Page 74 of The Kings of Kearny

He nodded. “I eavesdropped on one of his phone calls to an enforcer and realized what a manipulative bastard he was. After that, I never fully trusted him again.”

Okay then. “I meant, how long have you suspected his involvement in what’s going on at Magnolia Hills?”

“From the beginning,” he said. “My default is to suspect him anytime anything happens in Kearny.”

“Why?”

“Because he hates Daniel and wants him out,” Jakob said.

I grinned. I’d unraveled at least part of what was going on for myself. Go me!

“When did you start suspecting my dad?” Jakob asked.

“Not until you told me the van was bugged.”

“And now you think he’s behind everything?”

I hesitated before answering. The way he said that made me wonder whathethought. He didn’t seem totally convinced that it was his dad, just like he didn’t suspect Daniel. Maybe Jakob was a hold-all-judgment-until-the-end kind of guy.

“I don’t know what to think,” I said. “It’s not like you’ve been very forthcoming with me.”

He nodded. “I haven’t. So, tell me your theories.”

My lingering desire for him was drowned beneath a fresh wave of frustration. “Seriously? You’re still withholding, and you expect me to pour out all my half-assed guesses?”

“I don’t want to influence you,” he said. “It’s part of why I haven’t said shit to you about my suspicions.” He glanced over at me as we gained speed again. “I want to hear what you think. You’re smart, and Dad was right about your instincts; they’re good. You might have picked up on something I missed.”

Damn it. I must have been starved for affection before meeting him. That must be why his praise made my cheeks heat and my stomach do a stupid little flip.

“I have a few questions for you first,” I said, still hesitant.

“Ask them.”

“Are you actually going to answer me for once?”

A small, evil little grin lifted the corner of his lips. “Maybe.”

“You’re a real pain in the ass sometimes, you know that?”

“Only because I like what happens when I get you riled up like this,” he said, his grin widening into a full-blown smile.

I didn’t know whether to kiss him or punch him. Both seemed equally appealing. Instead, I decided to ask my questions while I had the chance.

“Do you think your dad would go so far as to have my apartment trashed and order someone to attack me in an elevator?”

Jakob didn’t look at me when he answered. All his focus was on the road as he tore out of the Kings stronghold like someone was chasing us. “The apartment, yes. By bringing you home, he’d assume things between us were serious and that wrecking your place was a good way to keep me where he wanted me.”

“Right beneath his thumb,” I said.

He nodded, downshifted, and hit the train tracks crossing back into the good side of town so fast it felt like we went airborne for a few seconds. My teeth rattled in my skull when we hit the other side, and my hip throbbed on impact.

“Mind slowing down a bit?” I ground out.

Jakob looked over, saw my pained expression, and immediately slowed the car to the speed limit.

“Sorry,” he said.

God bless men who aren’t afraid to apologize. That was twice in the span of a few minutes, and both times he sounded like he meant it.

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