Page 39 of Intent to Kill
“Remember who you’re talking to,” Paul said, giving her the older brother stare.
Fuck, it was not her night.
“That won’t get in our way,” Mercedes said. “I have no feelings for Adam.”
Paul arched his brow and she sensed she wasn’t getting away with the usual shut down response she’d grown so comfortable with over the last five years.
“I’m still angry.”
“He had to leave. He had no choice,” said Paul, empathy in his eyes.
She wished Paul would just shut up. She knew the stakes. Losing an epic love, like hers and Adam’s, ripped away part of your soul with it. She’d never get it back. It’d always belong to him.
“There were plenty of choices. Hard choices, but choices nonetheless,” Mercedes said. “And he left us to make them all.”
Inclining her head, Mercedes nodded toward the familiar silhouette of her tiny, black-haired, spicy friend. “There she is.”
Paul and Mercedes left the van and headed across the street, stopping to let cars pass before approaching the dark space out the back of the Neptune Club.
“Tia?” Mercedes called out.
Whipping around with her keys between her fingers, Tia shouted, “What the fuck do you–... Oh, damn! Mercedes, is that you?” Her expression instantly softened.
Mercedes hugged her friend. “How are you, Tia?”
“Not as good as you, honey. Look at that diamond.” She leaned down to admire the six-carat diamond on Mercedes’s finger. “So, what’re you doing here? And who is your handsome friend?” Tia waved.
“Tia, you remember Paul,” Mercedes said, laughing in surprise.
“Paul!” Tia realized. “You grew up nice.” She ran her hands along her red miniskirt to secure her fishnet stockings.
“I’m taking it you’re not here for my services,” Tia said.
“No, but it’s not a social call either. We need a favor. A big one.”
“Of course, you do,” Tia said, eyes stiffening. “I don’t hear from you in months and now you want something.”
“I know, it’s a shame we can’t meet under better circumstances.”
“Do I want to know?”
“Probably not,” Mercedes said.
Tia held up her finger to shush them as some of her girls went past to greet her. When Tia gave the okay, Mercedes continued. “We want to make you an offer... to stop working for Dorian Blake and come work for us instead.”
“Don’t the both of you work for Dorian Blake anyway?” Tia raised her brow.
Mercedes looked back at Paul for guidance and then again to Tia. “Not exactly.”
“Fucking hell,” Tia sighed as she realized. “What the fuck, Mercedes? What are you up—actually, don’t tell me, I don’t want to fucking know.” Tia started pacing away, pushing past the litany of girls only just arriving. Mercedes and Paul followed her up the street.
“We need your help,” Mercedes said, chasing her.
“Why would I help you? Especially with this.”
Tia stopped and turned with her hands on her hips, almost demanding of an explanation, but Mercedes’s mind drew a blank.
“Bigger cuts of your earnings,” said Paul. “An even split. Fifty to you, fifty to us. No more paying the Blake’s more money than they need.”
