Page 104 of Hart of Vengeance
A slow smile emerged as my muscles loosened. “Never better. I owe you, bro.”
“You don’t owe me shit. It was easy to get Ted on board. He and his gang unit have been wanting to take down Alvarez for a long time. And Agent Travers didn’t protest either. What do you think he’s saying to Duke now?”
Travers looked as though he were reading Duke the riot act, and my brother wasn’t showing any signs he was the least bit frightened.
“He’s throwing out threat after threat after threat,” I said. After all, that was Travers’s MO. Jade was still immersed in conversation with Ted, as was Mallory. I scratched my wrists. The fucking cuffs were irritating my skin. “You think Jade will spend the night in jail?”
Dillon lifted a shoulder. “Not sure. But if I know Ted, unless there’s a good reason to bring her or any of you in, then he won’t waste his time. He hates paperwork.”
“Can you call Kelton just in case?”
Dillon nodded as Duke sauntered up, hands still in cuffs, while Travers stormed out.
“That went well,” Duke said, not fazed in the least about his conversation with Travers. “How does it feel to have your life back?” he asked me.
“It’s sinking in slowly.” Once I had a place of my own, a job, and Jade on my arm, then I would feel more of a sense of peace.
As if he knew what I was thinking, Duke said, “I want you and Jade to take the penthouse.”
Dillon’s jaw came unhinged.
Mine did as well. “I don’t want handouts, man.” I got the vibe he was feeling guilty.
“This isn’t a handout,” he said. “You need a place of your own until you can get on your feet.”
“He’s staying with me,” Dillon said.
I liked crashing at Dillon’s, but he was getting married, and I couldn’t impose too much longer. I could stay with Jade, or we could get our own place. “Why are you suddenly offering?”
Duke’s chest heaved. “I didn’t help you when you went to prison. I didn’t visit you. I’m sorry about that. I want to show you I’m not a complete asshole.”
A wide smile broke out on Dillon as though he were proud of Duke.
“Why didn’t you visit me?”
Duke sighed. “Honestly, to protect you. The shit I’m in brings all kinds of threats. So I didn’t want to put any of your lives in jeopardy. It might not be what you wanted to hear. You might be thinking you’re a big boy who could take care of himself, but that’s not the way I see it. I’m the older brother. I’m the one who’s supposed to protect you.” He flicked his chin at me then at Dillon. “And Grace. It kills me every day that I kept her at arm’s length. If I hadn’t, I might’ve been able to prevent what happened to her.” It sounded as though Duke was on the verge of tears, although he wasn’t showing any visible signs.
“Well, it fucking hurt, bro,” I said. “You could’ve at least taken my calls and told me that.”
Duke’s voice sounded pained when he spoke. “As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t show I care.”
I knew that feeling well, which was the reason I’d cut Jade out of my life. Apart from that, I wasn’t one to hold a grudge, and if the shoe was on the other foot, I probably would’ve done the same thing.
Dillon gripped Duke’s shoulder. “If you want to redeem yourself, start by getting out of the shit storm you’re in.”
“Walk away from the cartel,” I added in a low tone just in case anyone was listening.
Most of the other cops had cleared out.
Duke leaned in closer to Dillon and me. “If I do, you two might as well get my funeral arrangements ready because you can’t walk away from the cartel.”
I couldn’t believe I was about to ask this. “Anything I can do to help?”
He feigned a smile. “Build an honest life for you and Jade. Marry her. Have kids. And stay away from me. Both of you. Because if I screw up, my enemies are coming for you and everyone I care about.”
He’d never spoken truer words. But I had to help in some way.
“I know a dude in prison who can set you up with a new name and passport.”
