Comped?Zeke shook his head. A mystery for another day.
Instead of leaving like he expected, she studied him for a long moment, then muttered, “Fuck it,” beneath her breath. “What I’m about to tell you can’t go beyond this booth.”
“Understood.”
“The CI knows the time and location of a major drug shipment. If we don’t intercept the shipment, a high volume of fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamines will hit, not just city streets, but small towns across Western North Carolina, including ones like your hometown. You know what that means, right?”
People he knew would die. People Ash knew. Adults, kids, anyone stupid, or naïve, enough to put that shit in their systems.
Zeke understood then. Understood why Ash would intermingle his family’s business with his career, something he’d gone so far as to change his name to avoid. Understood why he now toed the line between right and wrong, legal and illegal.
To protect his community and the people he loved.
“Thank you.”
Nodding, she gathered her things and stood. “Time’s ticking, Zeke.”
“I’ll speak to the guys tonight.” When she turned to leave, he said, “Fair warning, Liv.”
She looked back.
“I don’t like unfinished business.”
Confusion crinkled at the corner of her eyes.
“You and me.”
She strode away, then stopped abruptly, and marched back. Leaning forward, she whispered near his ear, “You finished your business just fine, Zeke.” She plucked the last of the banana nut bread from the plate and left without another word.
He watched her weave her way between the tables before she disappeared from sight.
Zeke smiled.
Game on.