A Dirty Business (Kings of New York #1)(94)

I moved over, pulling my chair next to her.

People were whispering about us. I knew we had a few minutes before Sal came over to check on his Pigeon Lover Best Friend. She sent me his videos from YouTube every time he posted a new one. I had to admit the pigeons were cute when you put inspirational music in the background. I was cheering for one that I was pretty sure shit on my head two days ago.

“It’s going to be fine. Everything will be fine.”

I was firmly blocking out the mess from my mother because I had no idea how to fix that or what I even could do.

Be strong. Keep going. Kick ass if need be. That was my motto in life. Paint when you need to fall apart.

I gave Kelly a tight hug and held her. She let go of the hero—that told me she meant business—and grasped my arm.

“I love you. I’ll always love you. We’re sisters, and right now, there’s some dangerous business going on between families and our men. Be safe. You know I always want that for you.”

She was nodding, but I could feel some tears falling to my arm. “I know. I know. I have this feeling like I’m supposed to ask you something, check in with you about something, but I can’t think what it is. Are you okay?” She pulled away, turning to face me more directly.

Kelly was doing the right thing now. I wasn’t going to say anything about my mother to get in the way, so I shook my head. “Nope. Not a thing. One more hug, honey.”

“Oooh. You used the term of endearment. It’s been my dream for you to call me honey.”

I laughed, doing as I said. Hugging. But now I was the one choking back tears, so I stood, gave her a firm kiss on her forehead. I was finding I had a thing about foreheads and gently squeezed her shoulder. “Love you. When you get engaged, call me.”

“Agh! I’m going to fall apart all over again.”

“Not that.” Kelly wasn’t going to be able to leave first, despite the bagged hero. I knew my friend. Her gut was telling her to stay put, so I went first. One last touch on her shoulder, a smile from me, and I headed out.

“Bye, Officer Montell.” Sal waved a loaf of bread in the air.

I pointed at him as I bypassed the counter. “Give my regards to the pigeons, and make a second hero for my friend. I think she crushed the hell out of the first.”

“We were watching. We’re going to start calling them emotional support heroes.”

I barked out a laugh as my insides were being sliced in half, but it was what it was.

I had a feeling this was only the first of the Trace/Jess fallout.



I was right. It just took two weeks for it to happen.



“You’re suspended.”

“What?” My mouth was on the floor. I started to look down for it, see if I could find it.

I knew there’d be a meeting with Leo, but I hadn’t expected this. At least, not without a warning or a talking-to. I came in and sat, and he opened with that.

He shook his head, putting his radio on the table. “I don’t have time to get into this with you, but you’re in a sexual relationship with someone who has known connections—and very strong connections—to an organized crime family. We have a code of ethics. You cannot work here as long as you’re in his bed.”

A part of me expected this. I just hoped for a little longer before it happened, but wow. I knew the cards would fall.

“You have nothing to say? You’re just going to take the suspension?”

“I . . .” Damn. I couldn’t speak. My throat was burning. “He’s getting out.”

He laughed and snorted at the same time. “Right.”

“He is.”

He shoved upward, his chair squeaking from the ferocity of the movement, and slammed one hand on his desk. “He’s the prince of that fucking family! What are you doing, Jess? I raised you better.”

“You didn’t raise me. No one did!”

“Bullshit.” Another pound on the desk, but he jabbed a finger at me in the air. “Bullshit. I raised you. I stepped in when your father died. I’m helping take care of your mother right now! Don’t give this BS that I didn’t raise you. I’m raising your whole family. Your brother will be released, and guess whose couch he’s going to end up on? Mine!”

“He’s getting out—”

His voice overrode mine. “He’s not getting out! He’s going to take over.” He motioned to the phone. “I just got a call from organized crime. They were inquiring if I had a PO undercover in the West family syndicate. An undercover PO, all the brainless, witless bullshit that would be. Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me?!”

His voice rose an octave with each statement he was yelling, but there was nothing I could say.

Chain of command. You took it. I was taking it.

“I gave you two weeks. You showed up at your mother’s almost-dead bedside. I thought you’d wake up. You haven’t woken up. I’m getting reports that you go to his place every night. That he brings you coffee in the mornings. You’re going out to eat with him. It was bad enough when you were working for him, but there was no known relationship. I got heat then too. Did you know that?”

I was stunned, but maybe I shouldn’t have been. “You did?”

“Yes. Organized crime. They were up my ass. They wanted to use you, but I said no. I kept saying no. That it was a legit second job. You were shouldering your brother’s debts and your mother’s. Plus yours. Another person in your place, and they’d be looking at being dirty long before now. Not before you started sleeping dirty, but now. God! Now, I gotta suspend your ass. Without pay! You need to wake your ass up. Leave this guy, and when you come back, we’ll start going over damage control, because don’t think for a second this ain’t getting out. It’s already out.”