Chapter 14 ARCHER #2
“Apart from the fact that he was a piece of shit?” Cato settles against the wall, resting on his shoulder blades and tucking his arms behind his back.
“He was fifty-something, I think. Like fifty-three? Fifty-four. As many wives as my father had baby-mommas. His father, and that dude’s father, too, were the family CEOs before him.
” He does finger quotes around CEO. “Ironically, every Agosti man has died around the mid-century, and never because of poor health. They lack a lot of tact and class required for longevity in this world. They piss people off, step on toes, and demand things they really shouldn’t. ”
“And so, someone kills them.” Minka puts the bottle of juice down and swaps it for the glass. “Okay. Not sure anyone will cry at his funeral. Tell me about his business dealings.”
“He’s—”
“You wouldn’t approve,” I cut in, drawing her fiery eyes to mine. Fuck. This is the shit I didn’t want to have to tell her. “Agosti liked to trade in skin.”
Her jaw clicks. That’s it. A fucking inferno, locked under Herculean control and hidden behind her hand as she brings her juice up and takes a long, slow sip. “Skin?”
“He bought and sold women,” Felix explains. “Lots of them. Too many of them. There’s a market for it, whether we wanna acknowledge it or not, and he didn’t mind doing the work, not when these women come with massive dollar signs attached to their faces.”
“He managed an international transport system that moved girls across borders and delivered them wherever they needed to be.” I watch Minka’s eyes darken with every new word I speak.
Her cheeks flex. Her chest stops moving completely because she stops drawing fresh oxygen.
“The more we tell you, the more likely you’re gonna tear that motherfucker up when you’re supposed to be autopsying him. ”
She closes her eyes and gently shakes her head from side to side. But at least she breathes again, expanding her lungs and broadening her chest. “Keep going.”
“He had so many wives, cos he always had the pick of the litter,” Cato explains. “He liked them young and afraid. He only fathered one son, as far as I know, and that dude is already dead. The rest of the women, if he impregnated them, didn’t live long enough to tell us about it.”
“And the wife from last night?”
“Jasna?” Felix nods. “She’s barely old enough to drink, and it’s my understanding he appropriated her during a shipment a couple of years ago. He’s held on to her longer than any of those who came before.”
“Probably because he can’t afford a newer model,” Micah growls. “Some men enjoy upgrading every year or two. Poor men have no choice but to hold on to what they’ve got. Either that, or have nothing at all.”
“Have we checked her alibi?” Christabelle wanders through the back door with Zora blissfully curled against her chest, sleeping soundly in spite of the chaotic world she was born into.
“She’s the only person who had free access to his room, and she was the one who discovered him and came out screeching.
She was his prisoner; the bracelets she wore were cuffs, no matter how pretty they were.
If I were appropriated and forced into marriage with a man I despised, I might resort to slitting his wrists and pretending to be the innocent, grieving wife, too. ”
“Good thing you don’t despise me, Darling.” Felix drops his frown and replaces it with a lopsided grin. “I kinda stole you and kept you against your will. But I gave you the option to leave, and you attended our wedding of your own free will. That counts, right?”
She rolls her eyes, tugging out a stool three down from mine and perching on the hard wooden top.
Then she looks at Minka and raises a pointed brow.
“I suppose I would suggest checking toxicology results to see if she tried poisoning the prick first. Women typically try that route first, right? Slitting his wrist was Plan B.”
“Tox results can take weeks. Even months.” Minka sets her glass of juice back on the counter and pinches the bridge of her nose. “I don’t think Cordoza realizes this isn’t happening overnight.”
“You just do the autopsy like he asked,” Felix rumbles. “Deliver what you can, when you can. The rest will come when it comes. If he’s not happy with that, he can find his own lab to finish it out.”
Mary steps out of Steve’s wing in silence, moving to the sink and stopping close enough to Minka that their arms brush.
“Jesus,” Cato groans. “I didn’t realize until now how hungry I am, and it’s only because I saw Mary that I remembered.”
“That’s called codependency. And being weird.” Minka pushes her glass away and moves around the counter, giving Mary space to work. “I’m not sorry about it, though. Having Mary here—and Debbie, too—means he focuses on you and not me.”
“Don’t fret, Doc.” Cato strides forward and scoops the baby straight out of Christabelle’s arms. “I have enough love for everyone. Christabelle, cos she’s my sister-aunt.
Zora, cos she’s my cousin-niece and the cutest little thing ever.
I have affections for Doctor Emeri, especially now that she’s my sister.
And we can’t forget McStinkerson, since she’s the OG niece I never knew I wanted. ”
“Sounds like you have your hands full.” Minka wanders closer and sits on my thigh.
She doesn’t ask. Doesn’t wait for me to shuffle back or make more room.
She doesn’t turn it into a thing for people to discuss.
She just wraps her arm over my shoulder and breathes a little easier when I set my hand on her hip.
“I’d understand if you were simply too busy for me now.
” She presses her fist to her heart. “It won’t be easy, but I think I’ll be okay. ”
“Like I said—” Cato lays a noisy kiss to the very middle of Zora’s forehead.
“I’m man enough for all of you. Eventually, Christabelle, Zora, and even Mary will return to New York.
” He lowers the baby and glances across.
“Then it’s just me and you again. And him,” he drawls, looking me square in the eyes. “I suppose.”