“Well, it just so happens that I know who and where Z is.”
“Hell yeah! We can get down to the bottom of who this damn ringleader is for the Cobras.”
“Nah, Jay has already been with him the past ten hours and he don’t know shit. He was reporting to either June or Manny.”
“Dammit. If Aunt Jenny knew you had her baby boy Jay in the warehouse with you, she’d be having a conniption. That’s my word of the day, by the way.”
“I’m taking Addison with me,” I blurted out.
The proud grin on Ayzo’s face dissolved as his eyes widened.
I rubbed the back of my neck as I stood up from my chair. “She came to my office earlier today and wanted me to pretty much kill this person she calls Mr. L, who was going to sell her as a mail order bride.”
“Whoa! What the fuck?”
“Exactly!” I exclaimed, pacing in front of my desk. “I have been blessed to have never run across a trafficker, but now that one is within my grasp, I most definitely want to fuck him up. However, I don’t trust her. She still has the phone with the video of me handling Dash. Granted, she thinks that Seojun and Mr. Adalyn are two different people because I never showed my face in the video, and she didn’t recognize my voice. Then again if she wanted to turn in the phone to the police, she would have done so already, right?”
I stopped and glanced at Ayzo who had his head slightly tilted and examining me. My heart raced in my chest and the room felt as if the air was thinning out. I then realized that I was rambling. Why the fuck did I start rambling as soon as I brought up Addison and, why the hell was my heart pounding? I swear not even two minutes ago, I was cool and chill, but the mere mention of her name has me prattling on like an anxious little bitch.
I exhaled a long breath as I calmed myself down. “Anyway, I was going to show her my plans for Z.”
A puzzled look flashed across Ayzo’s face before he opened his mouth to speak, but I rose my hand up.
“I want to take care of the person that’s selling her because he’s a fucking human trafficker and he needs to be buried under the dirt, but I also need to see if she can be trusted. If she tries to run or go to the police after she sees what I’m going to do to Z tonight, then I’m gonna put her in a shallow hole and she won’t have to worry about being somebodies bride.”
“And if she doesn’t run?” Ayzo asked
“Then I’m keeping her in my protection until we get rid of her problem.”
Ayzo squinted his eyes as a playful smirk spread across his face. “You sure that’s the only reason you’re keeping her around?”
“What does that mean?”
Ayzo grinned as he spread his arms across the back of the couch. “I know you very well, cousin, and I know that you will do anything to make Uncle Chul-Moo proud.”
I scoffed. “Your point?”
“Well, I already saw you looking at Addison’s picture in a way that was not business related. Not to mention, uncle wants you to bring a legitimate heirthrough marriage. So, the fact that you’re attracted to this woman who just so happens to have Reaper blood is very telling.”
“You got to be kidding me.”
“What? You save her and she saves you. Win-win.”
I blankly stared at him before heading out the door. I could hear him burst into laughter, but I ignored him. Was my cousin making sense? Yes. Was I going to entertain the idea? No. Well, maybe. I mean, if I were to marry Addison, that would void the deal she had with Mr. L since I would take over guardianship for her grandmother. I’d make sure to pay off all the past due bills, and sign the rights over to Addison. She’d be helping me by holding up my end of the contract with the Reapers since she was one. I mean, she didn’t know it, but her grandfather was the former leader. I’m sure they would accept her with opened arms.
I shook my head, dismissing the crazy plan. I couldn’t marry her. I mean, I doubt she would want to get out of one marriage deal just to jump into another one. No, I’d just have to find someone else. My interactions with Addison from here on out would be strictly business. I didn’t understand why I became so anxious and giddy when speaking about her a moment ago, but I was just chalking it up to my exhaustion. Yeah, that’s it. I just needed a nap.
Chapter 21
Addison
“Damn girl! You haven’t even been gone for a day, and you already have a date tonight?” Akira asked, examining me through the phone.
I shook my head and chuckled as I finished putting on my eyeliner. I was sitting at the vanity in my hotel room and had my phone propped up on the mirror.
“Girl, it’s not even like that.”
“So, let me get this straight.”
