Chapter Ten
Luke
Parker arches his brow. “Why do they think you have the package?”
“I have no fucking clue,” I say, “but my gut says Trevor’s involved.”
“I thought he was dead?”
“What if he’s not?”
His brows furrow. “It takes money to fake that shit, but then, everyone who worked for you made boatloads. I mean, why the hell did Kasey or Trevor need to run a side gig in the first place?”
Because Kurt was in financial ruin, I decide, which I assume now based on how he handled his will, but logically, based on what I know of his business, makes no sense. But I’ve also got to open my mind to possibilities. What happened to Kurt’s money?
My mind travels back to that first dinner at Kurt’s place once again, but beyond this time, to the confrontation with Kasey that followed.
After Ana and I leave and go back to her place to stay the night, I run to the store to replenish her Diet Sprite for her before we start a movie. I see the headlights in my rearview, an uneasy feeling in my belly. I test them, turning in an unplanned direction down a dirt road, then cutting right down yet another dirt road.
I made enemies in the military, as has everyone on my team, running missions only a handful of officials knew we ran. The only thing I can think of is Ana. Is she safe? Are they going after her? But I also can’t lead them to her. That means I have to deal with my problem, which means whoever owns those headlights.
I whip down a dirt road to the right, do a quick U-turn, and meet the asshole head-on. By the time he skids to a halt, I have a Glock in my hand, and I’m walking toward him. It takes me about thirty seconds to figure out it’s Kasey in hulk formation and charging toward me, no gun in obvious sight. I shove mine in my pants at my back and meet him toe to toe.
“What the hell are you doing, Kasey?”
He pops my jaw with a mighty blow I feel pretty damn well and good. I grimace with the pain—and shake it off and smile. “Now can I get your sister her Diet Sprites? She gets really cranky without her Diet Sprite.”
“I don’t like you,” he pretty much growls at me.
“I would never have guessed.”
“You cocky prick.”
“What’s your real problem here?”
“I don’t trust you.”
“What did you want to happen tonight? What do you want now?”
“I was just keeping an eye on you. You turned it into this.”
My cellphone rings in my pocket. “That’s going to be Ana.”
I grab my phone and answer. “Hey, baby. Sorry, I’m taking so long. I just ran into your brother. We’re chatting. I’ll be there soon.”
“Oh no,” she murmurs. “I know he’s difficult, but I love him. Please try to tolerate him.”
“For you,” I say. “Just for you.”
I disconnect. “Anything else, Kasey?”
He glares at me and rotates on his heel, marching toward his truck.
When I get back to Ana’s place, she greets me at the door in a tank top and shorts, takes one look at the swelling of my face, and freaks. “Oh my God, what happened?” she worries.
I scoop her into my arms. “Nothing you can’t kiss and make better.” Our next stop is her bed.
So, where does this memory lead me, and why is my head in this space?
Why indeed, I think.
The answer comes to me easily, a seed in my mind that has finally formed roots.
Some people keep their enemies at a distance. Some keep them close and easily reached. After that first confrontation with Kasey, I knew I was his enemy, but what if I was Kurt’s as well? And why? It’s a crazy thought. I never had a problem with Kurt, but maybe I knew something I didn’t know I knew?
What the hell would that be, though?
And if so, if I represented some kind of threat, why was he okay with me being in his daughter’s life?
Also, in the end, why did Kurt leave Kasey with expenses he couldn’t pay unless he worked for me? I’m supposed to believe that was to teach Kasey to hustle, at the expense of Kurt’s empire failing if his son failed. That doesn’t add up to me.
I’m not sure the package is where this story started.