A few hours earlier~

News came as soon as Jana and I entered the secured car. We weren’t taking any chances. Like most of our vehicles in Chicago, the one we were riding in had reinforced metal and bulletproof windows. The driver was a man I recognized from our Chicago outfit, and I knew that Patrick had arranged for his temporary relocation—as well as for others from our outfit.

Patrick had also contacted an outfit—a cartel—in Denver. It would cost us, ...