King of the Underworld by RJ Kane

Chapter One Hundred Ninety-Eight

Sephie

“Are you up for some company?” Adrik asked after I inhaled my sandwich.

“The guys are still worried?” I asked, smiling.

“All of them but Andrei. He’s probably got a new training plan made out for you already, but he does want to make sure you’re okay with everything before he starts it.” He couldn’t help but laugh.

“Bubba loves being my trainer. He’s good at his job, too.” I smiled to myself thinking about Andrei being excited for starting new things in my training. “Tell them they can come over. I don’t want to be responsible for any of them sleeping poorly tonight.”

It wasn’t five minutes later and they all walked into the penthouse.

“You guys have been waiting for me to wake up, haven’t you?” I asked as they walked into the kitchen.

“Maybe,” Stephen said, wrapping his arms around my shoulders from behind. He squeezed my shoulders, surprising me by kissing my cheek. Stephen was the least affectionate of the guys, normally. He took a while to warm up to me, but it seems like since he was able to tell the guys what’s he’s been holding back all this time, he’s gotten more comfortable in his own skin. I was happy to see it.

“Did you eat yet, spider monkey?” Andrei asked.

“If by eat, you mean inhale, then yes. Yes, I did. My soul is now returning to my body,” I said, laughing. “I can already tell I’m going to be hungry again in like an hour.”

Adrik looked at me, smirking. “Told you you’d want to eat a house.”

“It’s a real thing,” Ivan said. “We’ve all been there.”

Viktor’s phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket, looking at the number. He clearly didn’t recognize the number, so he stepped away to answer the phone.

“Super Squish, we should do your bandage while I’m awake and not eating. It’s a very small window today, we should take advantage,” I said. He nodded, laughing. He walked to the door to go get the bandage supplies from downstairs.

Viktor walked back toward where I was sitting, handing me the phone. “It’s Chen,” he said.

put it on speaker so they could all

would. I didn’t get done until super late and forgive me for not wanting to disturb your giant secretary at like

that. What did you find

trying to replace the

to sho ot anyone last night. The public thanks you for your service, Chen,” I said, trying not to laugh.

for Sal. I’m careful with both of them, like you can’t just come out and ask them what they know like you did with me, I hint around, trying to find out if he knows anything about brawn and that mo therfucker thinks I know about the plan and he proceeds

guy that works for Sal knows everything, but the guy that works for Vito doesn’t?”

Sal not only knows everything, but they’re getting a heads up when it’s going down, so they know not to sell in Sal’s area of the city. He said they’re supposed to

up to see if any of the guys had anything to add,

supposed to stay off the streets in Sal’s part of town. No selling anything in that part of town

a relationship do you have with this guy? Like, do you think he would tell you when he gets the word?”

know about everything to begin with,

a minute. “What about the guy that works for Vito and your other guy that works

pretty high up. He likely knows a lot of other dealers. The guy that works for Vito, I don’t know. Like I said, he’s really hot-headed, so I keep my time with that guy short, if you catch my

he could get word to Trino’s people, that

play by his rules. Break

laughed. “That’s not him, that’s his boss.” I looked at Adrik, who

how you know that, and yet, I don’t want to know how you know that,” Chen said.

you think there are enough dealers that are against selling brawn that would also be willing to help us try to stop this plan?” I asked.

to your cause. I’m not vouching for his aim, in other words. The other two,

still looking at Adrik, who quietly said, “Trino’s guys

Sal’s guy? What were

“I couldn’t get a good read on him. It was like he was excited about it, but I think he was more excited for getting paid to do Jack sh it over one weekend.

to you. Tell them you know Trino, if they give you sh it. If it goes any farther than that, drop my name and have them check with Trino. You’ll be fine when it comes to them. If they’re working for Armando, you’ll be fine. If they’re working for any of the other bosses,

are you into

Colombians are fine, Armando is fine, anyone else means you don’t know me. Call this number if you get in trouble. Okay?”

it. I’ll call you in a couple days once I have time to talk