“Then why push him to it?”
“He can’t get out any more than I can, and if he can tame the damage they do, he’s willing.”
“Well, if he’s not ready, you’re right, it’s too soon. That’s trouble.”
“Agreed, but I’m not going to let my uncle align with my enemies and threaten me or you. As you said, bella, we can’t operate scared. We aren’t. I’m ending this.”
“And if it was Pocher behind your chopper going down?”
“A shake-up in the cartel would shake him and the Society to the core, but there are other ways to tame that beast.”
“Such as?”
“You, Lilah. You.”
“How am I the answer?”
“You’re at the center of the two worlds, bella, connected to the Society through your father and the cartel through me. That’s a powerful place to be. We need to figure out how we make that work for us.”
And that’s exactly what we do.
We talk and it’s not long before me and my newly-minted husband have figured out how to flex our power couple status. It all starts at my father’s rally. And it’s going to be a fucking blast.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Kane has a strong opinion on the importance of me getting four hours of sleep, and he all but drags me to bed in time to ensure that happens. He knows—as a few select people who are sorry to know as well—that four hours is the minimum I can sleep and actually be worth a crap. It’s also fairly important to the safety of those around me. I get four hours and one minute, per my alarm clock.
My father and Pocher may well survive this day.
I’m not sure if that is good news. Actually, it’s really not good news.
Regardless, they will survive to be a problem for another day, especially since I guzzle three cups of coffee. If I make it to four, they might be in danger again. But I stop myself when I remember the press will be around today. Instead, I eat an egg-white omelet, because I’m trying to at least be healthy in between the chocolate and Cheetos. A healthy meal might not cancel out the crap I eat, but it makes me feel better about it. I mean, at least I’m not only putting junk in my mouth, right?
Kane is all about going to work early today to catch up on his business operations, and once we’re dressed—Kane in one of his expensive suits, and me in my typical press conference-worthy FBI agent attire of black pantsuit with a navy silk blouse beneath—we decide to share a ride. Since the press is swarming the police station, for me the first stop is a coffee shop a few blocks from the NYPD, where I’ve set-up an early morning meeting with Detective Rollins.
On the drive there, I dive into the subject of the man Kane had following me yesterday and who will probably attempt to do so again today.
“Gabriel has potential. I see why you hired him. Well, outside of him not being part of your world, therefore, he can’t connect me to that world. Right now, he’s just going to make himself a target. He needs to be trained. Surely you have some sort of program for that?”
“He’s a sniper, Lilah.”
“Who doesn’t know what to do when he has boots on the ground. Put him on top of a building, and he’ll be fine. He doesn’t have the slightest idea how to tail someone. Maybe you should have Ghost train him.” Ghost being the assassin of all assassins who has worked for Kane in the past. He’s a scary person, but that’s who you want to train your people. Someone who can make them scary, too.
“You want me to ask one of the most lethal assassins in the world to train Gabriel?”
“He’s not called Ghost because he gets caught following his target. Ghost would make a man out of him.”
“Ghost would make the wrong kind of killer out of him.”
“I don’t think he’s corruptible.” The SUV stops in front of Curly Joe’s. “Chocolate won’t be enough to console me after a morning with my father and an afternoon with Murphy. I’ll need something expensive in a bottle.”
“Murphy?” he asks.
“Right. I forgot to tell you. Murphy’s coming into town today and staying a while.”
His lips thin. “Why?”
“You know it’s motivated by my father’s election. He hates him.”
Kane’s expression tightens. “We should talk about Murphy before he gets too comfortable here.”
I lean over and kiss him. “Don’t worry. I’m not inviting him to dinner. He won’t get comfortable, and I won’t let him get into your business. Tell Gabriel to stay overhead.” I reach for the door.
Kane captures my hand. “Lilah—”
“Yes?”
He pauses a beat and then says, “Enrique’s going to be close.”
I laugh because he obviously didn’t want to tell me. “At least you told me this time. I’ll try not to kill him. I only shoot the ones who deserve it. Tell him not to deserve it.” He kisses me hard and fast, and I add, “You shoot them all if you have to.”