“It already has.”
I watched anger flare in Green’s eyes as his mouth went hard.
Tommy tied the bloody towel to Green’s thigh before he shifted, shoving a broad shoulder under Green’s arm to heft him up.
Green grunted.
I took them in, giving them both a nod before I moved quickly to Dad’s desk and grabbed the receiver from the phone.
I hit a button and turned to watch Tommy and Eli make their slow way to the door.
Gill answered on the second ring.
“Bring the car around, will you, Gill?” I requested. “Tommy and Green are on their way.”
“You got it, Liv,” Gill replied and disconnected.
I put the phone back in the cradle and saw the boys had disappeared out the door.
I took a moment to look around my father’s office, not knowing why because I’d memorized every inch of purple damask-papered wall, every etch in the heavy, dark wood, every swirl in the silk rugs that cost so much entire villages in developing countries could live on it for years.
I did this thinking Green was gone in more ways than one. If he was stupid, which I hoped he wasn’t, he’d go to Valenzuela or Sloan. He’d offer his services. He’d offer information.
If that happened, Dad would make the order.
Georgia would have it carried out.
Gill would do the deed.
If he was smart, he’d get out of Denver and find work elsewhere.
It wouldn’t take long before the fresh one would learn.
We had very few soldiers left and all of them were uneasy.
Except Tommy.
Because of me.
And Gill.
Because of Georgia.
Green was right.
I should get out. I should get away. I should go to Thailand. Bali. Any end to this earth where he wouldn’t find me.
I didn’t because I knew that place didn’t exist.
Vincent Shade had lost nearly everything his father stole, dealt, stabbed, lied, tortured and killed to get.
But there were two pieces in the chess game he played very poorly, a game that just happened to be our livelihoods, pieces I’d learned without a doubt he’d never lose.
Not ever.
His girls.
Chapter Two