Page 136 of The List
Inez scoffed and smirked. “No, you don’t.”
Cross hardened his glare.
Inez pointed to him. “His father would’ve tried to talk him outta” —she waved her finger between him and Addison— “this right here.”
Cross clenched his jaw but remained silent. He was now well aware of where Inez was leading this conversation. If Addison didn’t already have concerns, this would put her fear on another level.
“You don’t think he would’ve liked me for Cross?”
His gaze shifted to Addison, and he felt an unexplainable ease.
“Oh babygirl, I think he would’ve liked you a lot. Still would’ve warned Cross to get rid of you.”
She knitted her brows. “Why?”
“Because he wouldn’t want his boy to share the same fate as him. Nothing worse than watching history repeat itself knowing you could’ve prevented it.”
The room was drowned in silence. Cross sucked in a breath and hardened his features. Inez was going to give it all to Addison.
“He tell you about his mama?”
Addison glanced up at him, and her gaze softened. “No. But if he wants to, he’ll do it in his own time.”
Inez stilled and a small smile emerged. “Or I can tell you.”
This was one of Inez’s games, which he knew well. It was a test to see where her loyalty landed. Addison would be curious. If she remained quiet, the answer was yes.
“I can wait until Cross wants to share.”
Inez peered over at him and slapped her hand on the counter, grinning. “Your dad would’ve loved this one.”
Yeah, he would’ve.
“She was gunned down in the parking lot of the grocery store.”
Addison gasped and shifted in her chair, wide-eyed with shock clouding her features. Inez didn’t mince words, and he’d expected her delivery. Addison had not.
“What?” she muttered, asking him.
But it was Inez who answered.
“Retaliation for a deal gone wrong. Darker time back then. No one was off limits, and with the power shift in the organization, lots of casualties.”
Too many.
“Cross was” —she paused— “about seven, right?”
He gave a curt nod, keeping his eyes on Addison. He squared his jaw, reigning in his need to go to her when her eyes welled.
I’m sorry,she mouthed.
“Thought for sure I’d lose his dad in my security after that. But he stayed.” Inez snorted. “He wanted that revenge so bad.”
Yeah, he did.
“Did he get it?” Addison muttered.
“Yeah,” Inez said. “Stayed with me for years, working up the ranks. No one more loyal.”
