Page 34 of Pregnant By A Rich Demon 2

“Yo,” he said around a mouthful of food. “We about to have some cream of opps today.”

I didn’t look at him.

“Shut the fuck up.”

“Damn, cuz.” He laughed, unbothered. “I’m just saying.”

“You’re here to beseen,” I said, my voice flat. “Not heard.”

Syx grinned and took another bite of his Hot Pocket.

“Oh, I’m always gon’ be heard,” he said. “But proceed with your dismemberment, cousin.”

I ignored him.

Turned my attention back to the seven men hanging in front of me.

They were dock workers. Had been on my payroll for years. Good money. Steady work. Protection from the kind of people who’d gut you for looking at them wrong.

And they’d thrown it away.

“You know why you’re here,” I said.

My voice echoed in the empty space.

One of them—Jeff, I think his name was—started shaking his head frantically.

“Mr. Landry, please—I didn’t—we didn’t?—”

“You did.” I stepped closer. Looked up at him. “All seven of you did.”

“We don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“Rahsaan Boudreaux,” I said simply.

The name landed like a gunshot.

Jeff went still. The others stopped moving. Even the one who’d been crying went quiet.

“I knew the moment you were turned,” I continued, my tone conversational. Almost friendly. “You want to know what gave you away?”

Silence.

“It wasn’t the money,” I said. “Rahsaan’s smart. He knows how to make an offer look good. And you were all broke enough to take it.”

I walked slowly along the line of men, my footsteps echoing on the concrete.

“It wasn’t even the information you were feeding him,” I continued. “Shipment schedules. Security rotations. Dock access codes. That’s standard. That’s what traitors do.”

I stopped in front of the second man. Looked up at him.

“What gave you away,” I said quietly, “was that nothing got done unless Priest handled it personally.”

The man’s eyes widened.

“See, that’s not normal,” I continued. “Priest is my second. He oversees operations. He doesn’trunthem. That’s what I pay you for.”

I moved to the next man.