Page 76 of Lord of Ruin
“Did something happen?”
He managed to pull out into traffic, cursing when he narrowly avoided getting us into a collision.
“No, but I don’t like where this shit is headed. Do you remember the asshole who blew up half our family a lifetime ago?”
“Yeah, the Byrne clan out of Ireland. What does that have to do with the shit we’re dealing with?”
“Maybe everything.”
His eyes opened wide. “I was just a damn kid, but I remember the blood and the screams, the funerals that never seemed to end. I lost my best friend to that attack.”
“I know. Both Phoenix and I are trying to determine if the information provided is the truth.”
“If you and the family are involved, I will be there at the end.”
“Don’t worry, cousin. Of course you’ll be there. But we’re not solving the riddle today. I’m going to spend some additional time with Jenna after this meeting, hoping her guard will fall.”
“Wait a minute. You think she has something to do with what happened?”
“I don’t know what to think but I need to start ruling out issues and enemies.”
“You think she planned an attack on herself?”
“How did she end up in the same coffee shop right across from the hotel?”
“I don’t know, Stavros. That seems farfetched ‘cause I’ve seen her with you,” he said, more exasperated than before. “What I do know is that I was there when you killed that dude. No one could fake the kind of terror in her eyes. She was petrified.”
“Maybe that means she didn’t think she’d be considered a loose end.”
“You may want to kill me after I say this, but that’s bullshit. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time like you said. If she’d been part of some scheme, then why weren’t you killed? Why didn’t the fucker, whoever that is, send more than one man?”
“I don’t know, for God’s sake. I don’t have all the answers.”
He continued cursing in Greek as he pulled into the small parking lot of the diner. “You might not like my advice but I’m going to tell you anyway at the risk of broken bones. Don’t jump to conclusions. Go out with her. See the sights in Philly. Have lunch. I’ve seen the way she looks at you, even if she tries to hide it. There is no denying that instant chemistry. You know, the one where your heart is thudding in your chest, your pulse skyrocketing, your blood pressure threatening to give you a stroke. Where everything tastes better, feels softer, and music is more powerful. And God knows liquor is even more amazing.”
I slowly turned my head, noticing his eyes were glassy. Now I had to laugh after I’d almost disabled the man. “When did you have that happen?”
“When you had your head stuck up your ass.” He cut the engine and was out of the SUV before I could object or break his face. He buttoned his jacket, scanning the area before giving me a nod as usual.
It was at that moment I actually found myself hating my life and all the safety protocols that had been put into place years before. He was right. There was no denying the electricity we shared or the passion that couldn’t be faked by anyone. Yet the nagging remained and until we got to the bottom of what the hell was going on, that wasn’t going to change.
I climbed out, noticing both Nico and Phoenix were already here. This was what we liked to call a think tank meeting. There was nothing better than discussing business over some fried eggs and a Bloody Mary.
Only on this morning, I wasn’t hungry, preferring to get back to Jenna. She was well protected but that didn’t mean shit couldn’t happen.
We walked inside, immediately heading to our regular table that was positioned way in the back. The six top was one of two they had given their size, and it was perfect for the group of rugged men.
As we slipped onto two chairs, I noticed Bloody Marys had been ordered all around. “Where’s your man, Phoenix?”
His Capo was usually with him, another guy my brother had trusted for a long time.
“He’s running down some possible leads on Madden,” Phoenix answered, glancing from Christos back to me. “What’s going on?”
Christos was still obviously uncomfortable, rubbing his wrist and looking out the plate-glass window.
“I’m just in a shitty mood. Where are we at? Let’s get this meeting underway. What about your buddy, Nico? Did Ben give you any quality information on the Death Squad?”
Phoenix and Nico glanced at each other, my younger brother clearing his throat.