Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
I wanted answers, but I also needed my brother not to be suspicious. And I was just not the kind of man who changed plans once I roped someone else into them. So I took the SUV, and he grabbed his bike, and we went to the home improvement store, gathering paint, wood, a patch kit (because whoever had the room before Croft had either punched or fucked someone into the wall by the bed), and various tools I was going to need to bring my idea to life.
“Why don’t you head back? I think I’m gonna go take a run by the beach before I head back.” I was taking a risk there. When we lived in Puerto Rico, Croft and I ran on the beach pretty much every day. I was putting my faith to rest in the fact that since we came back to the States, Croft developed more of a fondness for indoor exercise instead of dying in the heat with me.
“Yeah, have fun with that.” Croft peeled off, none the wiser about my actual plans.
I waited to make sure he was way ahead of me before turning the SUV in the direction of Navesink Bank.
And right to my cousin’s place.
“Rune,” Junior greeted me, brows pinched, when I got to the door of the warehouse home. “Can’t imagine you’re dropping in for coffee and danishes.”
“No.”
“Good. Because I’m fresh out of danishes.”
He stepped out of the way.
Junior was a cousin by the friendship of our moms, not actual blood, like with all of my cousins. He was tall and fit with dark blond hair and blue eyes. He looked more like a bodybuilder than what he actually was: a hacker. A really good one, considering his mom had been one before him, and his godmother was one as well.
And I needed help from one.
“Let me guess,” Junior said, dropping down in his office chair and turning to face me as I sat on his couch. “You have a job for me and I can’t talk to anyone else about it. Especially the club.”
“Been here before, huh?”
“You’d be surprised how often one of the cousins darkens my doorstep.”
“You’ve got my discretion. So, what’s going on? Is this the shady shit you were involved with while you were away coming to bite you in the ass?”
“I don’t know what it is.”
Junior leaned back, making the chair creak.
“You’re in the vault here. The more I know, the more likely it is that I can help you figure it out.”
“Alright. Last night, a woman walked through the front doors of the clubhouse, asked for me by name, and when I told her she was looking for me, she raised a gun and…”
Junior’s gaze tracked over me.
“Well, you’re not shot.”
“Well, she clearly wasn’t a pro.” I sighed. “She was shaking like a fucking leaf, but there was a determined look in her eye.”
“How’d you talk her out of it?”
“I didn’t. Perish and Dezi showed up, so I grabbed her and the gun and stopped them from seeing what was going on.”
“Didn’t want her dead. Though, I doubt Dezi or Perish would have shot first.”
“Didn’t wanna take a chance. She was in no shape to make a rational decision. It would have been risky.”
“Let me guess, she got away before you could get any information about her.”
“Yep. All I got is this,” I said, reaching to pull out the gun. “And that she was parked down the block. There should be some footage you can get. Like I said, she’s no mastermind. I doubt she knew enough to cover or change out her plates.”
“Alright. I’ll get on it. What’d she look like?”
“Dressed all in black. Tall, kind of athletic, but still feminine. Dark hair pulled back.”
“Got it. Say I find her name quickly, you want that right away, or do you want me to draft up a file on her first?”
“Name and address as soon as you can.”
“Got it. I’ll start as soon as you head out.”
“Thanks. I’ll get you cash as soon as I get to the bank.”
“I know you’re good for it.” Junior paused, watching me for a second. “You alright?”
“Yeah. I mean… as alright as you can be after a stranger pulls a gun on you, I guess.”
“Why not tell the club?”
“Because there are things about my past that the club doesn’t know.”
“I figured that. But your brother was right there with you.”
“And I’ll bring him on it if I need to. I’ll bring the whole club, if that’s necessary. But I want to do the information-gathering stage on my own without a bunch of noise to worry about.”
“I get that.”
“How long do you think it will take?”
“If I can get the plates, not long at all.”
“If you can’t?”
“Longer. I mean, not being a pro is good in you not being dead right now. But it’s bad in that I would have no mugshots to run off of, no chatter about her online. Chances are, though, I will get the plates. In which case, I will likely have what you need by tonight.”