Page 130 of Cartel King

The rest of the meal is easy conversation, and their stories about Ellie show their deep devotion to her and an appreciation for what she’s sacrificed because she’s just as devoted to them. It ends on a positive note, and I’m eager to get home to Ellie.

“Give Mom a hug for all of us.” Hunt makes the request, and Will pretends to grimace.

“Call then knock.” I grin at the brothers, and they all cringe.

If I’m already mortifying them, maybe I’m already figuring out how to be a stepdad. I won them over, but I may not be so lucky with Tommaso and Tim.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Ellie

“Jorge?”

“Hi, Elodie. I came by to see if you could look at something, please.”

I’m in the kitchen grabbing a snack as the young man walks in. He called out to me and nearly scared the crap out of me. I didn’t expect anyone to come over. Thankfully, I’m not naked—which I was ten minutes ago while Enrique licked whipped cream off my nipples.

“There’s something going on here, and I’m not sure what to make of it.”

He sets his laptop up on the kitchen table and pulls up an accounting software I used for years. I slip into the seat next to him, and he turns the computer toward me. My forehead creases, and I feel my “angry elevens”—the deep grooves between my eyebrows—setting in. I got rid of them when I gave up accounting, along with the headaches they caused from squinting.

“These aren’t your family’s accounts.”

“No. They’re the Kutsenkos’.”

I skim the data in front of me and scroll down before making my way back up. I recognize routing numbers and account numbers because I set up the latter.

“The bratva’s paying the Vizzinis.”

“And I don’t know why, but that’s not what’s odd, though. I followed the money to where it wound up. I can’t figure out whose accounts these are. Do you recognize them?”

My gut screams he’s testing you, but my heart’s telling me Enrique’s nephew trusts me enough to ask my help. I’m far more conflicted than I expected. I don’t feel loyal to Tommaso, but my loyalty to my family and the organization I served demands I refuse to help Jorge. My instinct even hints I should sabotage this. But my stronger loyalty tells me to help him, and that’s disconcerting as fuck, considering all the things I’ve done to support the Vizzinis. This is rattling me, and I don’t know what to do.

“Jorge, do your uncles know you’re asking me? I don’t think they want me this involved in your family’s business.”

“TíoLuis will probably bitch about it, butTíoEnrique would agree you’re the only person I can trust to help me. I usually have no trouble tracing accounts, but this one money trail is odd.”

“Do you mind?”

“Go ahead.”

I move the computer in front of me, and I click on a few things. I feel more conflicted by the moment. It doesn’t feel right helping at the Vizzinis’ expense, but what I see makes me want to say fuck ’em.

“Jorge, I really need to speak to Enrique before I go any further.”

“What do you need to speak to me about?”

Fucking hell. These men are like fucking panthers. Stealthy as fuck. I didn’t hear the garage doors because the kitchen’s on the opposite end of the downstairs. I didn’t hear either of their footsteps either. I might be losing my edge.

“Jorge asked for my help tracking down some transactions. It involves the Vizzinis.”

“Jorge, give Ellie and me a moment, please.”

“Do you mind if I take Constantine out back? I’ll play fetch with him.”

“You’ll make a new best friend if you do.”

Jorge calls out to my dog who gladly forgets I exist when Jorge picks up one of the tennis balls from the toy basket near the sofa. I watch them head outside before I turn to Enrique.

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