Page 78 of Carnal Wagers

“So, tell me. Why the cartel?”

He leaned back against the table, legs crossed. “There’s been an increased amount of chatter across Endgame’s channels. Some rumors say that the O’Learys killed a few of theirs. Others that the cartel plans to take full control of the Boston market.”

“We’re talking about a possible gang war?”

“Or not. I had Franc take a look at the cartel. Apparently, the O’Learys owe the cartel a large sum, and they’ve been paying it back every three months, starting six months before you got married and the O’Learys received their first deposit.”

“So, it’s all about money.” I clicked my nails on the glass tabletop.

“I say we let them fight it out. A dead husband is the same as no husband.”

I wanted him out of my life, sure, but dead? That seemed a little extreme for a man who came to my rescue last night, then fucked me into godhood. I definitely wanted a few more turns on that ride before I quit it. Plus, there was also the added headache of dealing with the O’Leary clan if we killed their leader and they found out about it.

“There’s another option.” I massaged my palms together. “We help him pay off his debt to the cartel, and then Adrien makes an annex to the contract, canceling the fifteen-year marriage provision.”

“What? By forcing him at gunpoint?”

“Violence isn’t always the answer.”

“Hasn’t he already proven you’re nothing special to him?”

“You don’t have to be a dick about it.”

“Hey,” Maeve snapped and pointed a finger at us. “I’m making a new house rule. Neither of you is allowed to piss off the other. In any language. Doesn’t matter if I can understand you or not.”

“You are stealing my little pleasures, mon ange.”

She slapped away his snaking hand. “None of your sweet-talking. Be good to my girl, or the couch will be your new best friend.”

I bit back a grin at the troubled expression on his face. Had to hand it to her, she had him trained well. Their relationship was proof that the best way to a man’s heart was never his stomach but his dick, and from the noises often coming from their bedroom, she worshipped the damn thing.

“What I meant,” he restarted in French, forcing a smile. “He refused your previous offers. Nothing’s changed. Why would he accept now?”

I threw my last knife. It hit dead center, sticking out between a pair of his.

“He refused because of pride. The money Adrien sends, he accepts because it was part of a business exchange, but he’s far too prideful to accept charity. I wager he probably doesn’t want to owe favors either, but if we phrase it as business, I’m betting he’ll take it. Business with me specifically.”

“You sure you want to give the O’Learys access to your products? You won’t have control over them if they resell.”

I shrugged. “I’ll be the seller and pose as the buyer, with the O’Learys as the intermediaries. That way, the product stays with me.”

“Exposure’s a high risk.”

“Worried?”

“Adrien will kill me if anything happens to you.”

“Doubt that. Besides, there’s no reward without risk.”

“So getting involved is your solution?”

“A little push. A little advantage.”

“You start down this path, it’ll be hard to get out. The O’Leary cartel problem will only get worse. They’re cockroaches. Once they scamper over some turf, they’re almost impossible to exterminate. Kill one, and a thousand more are ready to take their place.”

“What if I asked Endgame to handle it?”

“We’re not your private task force.”