Page 180 of Malice and Surrender
“I know enough. And as we speak, I have more being dug up on you. Not just one, but four private investigators I use regularly have all been sent to dig up everything on you they can find.”
Kai stepped back, his eyes searching my face. I assumed to see if I was joking. “Does the name Keith Moore mean anything to you? You would’ve called him Red. Don’t bother answering. I already know you do. He was the first man you killed and got away with it. Or you have up until now, that is. It’s amazing what can be pried away from a prison guard for the right price.” The cocky expression on Kai’s face fell, but I had to give him credit. He didn’t back down.
“I know you stood over his dying body with a bloody shank in your hand. I also know a guard covered it up because he owed you a favor and because of what Red did to you first. I bet the warden and the parole board don’t know that, though, do they? A new murder charge on your list of offenses, and I’m certain that by the time my investigators are through, I’ll have a deep pile of bones to shake from your tree. More than enough to bury you forever and send you away for life this time.”
Purposely turning my back on him, I wandered over to the bar, readying for any move he made. Pulling out the bottle of rum and a coke, I poured two drinks and sat down with mine.
“For you, if you want it,” I pointed to the glass and sipped my drink.
Kai made his way to the bar but kept his eyes on me the entire time. He picked up the drink and sat in the seat across the way. As soon as he was settled, I continued.
“I’m also sure that all those you call friends would be at risk. That Roach guy, and how about your friend Hollywood who's still in prison? Then there is a Mannix….”
“This better not be recorded.” Kai looked around the room.
“I’m not that stupid. There’s no sound,” I said.
He glanced around the room again before his eyes settled on me. “You think your expensive shit and piles of money will keep you safe?”
Kai might not have realized it, but he just told me how he saw me. I was a walking moneybag of annoyance. Someone or multiple someones with money had done him dirty, and I tucked that knowledge away for another time.
“I’d spend every last cent I have to keep those I care about safe. So yeah, in this case, I do.”
“Your money won’t stop me from putting a bullet through your eyes,” Kai said.
“Not much is going to stop that if you don’t care about hurting Raine, or going back to prison, but I don’t think you want either of those things.”
His eyes narrowed into slits. “What the fuck do you want,” Kai asked.
I tapped my finger on the top of my glass. “The same fucking thing you do, for you to fuck off and never come back, but I also know that’s not what Raine wants, and unlike you, I plan to respect that. So all I want is for you to stop digging, and so will I. What you learned is burned, and I’ll do the same.”
As his glare darkened, my muscles tensed, hoping he’d jump across the space and attack me, but I knew he wouldn’t. We were at an impasse, and the next move could tilt the entire board, and everyone would lose. Kai wasn’t stupid and didn’t want that to happen anymore than I did.
But he was unpredictable, so it was better to be safe. I was sure of one thing…how much he cared for Raine. It was in everything he did and said, and even if he didn’t admit it to himself, he was scared. Kai didn’t strike me as the kind of person to handle fear well. I also knew what that was like. Some ran when they were scared, but with Kai and I, the monster that lived inside of us came out, and we were more dangerous backed into a corner than ever before.
“But I want to make myself really fucking clear. If you threaten Avro and me again, I’ll burn you to the ground.”
Kai shocked me when he smiled and rubbed at his bottom lip. “You have balls Jace. I didn’t think you had it in you.” I didn’t say anything and just waited for him to speak. “Fine, it seems we’re at a stalemate, but if I catch wind you’re trying anything stupid, then all bets are off, and I won’t use money to solve my problems.”
“Same goes for you,” I said. We stared at one another for a long time, like two animals in the same cage sizing one another up. “I’m going to take a chance and tell you something.”
“You going to admit that you killed someone,” Kai asked.
I smiled, sipped my drink, and let the fizz and alcohol soothe my nerves.
“You’re funny, Kai. I won’t confirm or deny any such thing, but I will tell you this as a show of good faith. The man that Avro and I allegedly had something to do with his disappearance and untimely demise pulled a Red on him when he was thirteen. I’m sure you can understand why something may or may not have been done.”
I watched Kai’s face closely, and other than the subtle tick of the muscle in his jaw, no other emotions showed, but the hard lines of his scowl lessened.
“I just thought you should know that, and I’d do it all over again if given the chance,” I said, lifting my glass and tipping it in his direction like I was offering a toast. Kai surprisingly did the same.
“Then I guess it’s a good thing we’re determined to keep both situations buried,” he said and downed the rest of his drink. “Do you really think they are having sex without us?”
I burst out laughing. “Oh guaran-fuckin-teed. Avro wouldn’t waste an opportunity like that.” I could hear his teeth grinding, and right on cue, the sounds of wild sex echoed down the stairs. Kai shot to his feet, gripping the glass so tight he could crush it.
His leather jacket was squeaking as his body vibrated with pent-up rage. “Did you want to join?”
Kai’s eyes narrowed as he glared at me. “Fuck no.”
