Say Goodbye (Romantic Suspense #25) by Karen Rose

            “It’s cleared?” DJ asked, stunned.

            “It will be. I can’t have one of my top men hiding from the cops. If you’re going to be in the top tier of my organization, you have to be able to rub elbows with the politicians.”

            DJ frowned. “What does that mean?”

            “It means I’d planned to promote you, asshole,” Kowalski snapped. “Jesus, maybe I should reconsider. You’re sounding stupid today.”

            “Just tired,” DJ said. “Sorry.”

            “Yeah, well. I need you to run an errand for me.”

            “What kind of errand?” DJ asked warily.

            “The kind I need run,” Kowalski snapped again. “Pick up a package for me. I’ll text you the address. When you’ve picked it up, let me know and I’ll send you my address. Come to the house. We’ll talk about your promotion.”

            DJ blinked. He’d never been invited to Kowalski’s home before. He didn’t even know where the man lived. “Of course. Send me the package pickup address.”

            “Don’t disappoint me again, boy. I’m giving you another chance. Do not fuck it up.”

            I’m not your damn boy. “I won’t,” DJ promised, swallowing back his irritation.

            A minute later, an address in Stockton popped up in a text. Along with: Don’t fuck it up.

            “Asshole,” DJ muttered. But he couldn’t really blame Kowalski for being angry. He had dropped the ball with Mrs. Ellis. Good thing I cleaned out the house.

            The cops could search all they wanted. They weren’t going to find anything of his.




MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA

            THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2:50 P.M.

            “This is the place,” Daisy said from the back seat. “Sal Ibarra a.k.a. Sergio Iglesias’s tattoo parlor. Made it with ten minutes to spare.”

            Gideon was searching the street, gun in hand, as it had been for the entire trip. “What’s your plan again?”

            Liza hadn’t been pleased when Daisy’s VW Beetle had pulled into Irina’s garage with Gideon’s Chevy Suburban following behind her, but he’d promised he would only be involved in a civilian role and that he wouldn’t frighten the tattoo artist by questioning him. He was there as protection, firmly stating that while he couldn’t stop Liza from driving to Monterey on her own, Daisy would not be joining her without him.

            The more Liza had considered it, though, the more relieved she’d been. She hadn’t been afraid for herself, but she’d never be able to live with herself if Daisy somehow got hurt. So Liza had driven Gideon’s Suburban while Gideon had ridden shotgun, making sure that no one had followed them. Daisy sat in the back with her rifle ready.

            They had Liza’s back and she was grateful. “I was going to ask him about the person he tattooed with the Eden design and hope he doesn’t run from me, too.”

            “And then you’re going to ask him to tattoo you,” Gideon said flatly. “I still think this is a bad plan.”

            “Which part?” Liza asked. “The part where I ask him about the Eden tattoo, or getting a tattoo?” She’d told them about wanting the tattoo before they’d left Irina’s house, because that would add a few hours to their trip.

            “Both parts.” Gideon shook his head. “Why are you getting a tattoo today? From this guy?”

            “Because Liza is a nice person,” Daisy answered for her. “She thinks he needs the money because he left his old tattoo business behind when the Feds scared him to death. And he’s got a little kid, so they probably need the cash.”

            “I guess so,” Gideon said begrudgingly. “But why do you want a tattoo today?”

            Liza pulled her sketch from her handbag and handed it to him. “This is what I want done.”

            “It’s a memorial tattoo,” he said quietly, all irritation gone from his voice.

            Liza thought of Fritz, of how he’d given his life for her. “For the friends I lost. And . . .” She drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. “And for my husband, who died saving my life.”