decades. Now led by Joel Cornaro, the syndicate has taken over legitimate businesses on all eight major islands, especially anything that makes it easier for them to haul illicit cargo around the South Pacific.
Every asshole who wants to do dirty deals halfway across the world can depend on them to play mule.
Everything from guns to drugs to human trafficking, Cornaro gets it done.
“I know you want to catch the bastard as bad as I do,” Cash says, still pulling more stuff from the fridge.
“That was a long time ago, Cash. We’re not SEALs anymore and we both retired from the security racket,” I tell him. “Don’t tell me you’ve lost your memory, too? It’s not our job to go gallivanting around for the government, taking out the trash.”
The fact that it’s even a question also pisses me off. But Cornaro money runs deep, both locally and all the way to Washington DC, Manila, Tokyo, Jakarta, Singapore. He’s got a whole heaping lot of assholes willing to help cover his dirt. It’d probably take a multinational effort to bring them down.
“Technically, you’re right. We’re no longer paid to put our lives on the line.” Cash shuts the fridge door and turns around, facing me again. “But you’re also wrong. Once a SEAL, always a SEAL. You see what kind of damage Cornaro does every time your back is turned and you’ve got a mirror, Flint. And that didn’t happen while you were a SEAL.”
Not in the mood for a bitter stroll down memory lane, I spear him with my eyes. “We have other commitments now. You have a private medical practice and I—”
“You’re bored,” he interrupts. “Bored out of your skull.”
I blink, my fists tightening.
He waves a hand around the massive kitchen. “Now that you’ve finished crafting this lovely island penthouse, you don’t have a fucking thing to do all day except run around with Bryce, and that’s driving you crazy.”
I glare hot death at him. Even though it’s only been a few months, I know he’s right.
Damn!
Worse, I’m just in time for another lecture, this time on me.
“Don’t give me that look. Ever since you sold your patent to the government, for more money than the GDP of some small countries, you’ve been bored. Let’s not pretend you haven’t been. Building this place took time, but now what?” He points to the hall, the one that leads through the house to the master bedroom. “Your answer’s waiting.”
“Cash...”
“I’m not done. That girl in your bed is Valerie Gerard. Cornaro knew her father before he died, mysteriously, and they’ve had their hooks in her family business for some time. King Heron’s fishing routes are massive out here. What if they just need Ms. Gerard out of the picture to seal the deal? Maybe she got wind of some illegal stuff daddy dearest was involved in. Who knows?”
“Who knows,” I echo numbly. “Who, Cash. Not you.”
“What I know is they tried to kill her. I saw it happen, and you know as well as I do Cornaro men don’t give up once they’ve got a target. They’ll kill her if we don’t do something about it.”
Fuck.
I rub the back of my neck. The muscles are so tight they’re burning.
“We’ve seen what they do, Flint. First hand. How can you just say no when a huge piece of the puzzle falls right in your lap? We can stop it this time. We have to stop it, if we can, because no one else will.”
Damn it all, he’s right, and he knows it. I don’t have an argument to bark back.
Still, I squeeze my temples with a thumb and forefinger of one hand.
Letting out a flustered growl, I ask, “That doesn’t explain the rest. Why the hell did you have to say she’s my wife? You couldn’t have come up with something else?”
“As I said, that story gives her peace of mind until her memory fog lifts. And it just might help that little lump of coal you call a heart do the right thing.” He rolls his green eyes. “What did you think I’d give her? The truth? Telling her you’re a hard-ass son of a bitch stranger would only panic her more.”
“Watch your mouth. My ma’s no bitch.”
His lips curl up in one of his eat-shit grins. “No, Beverly’s a saint. She’s put up with your big demanding ass for over thirty years.”
Swallowing another growl, I turn. I walk over and grab a frying pan from the rack hanging over the center island