Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 43444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
You didn’t know you were being watched.
Bronte’s arrival had thrown him off. If he’d known, if the hacker or Bronte herself had mentioned any of this, he would have been alert to any potential danger. Instead he’d been introducing her to his friends. She’d been walking around town by herself at night.
Did she have no sense of self-preservation at all? After what she’d already been through?
“So you’ve all ridden in to the rescue,” he said heavily. “What’s the plan then?”
James shrugged. “A simple one. We already have enough of their info to keep Mahoney on a leash for life, and Brady could take that twig of a watchdog out one-handed in his sleep. Ken has an idea about keeping the guy in Ireland off your back for good, but you’ll have to talk to him about that.”
William’s lips curled back in a snarl, his fists clenching. “What do you know about it?”
He held up his hands. “I don’t. I’m telling you what Tanaka said. That’s all.”
William wasn’t sure he believed him. “Sounds like the dynamic duo could have done this alone, cuz. So why are you really here?”
James shook his head wearily. “I told you. I hitched a ride with this posse because I owed you for getting Alex out of that clusterfuck of a situation when I…when I couldn’t.”
He’d helped James out before driving to Baltimore because, as much of an asshole as the man had been to him, he was family and he was suffering. James had more demons than his brothers knew.
And if his Alex was missing, his battles with them weren’t over. “You planning to ask the hacker for help? What about Jen’s man, Trick? I know you’ve been working a few jobs with him.”
“This is on me. I’ve got a lead, so I’ll be taking some time off and leaving from here tonight.”
He’d known that. Sensed that James wasn’t going back home. He wouldn’t until he found what he was looking for.
“Hell, man. Are you sure about this?”
“You know I am.”
He nodded slowly. Resigned. “If you get into a bad spot, you can call me again. I love a good fight and I can keep my mouth shut.”
His cousin sent him a grateful look. “I know I’ve been a bastard. To you. To everyone for the last few years. I’ve made more mistakes… And I guess I’m still going to owe you one, because I have another favor to ask.”
“Name it.”
“Tell Younger and the rest of my brothers I’m fine. That I’m following their lead but I’ll be back when I can.” He reached into his jeans pocket and handed a thick folded envelope to William. “I was going to put this in the mail but it might be safer with you. The chief of police needs to see this. It’s about Elder’s first wife.”
James and Solomon’s mother.
“He’ll know what to do with it.”
“You know your family is going to lose their shit, probably on me when I pass along your message.”
“Our family,” James corrected quietly. “And they’ll be too happy to see you to give you any grief. Especially Younger.” He chuckled. “Take care of him. I think he actually misses you.”
“Don’t act so surprised. Most people find me charming.”
“Most people are right, but I didn’t say it.” James patted his arm bracingly. “Take care of yours.”
“You do the same.”
It wasn’t the easiest road the green-eyed Finn had chosen. William wished he hadn’t chosen to walk it completely alone.
An hour had passed since his cousin left and William had been trying to work off all his restless energy. His anger. His doubt. He pounded the speed bag and imagined it was the face of the ass that approached Bronte when he wasn’t there to protect her.
People went looking for you and found your wife.
He’d left her vulnerable. It had never once crossed his mind that that part of his life would touch her, which made him a fool. Sharing his past with her was one thing, letting it taint her present was unacceptable.
No one threatened the people under his care. The people he loved. If they did, they didn’t get away with it.
Wasn’t that why he’d taken that money in the first place?
He wondered if the hacker told her about it. No matter what Tanaka learned, he couldn’t know the whole story.
William had been stepping back long before his cousins came for their visit. Fighting in smaller venues without sharing his winnings, socking a little aside until he’d nearly had enough to move his family away. To start fresh.
His boss must have sensed it, because he’d played the one card William wouldn’t be able to ignore. He’d gone after his brother and sister.
If it had been an aggressive or violent move, he would have known how to handle it. But he’d chosen subtle seduction instead. Flattering Matthew’s intelligence and showering his sister with gifts William could never afford.