Page 45 of Four Cards Exposed

His obvious discomfort deflated her anger. “It’s okay. Pragmatic. I understand. I can be pragmatic.”

She pushed her half-eaten plate of scrambled eggs away. They weren’t bad, but they could have done with a splash of milk.

“Susan, please, you know that’s not what I meant.” His handsome face twisted. “Shit. I need to go meet Moore.”

“I’m going back to my place to get changed. I’m on cleaning duty in the bar this morning, and I’m not going to do that in heels.”

14

* * *

James

Moore stared James up and down as he walked into his office

“Feeling better, Jay? You took quite a few knocks last night. I wondered for a while if you were going to lose me money.”

Bastard.

In the next instant, Moore’s beady eyes narrowed further. “What’s going on? You look like the cat that got the cream. Shit. You fucked her. You fucked the waitress, didn’t you?”

In his mind, James saw himself punching Moore in the mouth. He lowered his eyes quickly.

“What the fuck is Guerrero going to say when he gets back? I don’t need any trouble with the cartel.”

James swallowed thickly. “It’s not like she was a virgin anyway, boss,” he drawled.

Moore laughed. The tension in his shoulders disappeared. “No. I’ll bet she wasn’t.” His eyes moved towards upwards and to the left, as if he were recalling a particularly sweet memory.

It made James sick to think it was Susan’s body the man was thinking about.

“She and Guerrero are not together, anyway,” James continued.

James held his breath, waiting for Moore’s response, ready to call the whole operation off if necessary. The world could go to hell for all he cared, but Guerrero wouldn’t touch a hair on Susan’s head—no matter what.

Moore made him wait, exercising his power.

“No, I don’t think they’re together, but I’ve seen the way he looks at her. Scratch the itch if you must, James, but don’t get too involved. He may want her back at some point.”

Over my dead body.

“That’s fine,” James said, swallowing bile. “He can have my sloppy seconds.”

He and Susan had to be gone long before then.

“Now, back to business. When Guerrero gets back, we’re going out to sea again on a special trip.”

“Special how?”

“Special in ways you don’t need to worry about. But I’ll organize you a good fight. Better than the ones you’ve had to date.”

“How much?” James asked.

“Forty grand.”

“Win or lose?” James asked, eyes narrowed.

“Win or lose. But I’m going to need a good show. There’s going to be some special people watching.”