Page 23 of Bratva Wolf

“Hm.”

His phone buzzes on the table, and he turns it over to check.“I’d love to meet your woman.”

“Not sure she’s a woman I want you to meet, yet.” Need to get him off the idea of Red. I don’t trust any of them.

“Of course.” He stands and moves to my side of the booth, setting his hand on my shoulder. “Nothing like this will ever happen again. I give you my word.”

I nod. “tvoye slovo - zakon.” Your word is your bond, more or less.

“It is.”

I raise my hand to shake his. He smiles as he shakes my hand, then he turns, collecting his man, and leaves the diner.

Crazy fuckers. I take out my phone as I stand to leave, tossing a twenty-dollar bill on the table. “Papa?”

“Thane.”

“I just met with Marco Aguilar.”

“I wondered. Fingers said he just got to town.” Damn that hacker is fast.

“Keeping tabs on me or the cartel?”

“Whatever I fucking want.”

“Yes, Papa. He seems remorseful about Jose’s hit on Cynric and Isabella. We talked about Uncle Daniel.”

“Arturo was often concerned Isabella’s mother wouldn’t be the right person to keep her. He was right. I dismissed his comment because they don’t take care of their women.”

I take a breath. “How’s Cynric?”

“Angry but recuperating. You’ll need to apologize.”

“I will.”

“You’re still on my shit list.”

“I know. I’ll be scarce for a while.”

“That’s good. Contact me if Marco or any of the others reach out.”

“Yes, Papa.”

He hangs up and I stand next to my SUV thinking about theAguilars. I wonder who’s going to take Jose’s place in New York?

Chapter 6

THANE

Red stands on the edge of the sidewalk with her backpack on her shoulder, looking like the petite waif she is. She opens the door.

“I would have opened that.”

She beams at me as she settles into the passenger seat. “I know. Where are we going to lunch?”

Movement behind the SUV catches my eye. I can’t tell for sure that he walked Red to the curb. “Was someone with you?”

“A guy from my class walked me to the curb before he headed off.”

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