A Dirty Business (Kings of New York #1)(97)

“Hey.” I started to come out from the back where I was when I saw who’d come in.

He looked like Justin. Same height. Same hair, but his body was more defined. He worked out, and he was looking at me with dead eyes. Cop eyes.

I didn’t need to see the badge to know this was Detective Worthing.

“Why are you here?”

He clipped his head in a small nod. “Good. You know who I am.” He took a step closer.

I was searching him for where he kept his piece. His shirt was tucked in and was smooth where it shouldn’t have been smooth. The back? A shoulder holster under his shirt? His badge was hidden too.

“I’m here as a professional courtesy.”

That didn’t sound good. “I got suspended today.”

“I’m aware. Birdy told me, but you’re still one of us as far as I’m concerned.”

“So why are you here?” I didn’t usually need to ask twice, not for this kind of “professional courtesy.”

“I got moved to organized crime. They’re doing a raid on your boy. All of his places. His downtown apartment. His office. Warehouses the West family own. We’re raiding here too.”

Jesus. They were doing a full-gut renovation.

I began to put the booze back. “When?”

“One hour from now.”

One hour. “Why are you telling me?”

“My little brother swears you’re clean, but the guy who’s sharing your bed isn’t. I want to know what side you’re on. If you let him know, we’ll know. You don’t, and I’ll share with your boss. You got me?”

No, but I nodded to him anyway.

He began to back up to the door, watching me watching him. Neither of us was showing emotions. No surprise. No panic. Nothing. Stone-cold indifference. Then he blinked and reached for the door. “One hour. If I were you, I’d not be here.”

Which would make me look suspicious to everyone. They’d do their jobs and would find out I was supposed to be working. If I wasn’t at that counter, both sides would notice. I was fucked no matter what I did. But there’d be questions no matter what.

Be here when my colleagues raided where I worked? Or leave?

Funny thing was, I didn’t need to mull over if I was going to warn Trace or not. His family business was his family business. Not mine. He knew the deal between us. Now I’d have to learn if I could trust him to remember the deal or not.

I texted Anthony.

Me: Heading out. Something came up. Cover me please.

Anthony: What?! What the hell? Call me. You better tell me your mother—oh shit. Never mind. I’m remembering. Hope everything is okay. Keep me updated.

Yeah. I wouldn’t.





CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE


JESS


I ran through my options.

I wanted security cameras on me so people would know I wasn’t up to anything shady. That meant public transportation. That meant an alibi, but I didn’t want to go anywhere that might get raided. I was taking a big risk here, but I’d always been adamant that while I loved Trace, which was still new to me, I did not and would not love his job. So the raids were happening, and I wasn’t getting involved, though interesting timing on Leo’s behalf of when he suspended me. All that said, I wouldn’t have an alibi if I went to my own place either. Staying alone somewhere and no one could vouch for me.

“Not that I don’t love the surprise of you coming in here not on a Sunday night, but I’m a little concerned. You’re drinking here, and you’ve not texted Kelly to join you.”

I’d gone to Easter Lanes. Molly Easter, who was so removed from anything and so pure, was going to vouch for me.

Molly had bit her lip in the adorable way she did, heaved a sigh, and filled my first beer.

It was a beer night for me. I was on my sixth for the night.

She just slid a seventh to me when I noted a stillness that came over Molly.

She was looking behind me.

I turned, my whole gut clenching up, because I knew whoever it was wouldn’t be good.

Ashton stood there. His gaze was fierce and filled with such loathing that I was burned from the inside out. He had two guys with him, and I was taking them in because they weren’t the normal guys that I’d grown accustomed to around Trace. These guys were military.

All three were staring me down until Ashton strode forward.

“Don’t!” Molly yelled as he began to reach for me.

He paused, but I knew my luck had timed out. I’d been betting that they wouldn’t come for me until four in the morning. Maybe five. That meant Trace had probably been the one hauled down to the police station, and Ashton was already released from questioning.

“Don’t get involved,” he growled at her, in a savage hiss. Then his hand closed down over my shoulder, and he was hauling me off the barstool. “If you get any ideas, those guys are ex-rangers. So don’t.”

I was nodding. “Spotted that already.”

He paused, narrowing his eyes at me, before he made another low growl and dragged me with him.

“Where are you taking her?” Molly shouted from behind. She looked ready to launch herself over the bar, a bat in hand. “Hey!”

Ashton shoved me forward as the other two guys took me, and he remained behind, but I heard him before the door closed. “Stay out of this.”