Page 136 of Illicit

I’m not sure why that seems weird.

I take the receipt and tiny bag, because let’s be real, what I bought is tiny. It’s also a little itchy, but I doubt I’ll have it on for long once Rocco sees me in it. I’ll probably be too nervous to realize how itchy it is.

I leave the store and side shuffle the slow mall walkers when my phone rings.

I connect the call as fast as I can, so I don’t miss it. “Cole, do you have news on Mr. Hayes?”

Cole gets right to it. “He’s dehydrated and malnourished. His heart rate is high, but they think that’s from lack of fluids. They’re going to keep him overnight to monitor him because of what he’s gone through. An extraction is never easy. Jarvis is one of the best there is and took a local team in with him. He said Hayes wasn’t expecting it—thought he gave him a heart attack when he broke in and took him.”

I stop in my tracks. “Wow. I don’t know who this Jarvis is, but that’s impressive.”

“Let’s not tell Jarvis that. His head is big enough as it is.”

A call beeps in, and I pull the phone away from my ear to see who it is.

Rocco.

Who misses whom now?

I’ll call him back.

Two people mutter at me for stopping traffic, so I start moving again. “How is everything else in Nigeria?”

“Fantastic,” Cole belts. “It’s not done yet, but we’re getting there. I think when all is said and done, we will have put a big dent in a global network of motherfuckers, and that’s if we don’t dismantle it. Just for shits and giggles, I threw in the travel agent who booked the flights. We found out they were sliding her cash under the table to pay off airport security to let as many mules through as they could. Grandpa Hayes was one of the unlucky ones.”

I listen as I walk past the food court. I don’t remember the last time I’ve been at the mall and not had cinnamon pretzel bites with icing dip, but not today. The last thing I want is to be bloated when I put on my tiny lingerie. No pretzels for me today. “That’s amazing.”

“And we’re not done,” Cole keeps going as another call beeps in.

Damn. It’s Rocco again. He’s going to turn me into a phone talker.

But Cole doesn’t stop for anyone. “We’ve started to follow the money and drugs. My asset in South Africa connected your friends with the Gray Hatchet. This group is bigger and more organized than most cartels south of the border. The amount of motherfuckers we’re dealing with keeps adding up.”

I tell him the truth. “I’m shocked. I had no idea.”

“One thing leads to another, right? Sometimes it’s like digging for fossils, and other times it’s like dominoes and everything falls into place. All because you located Grandpa Hayes.”

“I couldn’t have done it without Rocco. I just located Robichaux. Rocco got all the information from him.”

“Working with the love of your life is special. I told Bella all about you. She loves your tenacity and wants to meet you.”

I can’t keep the smile off my face. “I really want that to happen.”

“I promise, it’ll happen. If not sooner, we’ll see you at the wedding.”

I stop again, and this time I get bumped by a stroller. “Um, that’s the second time you’ve said that to me.”

“Sorry,” he pipes without sounding at all sorry about anything. “All in time. We’ll get you and Bella together sooner rather than later.”

I put thoughts of a wedding out of my mind. It was hard enough buying itchy lingerie.

Another call beeps through. “Goodness. Is there anything else? Rocco has called three times.”

“New love. I remember those days. He’s impatient. Tell him I said hi.”

“I will. Thank you so much. I don’t know what I’d do without you. I can’t wait to call Stella back and give her the good news. She’ll be so relieved.”

“What I wouldn’t do to see it myself. It’s probably best I’m not there. I’d have to make an excuse for the tears. I love a happy reunion. They get me every time.”

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