left us alone. I inched my chair closer to Sadie and held her hand.

“It’s just you and me, kid. Remember you said those words to me the day after Colm died. And even though there was still Virgil and Kat and Cal to worry about, it felt like it was just you and me. We were a team, and we’re still a team, at least, we will be if you wake the fuck up.”

I wasn’t sure if I believed the doctors and nurses who said she could hear me, but since I couldn’t shake her the fuck awake, I kept talking to her. “You’ll be happy to know you were right about Lucky Lopez. The place is always packed, and other than you getting shot and a few catfights, there’s been no drama.”