Page 23 of King of Tides

I’m going to hurt Candido if he causes this bond to be broken because of his stupidity. He always calls me the slow one. I don’t have to be quick to see what’s coming from his actions.

“No … no, but I can’t tell you what just happened. I ain’t never seen no shit like it and I’ve seen some crazy shit working for you guys.”

“Just spit it out. What has Candido done now?”

“We were down at the docks to make that deal with Lombardo work. He was trying to meet with the brothers’ guy down there. Some other shit went down and the met went sideways.

“Feds were there, and we almost got busted. We escaped but I couldn’t tell you how or what the fuck happened,” Marko says, sounding completely confused.

I’ve had Marko watching my brother for the last three years. I don’t trust Candido not to fuck this all up. He’s getting us into some shit I don’t know if either of us knows how to get out of.

Fucking with those genies was just one of his dumbass ideas I know will come back to bite us. His desperation is a problem. He’s making bad decision after bad decision. I need eyes on him.

“I knew him wanting to make that deal was going to be a problem. He’s grasping at straws to keep those bikers under our thumb. He is going to cost us everything with this reckless bullshit.”

“I thought you would want to know,” Marko says.

“Good job. You made the right call. Keep me posted,” I say and hang up.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. I knew something wasn’t right. Candido is going to get us both killed.

“Fuck,” I roar.

Different

Istill haven’t been able to wrap my mind around the fact that Kendrick has found his mate. She’s not what I expected, but I like her. She suits him.

I rub at my chest, wondering if I will be next. I had to stop by to see the sea fairies—not to be confused with water fairies. They’d have your ass for that.

Sea fairies provide us superbeings with seaweed. It’s nothing like the human stuff. Sea fairies grow some pure shit. Not the type of stuff that needs to fall into the hands of any human—not without being diluted with magic dust.

I was in desperate need of some hydro to calm my nerves. Knowing my mate is out there and could be on her way has all kinds of energy rolling through me. I can’t even get off my bike to head upstairs.

Instead, I roll up right here in the lot. I’ve just placed the joint in my mouth and pulled out a lighter when Billy pulls in. I squint as I light up and watch her step from her car.

“Shit, my mate better show up soon before I say fuck it and pin her ass to a wall and eat her until she’s dry,” I say as I stare at my little neighbor.

She’s in heels and a dress that shows off her sexy legs. She looks tired as she heads my way, but never more gorgeous. I knit my brows and pull a hand down my face as a breeze blows through the garage and her scent is carried on it.

It’s different. Almost as if not human at all. I tilt my head to the side. Ray sort of has the same scent. As a matter of fact, Billy came to mind earlier when Kendrick introduced me and the others to Ray.

I knew Ray reminded me of someone, but I couldn’t nail it right away. Then Billy’s face popped into my head. I don’t want to be a dick and say all Black women look alike, so I shook the thought off.

“Well, look at you. Getting high in the basement of our building as if you don’t have an apartment right upstairs,” she says with a sleepy grin.

“You plan on booking me?”

“Not if you’re willing to share. I haven’t been home since last night. I want a shower I can’t have and something greasy and comforting to fill my belly that I know I don’t have in my fridge.”

“Why can’t you have that shower? Where have you been since last night? Hot date? You’ve been cheating on me, baby girl?”

I should feel guilty for flirting now that I know my mate could be on her way, but there’s something about this woman. Her scent is driving me fucking crazy.

“I wish. I would much rather have been on a date than where I was. We’d have to be dating for me to cheat,” she says and rolls her eyes.

“You going to tell me what’s going on with your shower? You need to come use mine?”

“Not going to happen,” she scoffs. “Something is going on with the water pressure in my place. I was going to call maintenance first thing this morning, but I’ve been in an interrogation room since last night.”

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