Not facing him, I paused. “It is.”
“You killed her?”
“Doesn’t it look like it?”
Nazai chuckled. “Is there a reason why?”
This time I turned back and looked at him. Mirth filled his eyes with a crooked grin plastered on his face.
“Because she touched something that didn’t belong to her.”
He glanced at the phone again. “You know we went to her, right?”
“And she fulfilled her duties. Too bad it cost her life.” I glanced at the phone. “Let this be a lesson. Last time your neck was cut, this time a girl lost her life, next time I might have a bullet with someone else’s name on it.” My voice stayed calm and I locked my eyes on him, but my stomach roared with jealousy.
Nazai chuckled again. “No matter how threatening you try to be, your jealousy will always be sexy as fuck to me. Knowing you’d kill over me shouldn’t turn me on like it does. If I could right now, I’d have you climb on top and take me on a ride.” He licked his lips, eyeing me hungrily. My stomach exploded in excitement, goosebumps covered my arms, and between my legs throbbed with want. “Lesson heard loud and clear, wifey.”
“Good.” I cleared my throat, then spun around, rushing into the bathroom and shutting the door behind me. My heart raced, slamming against my ribcage. A tightness filled my chest when the reality of what was happening hit me. I inhaled a deep breath and swallowed hard.
I was falling for my husband.
____
“Don’t go in here reckless,” Nazai said, his eyes leveling on me then cutting them into slits.
“I don’t need you to tell me that,” I responded, matching his stare.
“Do you know how many people are inside the church?” Lucas asked from across the table.
We were at the family meeting house and it was time for us to infiltrate one of Neil’s safe spaces. Rumor had it he had been seen coming in and out of an abandoned church. It had been a week since Nazai had been shot and he finally made the call to go after Neil. I was becoming anxious, sitting around and waiting had never been my strong suit.
“Mommy would have our balls if she knew we were about to go shoot up a church,” Ezra noted with a chuckle.
“He uses it as a front anyway. It hasn’t been active in years,” Nazai said, then turned to face his youngest brother. “Emmet, pull up the floor plans.” It was unconventional, having to go shoot up a church, even if it wasn’t in use anymore.
We turned toward the screen as Emmet pulled up the floor plans. “My men have been keeping an eye on things. It looks like he keeps four guards there around the clock,” River chimed in. “Two in the front of the church. Two in the back. We estimated about four or five inside as well.”
Nazai began speaking again, but I tuned him out, studying the floor plans. The church wasn’t extra big and going in blind wasn’t exactly the best move, but we didn’t have a lot of options.
“Emmet, the parking garage across the street gives you full view to let shots off, right?” Nazai asked his brother.
“Yeah, I’ll have a clear view and will be able to keep an eye out.”
“Good. You take out the two front guards, then River, you go along the back and take the back ones out. Once that’s handled, we’ll go inside.”
“You’re still not a hundred percent. I’d much rather you sit this one out, but I know you won’t,” Lucas interrupted with a frown.
“You know me well, brother, and if anything happens, you’ll be right there to help.” Nazai grinned.
I spoke up. “I want the kill shot when we find Neil.” My nerves were running wild as if they had been electrocuted. My heart raced with anticipation. Once Neil was taken out, the Rhodes would officially be off the market and no longer an issue we had to worry about. Their operation had been shut down by Major so their funds weren’t coming in like they used to. Neil would have been smart to just leave town instead of sticking around for revenge.
Nazai turned and stared at me. I couldn’t read the look on his face, but he didn’t argue with me.
“In and out. We’ll only have a limited time before the cops come and that’s even with our contacts. Don’t bullshit around and make sure you stay on guard.”
Nazai eyed the table. Everyone looked like they were ready for business. This was the first official mission I would go on with everyone. I was used to working alone and handling things on my own so this would be new. As long as no one got in my way, I would play along.
____
