Hearts and Aces (Kelsey's Burden Series Book 7) by Kaylie Hunter (great books for teens txt) 📗

I walked over and threw myself into one of the deck loungers. I was quiet for a few minutes. Shipwreck sat in the lounger next to me, waiting for me to speak. I put out my cigarette before turning to face him. “Sorry I blew up at you. Makes total sense if you did think I was a slut. Hell, maybe I’m an accidental slut.”

“Bridget explained that you didn’t know Bones and Wild Card were friends when you started things with Bones. She also said the relationship with Grady happened after a lot of heavy shit went down.”

“I’ve really fucked up,” I said, staring at the place where Wild Card had disappeared from view. “I didn’t even realize…”

“You know now,” he said, shrugging. “From what I’ve seen in the last twenty-four hours, I’m surprised you can even remember your own name. I also get the feeling that the last twenty-four hours barely register on your life’s disaster scale.”

“Are you saying I’m a magnet for trouble?”

“Nope. You know what you’re doing. This problem with the cartel wasn’t your problem, but you took it on because it involved someone you cared about. The mess with your son, you ran that like a boss. It hurt. It got dirty. It got downright bloody, but you fought your ass off for him. You’re not a magnet for trouble. You’re a goddamn superhero. Superheroes need a personal life too, though. Make time for yours.”

“I’ll get right on that.”

“Kelsey,” Bridget called, opening the slider door. “Charlie’s on the phone.”

Shipwreck laughed. “Have Bridget pencil it in on your calendar.” He got up and followed the route that Wild Card had taken.

“What am I supposed to put on your calendar?” Bridget asked as I walked toward her.

“Time to fix my personal life,” I said as I took the phone.

Bridget bit her lip. “Maybe I can squeeze in a half an hour after dinner.”

I rolled my eyes. “Hey, Kid.”

“You in the middle of something?”

“Always.”

“You okay?”

“Did you know Wild Card was still in love with me?”

“Everybody knows that.”

“Shit.”

“Do we have to talk about boys? I mean, I’m here if you need me, but I’m drowning in this quality cuddle-time crap. I’ve been secretly thinking of ways to set Kierson’s house on fire—preferably while he’s sleeping.”

“I’m really glad I know you well enough to know that you’d never actually murder him.”

“Okay. Maybe set the house on fire when he’s at work.”

“That sounds probable,” I said, laughing lightly. “Speaking of Kierson, why were you two fighting about coffee creamer?”

“Don’t get me started! How was I supposed to know that caramel vanilla creamer was the only kind he likes? The container said coffee creamer! And when he wouldn’t let me throw it away because it was a waste of money—I showed him. I drank it!”

I laughed. “How sick did it make you?”

“Worst diarrhea of my life. My ass is still burning.”

When I stopped laughing, I asked, “Any updates on our cocaine slinging cartel?”

“Lots. Did you read what I sent earlier?”

“Been trying to get to it, but I keep getting interrupted.”

“Let’s start with the brother: Miguel Remirez. He was the middle son out of three. He went to college in California and earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration. He has extensive investments outside of the family’s umbrella that are almost as lucrative as their illegal business.”

“Interesting. What happened to the older brother?”

“The older brother died in a car bomb four years ago. His wife and child were in the car with him.”

“Sucks. What about ma and pa Remirez?”

“Papa Bear died when Miguel was a teenager. Shot outside a village. Not many details were available except that two women were also killed. Both were reported to have been raped and tortured.”

“Papa Bear was up to no good and someone put an end to him.”

“That’s the picture I was getting, yes.”

“Mama Bear?”

“Committed suicide six months after Papa Bear died.”

“Who raised them after their parents died?”

“Their uncle.”

There was a long pause while I waited for her to say more but she was silent. “If you’re going to make me beg, I’m hanging up.”

“You’re bitchy today.” She paused again, likely waiting for me to laugh. When I didn’t, she sighed and continued, “The uncle became their guardian. Rumor has it that he was even more brutal than his deceased brother, but when Miguel returned from college, suddenly the uncle disappeared. Shortly thereafter, Miguel started the legit businesses. He appointed Santiago as the face of the family cartel, but Miguel is still in charge. Santiago handles the daily activities of the cartel while Miguel grows the legitimate businesses. He’s good, too. The way Miguel conquers one business after another reminds me of you ten years ago.”

“I’m still in the game. I haven’t retired.”

“You’re slowing down.”

“I’m rich. I made you rich. I made your future unborn children rich. I’m allowed to slow down. You have nothing to bitch about.”

She laughed. “As far as the uncle—”

“Yeah, yeah,” I said, cutting her off. “One of the boys killed him. It doesn’t take a profiler to figure that out. Which one of them did the deed, though?”

“Either one of them is capable. Santiago is almost textbook cartel crazy. Miguel is a calculating entrepreneur who’ll do anything to succeed.”

 “When did Santiago and Miguel get married compared to the uncle’s disappearance?”

“Ooh, let’s see…” I could hear Charlie flipping through paper. “Says here that Santiago married a woman after he got her knocked up. It was a few months after the uncle disappeared. Miguel married…” I heard more pages being shuffled. “… a year to the day after his uncle disappeared.”

“How much money did Miguel make that first year after his uncle disappeared?”

“Enough. He turned a