A Dirty Business (Kings of New York #1)(66)

“Only someone considered family could’ve sent this out. Myself, since I speak for your family on your behalf a lot or . . . your uncle or your father. The question would be, Why would either of them do this? Your father doesn’t know about her, and your uncle wouldn’t want to push you like this. He likes that you might have a relationship with her. He wanted to use it earlier before you removed her blood from the equation.”

“That wouldn’t make sense. He’d use it for later, not now.”

“Exactly.”

Which pointed at one other member of the family, one who would want to hurt Jess.

“Trace.” Guessing by how low Ashton’s voice just got, I was guessing he was there too.

“You’re thinking who I’m thinking?”

He swore, still low. “I thought I had her handled. I took her back to Vegas. She was supposed to stay put.”

“She can make phone calls from Vegas.”

“I know, but—” More curses from him. “This means that she got someone asking questions about Jess. That is not good for you, brother.”

“I’m aware.” Every cell in my body was on alert. My sister in my business was most definitely not good. She was erratic and unpredictable, and she had no idea who she was going to blow up.

“I’ll put out the word that Jess Montell is not ours. It was the wrong call, but ears are pricked, and eyes will start watching.”

Which meant it was incredibly stupid for Jess to be remaining in my employ, and in this office itself. Not unless things were going to drastically take a turn. I’d seen her face when she’d barged in here. This was her worst nightmare.

“I’m fully aware of that too.” I turned, starting to include her when I said, “Your employment will—”

I stopped because she wasn’t there.

The door was open. The elevator door was just sliding shut.

Jess was gone.

“Ashton.”

“Yeah?”

I had a distinctly bad feeling starting in me. “Find my sister.”

“To warn her off?”

“No.” I was moving because I knew what Jess was going to do. She’d been pushed too far this time. She had one thing left in her life, and that was her career. She was going to snap. “To protect her. From Jess.”

“Oh, shit. Will do.”

We hung up, and I grabbed everything. “If I have any meetings today, cancel them. Cancel them for the week.” I breezed past my assistant, heading for my private elevator. Once I got to the parking floor, Pajn had a finger to his ear. He saw me coming and straightened up. “Got the call you were heading out. What’s going on, boss?”

“Call my sister.”

He started to reach for his phone but stopped. A funny look on his face. “Boss?”

“Your phone. I’m guessing she won’t pick up for me or Ashton, but she will for one of you two. She’ll be too curious not to answer.”

The gravity of the situation hit him, and he brought up my sister on his contacts, hit dial, and handed me the phone. After one ring, she picked up.

“Pajn? Is Trace okay?”

“No,” I ground out into the phone, indicating for Pajn to get behind the wheel. I took the phone to the back seat and lowered the privacy divider. Demetri was in the passenger seat, looking between both of us but keeping quiet. “Where the fuck are you, Remmi?”

She didn’t answer right away, but then her voice was shaking when she did. “You sound angry at me, Trace. Why are you angry? I don’t like when you’re mad at me.”

“Then you completely blew that out of the water because I’m livid with you. Where the fuck are you? You’re supposed to be back in Vegas. I’m guessing you’re not there.”

I couldn’t get Jess’s face out of my mind, how pale she’d been coming into my office.

How she left without a word to me.

“You’re scaring me, T.”

“You should be scared. You fucked with the wrong cop.”

She inhaled sharply. “How do you know about that?” Her voice went shrill. “And why do you care about her?!”

Jesus Christ. It was her.

I pulled out my burner, sending a text to Ashton.

Me: It was her.

He replied back right away.

Ashton: Word is out to correct what Remmi did. My contacts say they’ll spread it out, but some damage is done. Will have to spin this somehow to protect Jess. You want me to handle your sister?

Me: No. I got her.

Ashton: Don’t murder your own blood.

I pointedly did not respond to that one, barking into the phone, “Tell me where the fuck you are! Now, Remmi!”

She cried out, half screaming, “Okay, okay! I’m at your club.”

“You’re where?”

“At Katya. I’m here to threaten her. Doesn’t she work tonight?”

It was the following Tuesday, but that meant Remmi was guessing, and it also meant that Anthony was not being cooperative with her. “Is Anthony there?”

“He just went into the hallway to take a call. I think it was Ashton.”

“You stay put.”

Her voice came out trembling. “Why am I scared right now? She’s a cop. She shouldn’t be working here anyways. What did I do wrong here?”