Page 17 of The Toy Collector

Cy’s not done yet, though. And while he weaves through the traffic, speeding toward the hotel Jacobs is holed up in, he doesn’t hold back.

“Seriously, Enzo. I was two seconds from just smashing that fucking window and dragging you through it,” he states.

“I know,” I reply. We both know he could have tried, but if I refused to go with him, there wasn’t much he could do. “I’m here now. That’s all that matters.”

He turns his head to me, arching an eyebrow. “All that matters? What the fuck’s the matter with you, man? It’s not like you were out getting your dick wet.”

“Careful, Cy,” I growl.

Shaking his head, he turns his attention back on the road ahead. “I don’t think I’m the one who needs to be careful,” he argues. “Maria was so shaken I sent her home and told her to take a few days.”

“You did what?”

“If you’re about to school me on the fucking hierarchy, save it. She was fucking sick to her stomach, Enzo. She should never have been the one watching out for Jacobs. This shit is on you.”

That stings, mostly because it’s true. Maria’s been with me for years, and she’s as loyal as they come. And while she’s handled sticky situations before, shit like what she’s seen tonight isn’t on her usual list of tasks.

I think it’s time for Maria’s next raise.

“I’ll apologize to her tomorrow,” I sigh. “You’re right, I shouldn’t have ignored my phone.” Cy nods sharply, but wisely refrains from rubbing it in.

I stay still, my mind already dissecting how to deal with Jacobs. As much as I want to kill him tonight, that would be unwise. There are protocols to follow when dealing with public figures.

“Soooo,” Cy says, dragging out the word while taking a sharp left that almost has the car on two wheels. A car horn sounds behind us, but we’re already long gone. “How do you want to play this?”

A dark chuckle escapes me. “No play. We need to keep him mostly injury free until he can resign.”

Cy nods. “Yes. But that doesn’t answer my question.” He inhales sharply. “The fucker needs to pay for what he’s done.”

“Once he’s resigned publicly, you can do whatever the fuck you want,” I reply. “But, Cy, Jacobs needs to step down before you have your fun.” This is an important fact to stress since Cy’s known to get caught up in the moment.

His eyes light up like Christmas came early. “This is why I stick with you,” he grins wickedly.

“I mean it,” I grumble. “Jacobs can’t be in front of the cameras with bruises and lacerations. I need a clean exit.”

Cy reluctantly agrees. Then proceeds to explain that some of his men are already stationed around Jacobs’ suite, making sure he isn’t going anywhere. I already expected all of that, it’s who he is. So I just nod while he catches me up.

The drive from Velvet & Rye tonight to The Ritz is blissfully short. Thanks in most part to Cy’s reckless driving which cuts the usual twenty-minute drive down to only thirteen minutes.

As the car comes to a screeching stop outside The Ritz-Carlton, I crack my neck before jumping out, practically sprinting inside with Cy hot onmy heels.

When I walk into that suite, I won’t be Enzo. I won’t even be Lorenzo. I’ll be motherfucking consequence, and it’s not nice to meet me.

Instead of walking around the hotel to use the back entrance, we purposefully rush into the lobby. Neither of us pay attention to the receptionist or bellhop as we head straight for the elevator.

“I fucking hate this music,” Cy gripes while angrily jabbing the button for the eighteenth floor while the doors close.

Huh, I would have guessed the Senator to occupy the Presidential Suite.

“Me too,” I sigh.

As we hit the floor we need, the doors open and Cy edges around me, exiting first. And I let him because if the Senator isn’t alone, his men might recognize me and alert him.

We’re immediately greeted by a guy I’ve seen plenty of times, but for some reason his name eludes me. “He’s still in there,” the guy says. Then he holds up a small, white plastic card. “Who wants to do the honors?”

Cy cracks his knuckles before snatching up the key card. “Thank you. Make sure you get the girls as soon as we’ve apprehended the Senator. Is medical on standby?”

The guy nods. “There’s an ambulance waiting outside,” he informs us. “It’s ready to take them to Inova Fairfax Hospital.”

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