Page 2 of Agent vs. Assassin
“Kane isn’t emotional.”
“He’s human.”
He studies me several hard beats. “What do you need from me?”
“I need to be the one who tells him about Roberto visiting me in person, which allows me to gauge his reaction and control his actions.”
“A delay is not an option, Lilah. He’s Kane Mendez. You know what that means.”
“It means a lot of fucked up shit he needs to navigate with a clear head.”
“Don’t put me in a graveyard position. I cannot hold this back from him. You have to know that.”
“Don’t be a little bitch,Enrique.”
“Lilah,” he breathes out, gravel in his voice, a plea in the depths of his voice that has me grimacing.
He was Kane’s man before he was our man, and Kane’s trust in him is the only reason he’s here with me right now, or ever. I grit my teeth, drag my phone from my pocket, and dial Kane, who’s been MIA for most of the day. I have no doubt this indicates he’s on some mission to destroy his father he knows won’t win my approval. I’d say he’s taking the approach to do the deed and beg for forgiveness later, but he won’t bother.
As Enrique stated, he’s Kane Mendez.
Considering he’s been avoiding me all day, I don’t expect him to answer, and he doesn’t, and my call lands in his voicemail. “There’s been a new development,” I tell him via the recording. “Enrique is with me. He feels the need to tell you, and I told him it’s something I need to tell you in person. Besides, how would he tell you when you won’t fucking answer the phone? We’re following a lead to the Hamptons.” I hang up and glare at Enrique. “Happy?”
We halt at a stoplight and Jay is leaning around the seat, waving a hand at the rear. “For the love of God, will someone please tell me what’s going on?!”
“He’s going to call me,” Enrique replies tightly. “Watch and see.”
My cellphone rings in my hand, and I glance down to find Kane’s number. Normally I’d have a smartass remark to make, but there is nothing but dread in my belly. I answer the call. “Kane.”
“What do you need to tell me?” His voice is the slice of a steel blade.
“I’m headed to the Hamptons to follow up on a lead.”
“You said that in the voicemail.”
“Right. Where are you?”
“I’ll meet you in the Hamptons. Lilah, what aren’t you telling me?”
“A question that seems pretty flipping ironic coming from a man who’s avoided me for hours. What aren’tyoutellingme, Kane?”
I’m greeted with heavy, thick silence.
“Fine. Fuck you, Kane, for pushing me against my best judgment. I need a minute.” I grit my teeth, and as we are still not moving, scoot to the door before saying, “Drive around the block and come back and get me.” I don’t wait for approval or understanding. I exit the vehicle.
Enrique curses, but I’m already outside, where I dodge a car and step onto a crowded sidewalk. By the time I’m there, Enrique has joined me, and I point at him to stay back, glaring as I do. He’s the reason I’m about to create a shitshow with Kane, and it’s pissing me off.
He’s at least smart enough to hold up his hands and stand down. I weave through the crowd and claim a spot out of the range of the crush, next to a chicken restaurant. How appropriate considering Enrique is acting like a true chickenshit, and because why wouldn’t I want to have this conversation next to a chicken restaurant?
I shove the phone to my ear again and say, “The only reason I’m doing this is because Enrique is wetting his pants right now, afraid to hold this back from you.”
“Tell me.”
“Your father tried to corner me in the lobby of our building. I didn’t have time for his bullshit, and I handled it.”
“More, Lilah,” he bites out rather predictively, and I stop fighting him and the inevitable spilling of details.
“He suggested we have some long overdue time together, or some shit like that.” I wave my hand in the air. “I told him if I had one-on-one time with him, I’d kill him, and I unfortunately didn’t have time for how messy that would get.”