Page 7 of Keeping Kasey
“He’s been working on that proposal for weeks,” James says, sitting in one of the chairs across from my desk. “Who are you going with?”
“His name is Cam, and he’s the best person for the job,” I tell him, not looking up from my laptop.
“If he’s so good, why isn’t he in the folder?”
“Because Ford thinks he’ll be difficult to work with. Cam is in high demand and selective about his clients.”
“And you’re ignoring his advice because…?”
“Because I have four firsthand accounts from associates who have worked with him before, and they all said the same thing: that he’s the best.”
His brow furrows, even as he nods. He doesn’t like that I’m ignoring Ford, but he won’t interfere. James knows me well enough to know I won’t change my mind for Ford’s sake.
“He’s reaching out today?”
I nod. “Should be right now. Is that all you came in here for?”
He rolls his eyes—a gesture he wouldn’t pull if we were in front of anyone else. In the three months since I stepped into the role of family boss, James has settled into the underboss position with ease. No one knows me better than my twin, which makes him the perfect right-hand man.
“I came to remind you that we’re leaving early tonight. Elise is cooking, and she’s very excited.”
I let my head fall back against my chair. “What are the odds Moreno stays at a hotel?”
“Zero, but I did have an extra bed put in Elise’s room,” he says with a grin. “Figure that should be message enough.”
I breathe a laugh, but it’s half-hearted. As much as I love seeing my sister, I despise her fiancé.
Joshua Moreno has been an enemy of this family since he came into power. He made himself all the more detestable when he kidnapped Elise earlier this year with demands to claim parts of our territory.
Our own brother, Mason, orchestrated the entire scheme to take down our family and the Morenos—an endeavor that cost him and our father their lives and left us with two jobs to do.
Find the source of Mason’s funding.
Find the traitors who aligned with him.
The Morenos focused on Mason’s funding since there was compelling evidence that the leak came from their bases. Our family committed to finding the traitors by locating thecommunications program Mason used to relay information to them.
As if there wasn’t enough to deal with, when we finally got Elise back, she’d fallen for the bastard who took her. What she callslove,I call Stockholm Syndrome, but it’s led to an alliance between our families nevertheless.
They’re coming to visit and bring Damon home.
Damon was approximately seventeen years overdue for rehab. Our father had claimed for years that it was too dangerous to risk exposing a weakness within our family, but it was my first act as family boss.
I realized what Dad never did—that the real weakness was not getting Damon the help he needed.
After two weeks at the most discreet rehab center in California, he moved in with Elise and Moreno to ease back into everyday life—under strict conditions. Damon couldn’t participate in any Moreno family business, had to check in with James or me every day, and could only stay for two months.
After six weeks, he’s decided to return and reclaim his place as a capo—a captain in our ranks.
Two weeks ago, the Morenos successfully located and rectified the leak in their supply chain that funded Mason’s efforts, but in the three months since the night that took Mason and Dad’s lives, we’ve made no progress locating the communications program.
Which is why I can’t go with Ford’sgoodhackers.
I need the best.
Cam might not be an easy person to get ahold of or work with, but I can’t afford to waste another day searching for these traitors.
“I’m not sticking around after dinner,” I tell James. “Matteo and I are going to Neons. You are welcome to join us.”
