Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
“They’re really scattered across the interlocked states,” Eros says, scanning over what I’d given him.
“Yes, you can see where they have split up. The tension within the family is the reason for the breakage. It won’t take much to push them over since the bond between them is weak. We have come up with four plots. We go to Kansas City, Missouri, Cover Fort Utah, Columbus, Ohio, and North Denver. No one is going to think it’s us. We’d fly totally under the radar because they’d never imagine we would bother with them, but they are slowly losing control of their interest rate,” I inform them.
They’re locked in and require the cost to support them in their trades. They haven’t much cared for how we’re doing things, and they have branched out to the cartel, getting drugs from Mexico. Their immediate reaction would be to point the finger in that direction if they start getting taken out.
“They only hold Kansas City because they have some sheriffs in their pockets. Without them, it would all fall through. That is straightforward enough to deal with. Now Utah.” I glance over to Eros. “We are going to send out small cells of people, but we’ll need a handful, and I think I know who can handle Utah and easily make it look like a gang hit. There will be no clue-up needed there either. The Feds will be happy they’re gone.”
“Who are you thinking of? Me?” I shake my head no. “I’m sending you to Ohio because I will need someone grabbed and interrogated. Mac will be handling North Denver. There is a wife there that wants out, and Paxton’s sister will help with that.” Voicing these plans out loud has everything coming together in my mind.
“The doctor?” Mac asks.
“Yes.” I smirk. “You’re going to fake a murder.”
“Oh shit, this is getting fun.” Mac rubs her hands together.
“So who do you have in mind for Utah?” Eros asks.
“You think Bonte’s father might want to come out of retirement for a few days?” I need someone highly specialized. Silas really is the only one that I think could handle Utah.
Eros chuckles. “You want to send in a serial killer?”
“Yes, he knows how to make a crime scene to his liking.” They both stare at me.
“You already got it figured out then?” Mac asks.
“These are merely the ideas. Like the wife wanting out and these three sheriffs, each with their own vices, we can close in on them. They are the weakest links, and it makes sense we start there. These are the idea outlines with the numbers.” I can feel Paxton’s presence before I see him. He comes to stand next to me.
“Yeah, the wife that wants out.” Mac flips through a few of the pages. “You have a 93.5 percent chance that she wants out and would want a new identity to do so.”
“Yes, I think the percent is that,” Paxton answers her.
“93.5?” A small laugh leaves her. “How did you come up with that .5?”
“I just did. It’s hard to explain, but I tried to, on the second to last page because I knew there was a ninety percent chance you would ask me that question.” Mac stares at him and then flips to the page. “I was fucking with you.”
“Oh my God.” Mac laughs. He might have been teasing her about it being on that page, but the number was very real to Paxton. He’s one of the most calculated people I’ve ever met in my life. If it’s real to him, then it is to me too.
Chapter Twenty-Five
PAXTON
“Here,” I tell Naomi, patting my thigh. She puts her foot up on it, and I lace her boot up for her. Her face softens, and her shoulders drop down, pulling in closer, giving me the more vulnerable side to her.
My girl always had it there, lingering deep inside; she only needed someone to bring it out of her. Naomi can handle most situations herself; she is one of the most capable people I have ever met, but I enjoy the bits and pieces that I can give her that no other could. It’s become quite addictive, really. I never knew taking care of someone could be a kink, but I’m finding it gets me off when it comes to Naomi.
“You’re always taking care of me.” She rests one of her hands on my shoulder, the other on her hip.
“I’m only lacing up your boot so that you can be hunted down.” I’m only half teasing. This is the third time I have borne witness to this little game she has with her brothers. It’s fascinating to watch and fucking hard. Her oldest brother doesn’t pull any punches with her.
It pisses me off, but I respect it too. It’s clear that they love her and are doing this for her. They want her to be at the top of her game.