Chapter 35
T = D/S
Max
Max. Just Max. Not the insipid nickname, not boss.
Max. The moment my name leaves her lips, I feel a string of chills curl around the base of my spine then shoot up my back between my shoulders.
I know without looking that every hair on my body stands on end, and there is a warmth that spreads in my chest that I’m not quite familiar with.
Ignoring the sudden flow of bodily reactions, I decide I’ve taken too long to answer Zoe’s question, “Jessica and Drake are waiting in the garage. We have to attend to a few of our regular routine items. We’ll be going into the city to follow up on owed dues, and we have a standing lunch at Antonio’s, then we need to check in on the warehouses to see how things are running after we removed Darren.
” The group nods along as they eat when Zoe perks up at the mention of Darren.
“Teddy,” She starts, “Do we know if the Cambions got the heads?”
Teddy finishes his glass of chocolate milk before answering with, “I know it got to the warehouse Deangelo had mentioned to us, but the Cambions have yet to retaliate or respond.”
Zoe nods and turns back to her place, a pensive look on her face.
We all finish our meals in a comfortable silence, but there is a static energy in the air.
Some sort of buzzing around us that I can’t quite figure out.
I stand from my chair and check my phone to be sure nothing has come up, and sure enough no notifications except from Angelo reminding us to stop by today.
“Okay,” I clap my hands together to get everyone’s attention, “Dean and Brandon will run to pick up the dues with Jessica, and Zoe and I will head to the warehouses with Drake. Teddy will finish up here with Tiger. That should leave us with plenty of time to make out lunch at Angelo’s.”
Everyone nods in agreement and stands from the table. “Who cooks and cleans?” Zoe asks.
“Sunjay?” Me and my brothers say in unison.
“Who the fuck in Sunjay?” Her brows furrowed in confusion, making me mirror the same expression.
“Our housekeeper? You should know this, Harpy.”
“Never, not once have you mentioned a housekeeper. I just assumed it was one of you.” Zoe shrugs.
“As if we have the time? Come on, that makes no sense, clearly you aren’t that observant of your surroundings.” I let a chuckle slip from my lips as I passed her to head to the garage, I can hear her grumble something under her breath, but I ignore it.
Teddy plants a kiss on Zoe’s head before disappearing back into the house.
I observe how they all move around her, how I move around her.
As if we are all tethered by some invisible string, just floating in her gravitational pull.
I want to be annoyed by it, or even concerned, but I can’t help but admire how easily she snuck in and fit so well with us.
Zoe is a Karma, and it’s time we start making sure she knows it.
Brandon gives Zoe a hug I can only dream of feeling from her, and Dean ruffles her hair at the crown of her head as if he didn’t absolutely destroy her insides yesterday.
I start to move towards her, just to touch her, but that's when at the worst possible timing out two new top security guards chime in.
Jessica gives a nod of respect to Zoe, and Zoe returns it. However, Drake takes a more not-so-subtle approach, “Hey fuckers, are we ready to go?” He calls as he spins the car keys around his finger.
“That’s Mr. and Miss Karma to you.” I can’t help but let the growl leave my chest, and Zoe lightly smacks the center of my chest with the back of her hand.
“Yes, Drake, we’re ready.” She gives me a chastising glance completely oblivious to the simple fact that my heart just stopped from her touch alone.
She has no clue just how completely and utterly I am hers. I’d set the world on fire just to watch her face glow in the light.
We pile into the car, Drake in the driver's seat while I take the passenger side, and Zoe slips into her spot in the back.
I enjoy the silence of the ride for all of ten minutes until Drake says, “Wanna hear a joke?”
“No.” Zoe and I say at the same time; I glance back to see a smirk tugging at her lips.
Ignoring our uninterest, Drake continued, “What did the grape say when it got stepped on?”
To my surprise Zoe asked, “What?”
“Nothing,” Drake says as he holds back a laugh, “It just let out a little wine.”
I just groaned with a shake of my head as I focused my attention back to my phone to finish typing out a text for Brandon, but then the most incredible noise started to come from the back seat.
Zoe was laughing. Really laughing.
I didn’t know it was possible to have a favorite sound, let alone become instantly addicted to a sound, but Zoe’s laugh is a noise I now know I can’t live another day without.
This isn’t just a giggle; it’s full belly laughter that I don’t think I’ve ever heard from her before.
I pang of jealousy and something akin to rage chills my skin, because when I turn to look at her, she’s wearing this smile that has never been directed at me.
A smile that is a bright sun to the dark and oily world we live in.
It’s a smile that I didn’t think she’d be capable of after knowing the things she’s experienced, the things she’s done.
She clamps her mouth shut, and her teeth bite into her bottom lip, a sad attempt at stifling the laugh that bursts from her just half a second later.
And that’s when I know I am in love with Zoe Hera.
It’s a ridiculous notion, for I who have never known love like this, to believe it so devoutly.
It’s like I’m seeing her for the first time, truly seeing her.
Sure, I’ve always been attracted to her, and admired her work, but this?
Love sounds like too weak of a word to describe exactly what I’m feeling.
Passion is too fluffy. Maybe it’s devotion.
To know that I’d move mountains to be sure that I can guarantee that she smiles at me like this daily.
This feeling is an aggressive wish that time would stop for a single moment.
This feeling is self-sacrifice, a glorious sense of defeat.
It is the feeling that I have intertwined her soul with mine and it fits so well, it’s like we were always meant to be joined.
She is a piece of me that I never knew was missing.
No, not love, but the sweetest break from sanity.
“Everything okay, boss?” Drake's voice breaks through my newest revelation like a wrecking ball.
“What? Yes, I’m fine.”
“You looked like you were going to set the earth on fire, you sure you’re alright, man?” Drake persists.
“Drake, I pay you for security and not therapy, get us to the warehouse.” I bite out. I’ll admit, I’m probably coming off as a bigger dick than usual, but I refuse to talk about what I just realized. I need to speak to my brothers first, they’ll know how to diffuse this… issue.
A few tense seconds passed, and thankfully Drake didn’t take it upon himself to psychoanalyze me more, but that sweet, sweet voice from behind me had my heart beating faster again.
“What should we expect when we arrive?” Zoe asks.
“Honestly, I’m not sure. We haven’t had any issues reported after we got rid of Darren, but I’d expect the best and prepare for the worst.”
“Understood. In that case, I’d like to play some music before we get there.”
I passed her my phone to let her play what she pleased and sat back and patiently.
Soon enough “Descending” by Sleep Token flows from the speakers, surrounding me in haunting melodies and seducing lyrics.
This isn’t similar to the music she’s played in the past and I’m curious what had changed her taste.
As we near the warehouse the lyrics to the song have totally run their course through my veins, wholly intoxicating me. My pulse is thumping, and I can feel my teeth beginning to ache at the pressure I'm putting into them as I grind my jaw.
Drake puts the car into park and exits, finally giving me a moment alone with Zoe as the song comes to an end. The tension is palpable and thick enough that the air in the car is harder to swallow back.
“Zoe.” I say, so quiet it was almost like a secret I want to keep to myself.
“Max.” There is a question in her tone, but she doesn’t prod, she just lets my name float in the dense oxygen between us.
“I-.” I start but I’m quickly interrupted by a car door opening and Drake's voice breaking the spell.
“All clear bosses.”
“Drake!” Zoe and I shout in unison, we both slightly jump making us look like we were about to engage in something a lot less innocent than the conversation I was about to have with her.
“Sorry? Did I interrupt something?” Drake asks, flushing with embarrassment.
“No.” Zoe’s answer seems to surprise her as much as it does me, but she corrects her expression. “Let’s get this over with.”
I groan to myself, trying to hide my disappointment at once again needing to share her attention with someone else.
The warehouse seems in tiptop shape, everyone seems to respond well to their new overseer, and I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary.
Zoe slowly made her rounds behind each worker, stepping close behind them and I can see each of them showing obvious anxiety at her close proximity, but that was to be expected.
It’s no longer a secret who she is and who she belongs to.
But nobody stands out until I see her whispering with someone.
She glances my direction and gives a stern nod; curiosity makes my ears perk up.
The young guy stops what he’s doing in his assembly post and starts to walk in my direction. On instinct my hand falls to the pistol in my front holster but he puts his hands up and approaches slower as if he’s confronting a wild animal. I couldn’t find it in me to say he’s wrong for that.
“Mr. Karma.” He nods with respect and with a jerk of my head I give him permission to come closer.
“What?”
“I have some information that I think might interest you.” He whispers.
“What makes you think I’m interested?”
“It’s about the Cambions. I know of a big job that’s happening in about a month.” His admission brings both a chill and excitement to my spine.
I signal to Drake to keep an eye on Zoe, and I pull the kid by his arm to bring him closer to the doors and out of ear shot.
“What do you know? And how do you know it?” I jump to the point.
“I overheard it at a bar on the southside. I almost got killed when they saw that I overheard so I need to know I have your protection if I tell you.” He spills, obviously anxious.
“Those are some balls on you demanding protection. What’s your name?”
“T-Travis.” He stutters.
“Well, Travis.” I say with clear disdain. “I’m not a very patient man. And I can guarantee The Sparrow over there is a lot less patient than me. Tell me what you know.” I make a show of grabbing at my pistol again and he cowers slightly. Very good.
“Okay, okay.” He yields. “I heard that they will be at the abandoned rice factory in Kelso, about two hours out of Seattle. In just three weeks from today. They are doing a big pick up of girls, and I heard that K.H. will be there.” Travis explains. “They said it’ll be at midnight.”
I nod along, absorbing the information. “You overheard all of that?” I ask suspiciously.
“Yes, they tried to come after me, but I sped off on my bike just barely getting out alive. I lost them when I got back downtown.”
“And how do I know that I can trust this information?” I ask.
“Max. Can I call you Max?”
“Absolutely not.” I grind out, hating the way my voice sounds from his mouth after hearing how sweet it can be coming from Zoe.
“Okay. Sorry.” He chuckles. “Mr. Karma, I have been working in this warehouse since before you were leading this operation. I worked for Kahl for years before that. I have never had any problems, and I have nothing to lose other than my life telling you. Hell, I almost risked my life trying to hear all these details.”
I cross my arms and tilt up my chin, observing him from head to toe.
He’s older than me but still young. Thirty-five maybe?
Short. With dark brown hair, thick eyebrows and dark colored eyes slightly magnified by his thick framed glasses.
His posture is tense but not in a way that portrays a lie.
He keeps his eyes on mine and there are no physical tells giving a sign of deception.
I don’t know if I can trust the information, but I do know I can trust that this is what he heard.
“Fine.” I nod and look back over to Zoe. “We’ll be sure to have some guards keep an eye on you and your place, thank you for sharing this with me. If it turns out to be true, you’ll find yourself compensated very fairly.”
I watched him as he let out a sigh of relief, releasing a breath I knew he had been holding since the start of the conversation. “Thank you, sir.” His shoulders drop as he physically relaxes, but he tenses back up as soon as I respond.
“And should I find out you’re lying to me Travis; you will not be alive long enough to fully regret it. But should I learn this is a set up, you will have The Sparrow to answer to.” I give him a tap on his cheek, dismissing him as I send over the information to the other guys.
I was about ready to call over Zoe and Drake for us to head out, but as soon as I started to move a gun fires.
My impulse is to run to Zoe, that is until I see she is the one that fired the gun.
A lanky man with a name I can’t recall crumples to the ground just before Zoe says, “Nobody. Disrespects my men…Nobody.”