The last thing I expected to see was Ana standing there yelling at the one man I’m dying to kill. Paul Banks. If there’s a man more deserving to be on the wrong end of a pistol, I haven’t met him. Which is saying something, in my line of work. My eyes narrow on the hold he has on Ana and the strange look on her face. I walk to them, anger fueling every step. There will be no saving the motherfucker now.
“I suggest you let go of my woman, Banks. Now, while you still have a hand.”
Paul turns her loose with a look of disgust. “Anthes. I didn’t realize they let scum out on the streets this early.”
“What the fuck is going on here? Ana, how do you know this weasel?” I ask, and her face blanches and goes even whiter.
“Ana and I go way back. I never figured you were one to take my leftovers, Roman. I guess you’re growing bored of sampling the women who work for you.”
I hear Ana’s gasp, but my attention has turned to the fucker in front of me. All of my attention is on Banks.
“Ana, go to the car,” I order.
“Roman, he’s lying. I never slept with him.”
“To the car, Ana,” I tell her again, showing no emotion, but I’d be a fucking liar if I didn’t admit to the fact that knowing she hadn’t been with Banks doesn’t soothe something inside of me. “Robert, escort Ana to the car,” I tell my driver. I don’t turn to make sure my order is followed. I know it will be, and I don’t trust Banks enough to take my eyes off of him. “You come near Ana again, and you’ll regret it.”
“Has the mighty Roman Anthes fallen for a pussy?”
“You heard me, Banks. You can push your weight around all you want, but you and I both know what a bottom dweller you are. Be careful you don’t end up at the bottom of an ocean.”
“Is that a threat, Anthes? Threatening cops can get you in deep shit these days,” he responds arrogantly.
“Not a threat. I don’t waste my time with threats. I’m saying you so much as sniff the wind in Ana’s direction and I’ll end you. Take that any way you want.”
“Maybe she’s the one sniffing in my direction. Trying to find a real man who—”
I strike out before he can finish, my knuckles crunching against his teeth. He goes down with a thud. Blood pours from his lip and I hope I’ve at least knocked his teeth loose.
“Ana is not on your radar. Ever. Consider this the only warning you’ll get, Banks. You might hide behind your badge, but don’t forget I know where you’ve fucking buried the bodies.”
It’s a useless warning. He signed his death warrant when he put his hand on Ana. I planned on ending him for a while; I was just holding off, not wanting to draw possible attention as long as I was talking to Kuzma, but some things a man can’t ignore.
I walk away from Banks then, pulling my phone out and calling Bruno. “Banks has overstepped for the last time. You got the number of that guy we used near Orange County? Marcum?”
“Yeah.”
“Call him. I want this fucker handled. Set up a meeting tomorrow. I have that damn charity dinner tonight.”
“You got it, boss.”
I click the phone off and walk out towards the limo. I need to find out from Ana what the fuck is really going on because I don’t believe for a minute she’s let Banks between her legs. I hope like hell I’m not fucking lying to myself.