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“Sounds like fun,” Hawk replies drily, and that’s the end of their conversation. We drive to the outskirts of the city, stop at a helipad and—surprise, surprise—a chopper is there, waiting for us.
I’m actually not as surprised as I’d normally be, and I don’t know if it’s the lingering shock from having faced my nightmare and lived to tell the story, or because I’m already getting used to this. Having cars and choppers and people at our beck and call at all times.
So this is what it feels like, being so rich. Not having money, cash overflowing from your pockets. You never see the money. But it pours into the huge, well-oiled machine that is your life, making things happen at a snap of your fingers.
I look at Storm as we take off, at the shadows on his handsome face, in his eyes, and think of what’s yet to come. That well-oiled machine can turn around and swallow you down at any moment, it seems, and the only thing that can save you is people you trust.
And Storm trusts me. I hope he knows I’m there for him, like he was for me.
Chapter Twenty-One
STORM
“It’s a monster,” Rook says, standing by the glass doors leading to the pool, a dark shadow. His arm is in a sling. “This Organization. Has tentacles fucking everywhere.”
“What have you found out?” I shift on the sofa, stretching out my leg. Both he and Hawk have been morose and quiet, drinking scotch and smoking, hanging out at Hawk’s estate house.
Waiting for the police.
They won’t tell me how they intend to play this, where they vanished to last night.
A night I spent twisted in the covers, caught in nightmares. It was so bad, at some point I left the bed to let Ray sleep. I’m goddamn worried—that the triad will change their mind, that the letter we found won’t be proof enough to stop the Organization from gunning us down.
A monster.
“What are they involved in?” I ask again, because both Rook and Hawk are ignoring me. “Rook. Hey, I’m talking to you.”
“Don’t know, man. Too much.” He glances at Hawk who shrugs.
What the fuck. “So what now, you’re gonna keep me in the dark? Think that will protect me from something? Fuck you.”
“You’re hurt, man,” Hawk says and pours himself another scotch. “You got to take it easy.”
“Easy?” I rub my good hand over my face. “You serious?”
He toasts me with his glass. He is serious.
Fuck.
“You.” I jab a finger at him, my pulse booming in my ears. He’s gonna give me heart problems, I swear. I’m glad Ray’s upstairs, taking a shower, and not here, not listening to us. “You and Rook have put your lives in danger for me these days. Rook got hurt.” I nod at his sling, a match for mine. “You had to meet with the triad for me. Now you’re trying to bring down the Organization—for me. To stop them from killing me, not because they threatened you, and they’re your parents, and—”
“Storm.” Hawk lifts a hand. “Shut up, bro. You’d have done the same for us, and besides… The Organization has to be stopped.” He sighs, mouth a thin line. “They’ve killed people, dude. Your parents, your uncle, tried to get you, too, and others. This can’t go on. I won’t let it.”
Rook nods and turns to face us. His eyes burn with anger. “You don’t need to know more about the Organization because we’ll bring it to its knees.”
Yeah, okay. Damn, I wish I could have a drink. I wish I could keep them safe.
“You be careful, yeah?” I glare at them, hoping they take this seriously. “Whatever it is you did last night and will do today.”
“Yes, junior.” Hawk nods. “We will. It’ll be fine, you’ll see. We have a plan.”
“That’s what worries me.” I look at Rook who’s rubbing the back of his neck. “What sort of plan?”
“You’ll see when the police are here. I think—” He stops and stares at the door. “It’ll work out, Storm.”
“Has to,” Hawk says, and I turn to see what they’re both looking at.
Raylin. She smiles uncertainly, tucking a strand of wet hair behind her ear. “Hey.”
