Page 84 of Blackout-

“You only mentioned the driver of the truck, but you never said what happened to the guy driving the Cadillac,” Bas adds.

My gaze volleys between Pipe and Bas as bits and pieces start to align.

“I never saw the Cadillac. It was gone by the time I got to them.”

“So, what you’re telling me is that someone intentionally drove their car into the back of my wife’s and purposely pushed her into oncoming traffic?” Jack roars.

I think back to last night and how I stared at that fucking line of coke, realizing we might’ve played this whole thing wrong. Yeah, I was almost certain the feds and the D.A. wanted the cartel. What I hadn’t considered is that the cartel would fucking want us. I killed two of their guys and put one in critical condition. We didn’t live up to our end of the deal. Javier didn’t walk away with the piece of pie he wanted.

Looking at Jack, I watch as his fists curl and his eyes darken. It’s easy to read him and I gotta tell you, piecing together what we know, I don’t think it’s that much of a stretch to consider this wasn’t a fucking accident. Maybe I’ve spent too many years trying to make sense of Jack’s head because I seem to be the only one buying the theory he’s selling.

“I don’t know, Parrish,” Pipe starts. “Could’ve just been a young kid driving his father’s car or whatever. He could’ve gotten scared when he hit Reina’s car and took off.”

I’m about to pull Jack aside to discuss his theory in private when I lift my head and spot the D.A. striding towards us with a pair of blue and whites at his side and a dozen or so ATF agents at his back.

“Fuck,” I grind out, reaching behind me to cup the back of my neck. My eyes instantly slice to Lacey and I watch as fear pours from her irises. Instinctively, she grabs her father’s hand.

“Mr. Parrish,” Ritzer greets.

“Man, you got shit timing,” Riggs says, buying time as he steps in front of the suit and his army. “His wife and son—”

“I’m very aware of the situation,” he interjects, staring at Jack. “I’m sorry about your wife, but a deal is a deal.”

“Fuck your deal,” Pipe growls.

Ignoring Pipe, Ritzer steps around Riggs and makes his way toward Jack. As Jack jumps to his feet, I kick myself for not letting someone other than Bianci in on my plan. If this motherfucker carts me away before I can secure Schwartz, I’m fucked.

“You were supposed to surrender hours ago, Jack.”

“Been a little tied up. You know, with a wife who’s fighting for her life and a son that’s terrified he’s going to lose his mother.”

“Again, I’m very sorry. It’s an unfortunate situation, but we had an agreement. Now, it’s my understanding that there might be an issue with finding care for your son. Keeping that in mind, my office has agreed to extend your time. We are giving you twenty-four hours to get your affairs in order. If you need assistance getting your son a social worker—”

“A social worker?” Lacey shrieks.

Snapping out of my fucking daze, I move to her side and drape my arm around her shoulders as I try to read Ritzer. I don’t know if he’s here to fuck with Jack or take me down. If it’s the latter, this might be the last time I feel Lacey next to me. The last time I breathe in her scent or hear her voice.

The realization is daunting, and my eyes move over her shoulder to her flat stomach.

The baby.

Jesus Christ, the baby.

“Unless of course, you have a guardian you would like to appoint to him. We could draw up the paperwork for you. Perhaps Mr. Holden has something already in motion,” Ritzer, taunts.

“Is he saying what I think he’s saying?” Lacey questions, snapping her eyes to me.

Peeling my gaze away from her stomach, I look deep into her eyes. There’s so much pain there. So much fucking fright.

“Calm down, girl,” I whisper. “Danny ain’t going anywhere.”

“Blackie’s right,” Jack declares, keeping his eyes on the D.A. “He’s staying with his father while his mother recovers.”

“Mr. Parrish—”

“Fuck you,” Jack bellows. “I don’t owe you shit. I didn’t sign nothing.”

“I don’t think you know what you’re doing,” Ritzer comments.

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