Page 31 of Hide From Me

We needed booze to run the legit side of our business, and Zeid had a head for business. I was good at hiding our sins in one way, and he was really good at cleaning the money.

“Yeah, he’s got new contracts signed for a few local brews. But the question we would like answered is where did you run off to at the gym? One minute you’re pounding away at that asshole and the next? Boom, gone.”

I shook my head.

“Not telling you. Sit. Drink. I still can’t get the judge figured out. We found nothing at his place. What do we make of any of it?”

X flagged down the bartender, getting his usual.

“Yeah. Zeid and I are just waiting for the next body. Which one is the question? We’ve kept most of the dark shit in-house, but those that are out there are a loose thread, and who would know that? Who would have something to gain?”

I shrugged because I’d already been round and round.

“No fucking idea. The Ravens and Vipers would rather it be us than those who used to run this side of the city. We have a pretty good deal worked out, so I don’t see either of those two gangs trying something.”

I needed to change the subject from where I’d gone, but I knew it would all come back up. X had questioned my methods over the years. They questioned the constant trips beyond the reach of Spectors, but Zeid and X let me. I was pissed off Rylee had come back, and yet it made keeping an eye on her so muchfucking easier. Years of being creative when I could be there to check on her. The college wasn’t that far, but it was just far enough that when you were trying to run a crime empire, your lack of presence would be noticed. X and Zeid were at least capable, and if there was a god, he knew that we couldn’t do this without each other.

I tipped the bottle to my lips and tried to hide my frustration when it was empty.

“Need another? Or are you heading back to the shop soon?”

The night was still young, but I’d learned long ago that I had to maintain my wits. There was no getting shitfaced even if you wanted to bury the fucking past.

“Yeah, I’m heading to Gran’s for a bit, then I’ll head over to the shop.”

There was a procedure for weapons being dropped off and it involved a bucket of bleach that I had to go fishing in if I didn’t ask either of my brothers to come help. It was fine. I needed to get my mind off of Rylee and what I wanted to do to her.

I wanted to leave her where she was. Safe and controlled. Only I probably just fucked that. Everything had worked until now. Fuck, what was my damn problem?

“Caspian, what the fuck is going on in that head of yours?”

I turned to X.

“Fuck, I don’t even know.”

He smirked.

“I have a feeling it has to do with our little buddy coming back.”

I waved at the bartender. Fuck it, I needed one more beer.

“Little buddy? She doesn’t even come close to that little girl that was dropped on her father’s doorstep,terrified and broken.”

He was nodding.

“Yeah. Thought you’d noticed. When were you going to tell me and Zeid she was back?”

The beer bottle made a thud as the bartender put it down in front of me, and I tried to use it to ignore X.

“Xander, what makes you think I knew?”

He smirked, and I wanted to fucking punch him.

“Please. Zeid and I figured out years ago what you were doing, keeping tabs on her. And we approve. The question is, why did you think that you needed to hide it? Did you really think that we wouldn’t have helped you keep tabs on her? She’s a sweet little butterfly in a nest of hornets.”

I just nodded like a damn bobble head.

“Because she wasn’t yours to protect. She was my responsibility.”