Page 213 of Cobra
Joker lifts both hands and goes quiet.
Carter continues. “Matteo never forgets debts. Not real ones. Not ones that give him leverage over men like us.”
“What does he want?” Cain asks.
“If he wanted something obvious, he would’ve named it already,” Carter says. “That’s the problem.”
Landon’s mouth tightens. “Open favor means timing is part of the weapon.”
Dom nods. “He’ll wait until refusing costs more.”
My fingers tap once against the table. One time. Then still. I don’t like owing him.I don’t like that Olivia came back in his car, wearing his clothes, with his hands being the ones that removed that collar before mine could. I don’t like that he looked at her like he understood something about survival that had nothing to do with me. But he brought her back. So for now, he breathes easy.
For now.
Logan looks at Carter. “You keep point on him. Any move, any message, any hint he’s circling, I know.”
Carter nods. “Yeah.”
“And Brooke?” Cain asks carefully.
Carter’s face hardens. That answers enough. “He won’t touch Brooke,” Carter says.
Joker’s smile returns, thin and mean. “Not unless he’s tired of having hands.”
“Or lungs,” Blaze adds.
Carter doesn’t smile. Neither do I.
Logan taps two fingers against the table. “Matteo’s not the only thing hanging over us.”
RICO.
Nobody says it at first.
Then Dom does. “FBI pressure’s gone quieter.”
“That sounds good,” Hammer says.
“It isn’t,” Dom answers.
Logan exhales slowly. “Quiet makes me nervous.”
Cain nods. “Quiet means they’re watching from farther back.”
“Or regrouping,” Landon says.
Dom turns one screen slightly. “The investigation tied to Brynn’s brother is still active. No direct movement against us in the last forty-eight hours, probably because local attention got complicated. But nobody should mistake silence for safety.”
“No one here is that stupid,” Shadow says.
Blaze lifts a hand.
Bella would slap him if she were in the room.
I almost appreciate the attempt.
Logan points at Dom. “Keep monitoring. I want to know if they sneeze in our direction.”
