Perversion (Perversion Trilogy #1)(50)

“I wasn’t sneaking. I went straight through the front door, past the guard. Ask him,” I cry out. His hold on me tightens. “I have something for you.”

He leans closer until his lips move against my jaw. “Oh yeah, and what the fuck is that?”

“In my backpack,” I say.

He releases me and grabs the backpack at my feet. He unzips it and pulls out the ring. He holds it up to inspect it in the light. “Belly’s,” he says with an amused grin.

“You told me to be valuable to you. You told me that our family comes first,” I say. OUR FAMILY tastes bitter in my mouth, but the words are enough to make Marco lean back so he can look me in my lying eyes. “I saw Belly’s bike parked outside of a house on my way back. He was working on it. He took off his ring and went inside. I snagged it before he came back out. I walked all the way through Bedlam territory holding onto their leader’s ring. For you.”

Marco takes a few deep breaths and grabs my face in both hands. Gentler this time. “I knew you’d come around,” he says, planting a long, lingering kiss on my lips.

It takes everything I have not to knee him in the balls. Instead, I stay as still as possible. I make a decision while his thin lips are on mine. If Marco so much as hurts me again, Grim won’t have to come here with an army.

I’ll kill Marco myself.

When he finally pulls away, I speak again, mostly so he won’t kiss me. “There’s more. They were talking in the garage. Whoever they were, they’re planning something else. Something big,” I say. “Not sure what it is because I only heard the words something big followed by Los Muertos, but I thought you should know.”

“Those pieces of shit!” Marco roars, taking the bait.

The number one rule of magic is distraction. Give them something to focus on while you’re doing something else. What’s a better distraction while I’m trying to find proof of his broken truce promises than sending him on a wild goose chase?

Marco punches a filing cabinet, leaving a crater-sized dent on the side.

Marco is easy to play, but he’s also easy to set off. Walking on eggshells is more like tiptoeing on shards of glass when it comes to choosing my words around him. I’d have to be smart about this. Plan my moves wisely.

Marco steps back, and I feel like I can finally breathe with some space between us. He’s deep in thought with his chin resting in his hand, silently moving his lips and shaking his head. He’s also smiling in a way that sends chills down my entire body.

“I mean, I’m sorry if I upset you,” I say. “If this information isn’t useful to you—”

“It is. And I want more. You’ll find it out for me. You’ll find out how they plan on taking down my shipment. Every fucking detail.”

“Okay,” I agree, feeling downright victorious. The feeling doesn’t last long. “But how?”

“However, you need to. You’re crafty. Come up with something.” His eyes narrow. “But if I find out you’re playing me somehow, EJ, I’ll kill you myself. But not before I make you watch as I burn down that house of Bedlam with the entire fucking crew and Gabby inside.”

He’s trying to get me to crack, but it’s not gonna happen. I shift into annoying little sister mode.

“Don’t be so dramatic, Marco. After I get you what you want, you can do whatever the hell you want to them, but leave Gabby and me out of it. I’m not much for burnt corpses and screaming. You might want to take Memo with you on that one.” I make a disgusted face just as Memo walks in the door. “I hear he’s into that kind of thing.”

“I’m glad you’re here,” Marco says to Memo. “We’ve got a situation that was just brought to my attention.”

“Got some news of my own, boss,” Memo says.

Memo nods. Then, Marco turns to me one last time. “If you don’t get me what I need…”

“Guts on the street signs, gang bangs, watch Bedlam burn. You got it, boss. I’ll get it,” I say, giving him a thumbs up and an eye roll. I turn around and head out the door.

Memo’s words stop me.

“Well, you won’t be watching all of them burn. One’s already dead,” Memo says. “The old man. Had a heart attack a couple of hours ago. My man at the hospital says the old fuck was DOA.” He laughs, and my heart lurches into my stomach.

Belly.

Marco grins. “I know how you can get me the info, EJ. You see, it’s a custom for the leaders in Lacking to attend the funeral of their fallen enemies, but you know me, I’ve never been one for customs. You’re to go in my place, and you won’t be hiding who you are. You’ll be representing me. Find out all you can while you’re there. Funerals have a way of loosening lips.”

Marco doesn’t just want for me to find out information, he wants to insult Bedlam by not showing his face and sending me in his place.

I nod and keep the smile on my face while I’m screaming on the inside. I know that if I open my mouth, that scream is going to come up along with everything else I’ve ever eaten.

“Dismissed,” Marco says, turning to Memo.

I leave them and head down the stairs. I take out my phone and call Gabby as I leave. She answers on the first ring. The number one rule of faking a phone call is to actually make a call. If your screen isn’t lit up or if it rings in the middle of your fake conversation, you’re done. I swallow down the anxiety rising in my throat.