Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 109695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Razor’s office door was open and I stepped inside, still holding Serenity’s hand. Joint stood beside Razor’s desk and straightened to see us. He chewed on a toothpick and crossed his arms, his face tight.
“Stone,” Razor said. “Thanks for coming. Have a seat. This shouldn’t take long.” As we sat down, he glanced at Serenity. “I don’t think we were introduced before.”
“Her name’s Sen,” Joint said. “She’s the one who told us we had to run.” He met her gaze, and his eyes narrowed. “So… do you know who the informant is?”
Her eyes widened, but she shrugged. “No.”
Joint moved to loom over her, and I rose to my feet, stepping in front of him and getting in his face. “Back off, Joint. She doesn’t know. So deal with it.”
He flinched but stood his ground.
“Joint.” Razor’s low voice held a hint of menace. With flaring nostrils, Joint stepped away from me. Razor shook his head and motioned to the door with his hand. “Get out.”
Joint’s brows rose. “What?”
“You heard me. Get. Out.”
Muttering under his breath, Joint left the room, slamming the door behind him. As Razor’s second in command, he’d just been humiliated, and I wasn’t sure Razor had done me any favors. Joint had a reputation for his brutality in the boxing ring, and could cause a lot of damage without breaking a sweat.
“Sorry about that.” Razor huffed out a breath. “He’s upset that Cash is dead. Not because he cares, but because Cash had some guns stored in his trailer, and now the police have them. He’s worried one of them might be traced back to a shooting he was involved in.”
“That’s too bad, but Cash’s death had nothing to do with us. The bomb was already set, probably for me.”
“So you think Cash’s friend double-crossed him?”
“Yes.”
“Makes sense. So have you got any clues about who this friend is?”
“The only thing we have right now is the name Johnny. Do you know someone by that name?”
Razor’s brows rose. “Johnny? That’s interesting, because Joint mentioned that Cash met with someone named Johnny. But that’s all he said. Does this Johnny person go by a gang name?”
“If he does, I don’t know what it is, but maybe I’d better have a chat with Joint.”
Razor shrugged. “Maybe… but I’m sure he has nothing to do with your business… he’s loyal to me. In the meantime, is there anything you can tell us about the informant that’s got Joint so upset?”
I knew that was the real reason he wanted to talk to me. “My source in the police department doesn’t want me involved. But if I were you, I’d tell Joint and his drug dealers to take some time off and see what shakes out.”
Razor nodded. “I appreciate the info. But I’m afraid Joint won’t be too happy for you to leave without giving him a name. Maybe you could make a deal. The name of the informant for what Joint can tell you about Johnny. What do you say?”
I glanced at Serenity, and she pursed her lips. “We can’t give you a name, because we don’t have one.”
“That’s too bad.”
I shook my head. This was not going the way I wanted. “I might be able to find out, but I need a favor from you first.” Serenity jerked her head in my direction. I patted her knee and she relaxed.
Razor’s brows rose. “I can get behind that.”
“Good.” I sat forward in my chair. “I need to draw out Cash’s killer. If this Johnny person somehow found out that I would be here at a certain time, it’s possible he’d show up.”
Razor’s brows rose. “You want me to spread the word, and then use my shop for a meeting? I don’t know. The last two places he knew about got blown up.”
“I’d make sure I caught him long before it went that far. We can figure out all the details later.”
Razor’s eyes narrowed. “And you’d give me the name in return?”
“If I can get it. But if not, I have something else you might like better.”
“Like what?”
“Mr. Vanetti has a deal he’d be willing to offer you. I can’t go into the details right now, but if I tell him what you’re doing for me, I’m sure he’d be happy to generously compensate you.”
Razor stared at me before dipping his head. “Fine. I agree.”
“Good. I’ll let you know later today.”
Razor rose to his feet, and I stood as well. I motioned for Serenity to go ahead of both of us. She stepped into the hall and hurried through the garage like her life depended on it. I had to hurry to keep up, and didn’t realize that the men were missing until we got outside.
Joint and three of his crew stood in front of her car, blocking our way. It surprised me that one of them was Grizzo. Serenity stopped short and backed into me. I stepped in front of her, moving her behind me.