Chapter Twenty-Six #2
“Inez is out for fucking blood!” Rogue charged toward Trey, stopping a foot away. His face was red, veins popping at his temple. “She wants fucking Jay’s head for this.”
“That’s not going to happen.” Trey’s calm demeanor and tone did nothing to calm Rogue. But it did have him offering an alternative.
“No, it ain’t, but she’s gonna want something, so we’ll give her the girl. Ain’t worth shit anyway, and this whole fucking mess is on her.”
Caine’s body temperature immediately shifted from burning fire to cold as ice. There was no way he’d allow Keely to be a sacrificial lamb for Inez. If she wanted Keely, she’d have to go through Caine. They all would.
“Does Inez know her identity?” Oz asked.
“Not yet.” Trey said.
Oz shared a look with Caine. “And she won’t. Now, we need to cultivate a new plan and cover to give Anders.”
“He’s already gonna wonder where his guys are and why he can’t reach Zeke, Oz,” Trey said.
This was the worst-case scenario.
“I’ll stay with her.” Ridge’s voice was barely a whisper.
Caine narrowed his gaze, but kept his eyes straight ahead to not bring any extra attention to them.
“You try to leave, it’s gonna be red fucking flags.
They already know your connection to her.
You refusing to come in earlier has everyone watching you and your next move.
” Ridge subtly turned his head, whispering.
“They’re not gonna give up Jay for this, and you heard Rogue, Inez is gonna want someone.
Keely’s the only other person. You can trust me, Caine. I won’t let anyone near her.”
Cyrus took a step to the right putting him closer to Caine. “If anyone questions Ridge’s whereabouts, I’ll say he’s with me.”
It was a decent cover. It had its flaws, but it could work. It wasn’t lost on Caine, these two men he considered close allies were willing to go against the organization in an effort to protect his woman.
Nash slowly walked closer to them. He hadn’t been in earshot during their conversation. Or so he’d thought. Nash stopped directly in front of him but never looked over.
“It won’t come to that,” he said and moved toward Oz.
“Sir,” Nash said, addressing Oz. His boss had been silent during Rogue’s outburst. “I have an alternative plan that will successfully work if we act fast.”
Oz lifted his chin.
“Inez is only out for blood because her deal and revenge plot is in jeopardy. If we make it happen, it was a mere blip in the plan but successful nonetheless.”
“And how the fuck do you think we’re supposed to pull that shit off, Nash?” Rogue shouted.
“Nothing has changed except the date of the deal. Killcreek has picked up the bodies from the warehouse, and it’s been scrubbed clean. We are in possession of the product.”
“How exactly did you explain Zeke’s dead body?” Trey asked.
“I told them he turned last minute, tried to inform Anders’ guys about the deal, so he had to be taken out.”
Trey eyed Jared. “That’s quite the stretch.”
Nash shrugged. “They bought it.”
“And Anders?” Oz asked.
“I’ve been in touch. Fortunately for us, luck was on our side tonight.
The police presence downtown was a large prostitution ring bust, bringing in the swat team.
” Nash shrugged. “Everyone has heard about it, including Anders. I told him we have everyone laying low at an undisclosed secured location, one of our safe houses. I told him there would be no direct contact except for me since there was product involved, and we wouldn’t take the risk of anyone having their phones tapped. ”
Rogue snorted, taking a long drag from his cigarette. “And he believed that bullshit?”
Nash nodded. “He did.”
Rogue shook his head. “What a fucking idiot!”
For the first time tonight, Caine agreed with Rogue.
“Since we can’t do this during daylight hours, it buys us about fifteen hours ’til tonight to make this deal right.” Nash said.
“And what the fuck happens when you show up without the fucking dealer? He’s gonna wanna know where Zeke is.” Rogue said.
“We’ll say Zeke, along with the newly deceased members of his crew, are riding in the transport truck with Caine and Ridge. For good measure, we’ll even tell him that his men insisted to oversee the transport. Anders will love that shit thinking his men took the upper hand with our guys.”
That was a solid plan.
“You think Inez will go along with it?” Trey asked.
“She doesn’t have a choice,” Oz said then veered his gaze toward Caine.
“But she’ll need a rundown, and you’re going to be the one to deliver it.
You three will go, and Jared will stay behind.
I don’t trust her not to take a shot.” Oz shifted his gaze to Jared.
“She’s very unforgiving. I suggest you never cross paths with her again. ”
Rogue snorted. “That’s like a fucking reward, Jay. We should all be so fucking lucky not to have to deal with her.”
Amen, Rogue.
Oz dismissed everyone. Rogue, Trey, and Jared were the first to leave. When Caine started toward the door with Ridge and Cyrus, he was called back.
“A minute, Caine,” Oz said.
Caine waited for the others to leave, and he closed the door, making his way to Oz, who was sitting behind his desk. He took a long drag of his cigar, eyeing Caine in silence.
“I’m going to make this brief because you have a lot on your schedule for the next fifteen hours.
I’ll tell you the same thing I told Trey, Rogue, and Nash.
You bring her in, she’s all the way in.” Oz tapped the cigar in the ashtray.
“There is no halfway when it comes to the women. As we’ve all learned, that only puts a bigger target on her back, leaving her vulnerable. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
He raised his brows. “Is she in?”
“Yes. I’ve already spoken to her.” It was barely a conversation.
It was one-sided on his end, and he’d left out more than he’d divulged.
If he wanted to bring her into his life in the Underground, he’d have to share everything, including his personal past. He’d given her a preview.
Now it was time to tell it all. Show her exactly who I am.
Oz slowly nodded then gestured toward the door.
Dismissed.