Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83430 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83430 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
“If you’re not here to kill me, what are you doing here?” He looks between us and the shrewd manipulator and planner starts to show itself. “I’m guessing not to punch my bouncer in the face.”
“We need something from you.” Brenden’s voice is clipped and matter-of-fact. It’s business time and he’s all in. “Tallie and I have a game running, but Arsen’s on our ass. If he catches us before we get what we need, we’re all fucked, including you.” He pauses for that to sink in. “It’s time we pool resources.”
Sam spreads his hands magnanimously. “Whatever is mine, brother-in-law, will also be yours. Ask and ye shall receive and all that shit.”
“The Davises.” Brenden jerks his head back toward the door. “They have grandsons, don’t they?”
“You mean the arms dealers?” Sam grabs a book and flips it open. “They sure as hell do have devil spawns. Randolf and Peter Davis. Here, let me see…” He squints at the writing. I can’t read it upside down. The page looks like it’s covered in alien scrawl. “They’re not here tonight, but they come more often than not.”
“How much do they owe?”
“Enough. A lot. Randolf’s not a bad player but Peter…” He clucks his tongue. “Peter’s dumber than rocks. What do you two need with those idiots?”
“We need information on the Davis family home. Have you been there before?”
“Once or twice. I can go again—“
“No,” I say instantly and put a hand on Brenden’s arm. “Absolutely not.”
“But if you need—“
“You aren’t getting more involved than you already are and I’m not arguing about it.”
Brenden touches my fingers lightly. “What your sister means is, if you can give us the layout of the house and anything you know about the grandparents, that would be good. We’re looking for a safe. Something high-tech where they’d likely keep important documents.”
“I might be aware of somesuch safe, and I’d be happy to show you—“
“No,” I say emphatically.
And Brenden backs me up. “Information only, and only what you already have. Arsen’s got his eyes on you which means we can’t risk you doing more. You won’t contact the Davis boys. You won’t do anything out of the ordinary. Assume all your electronics are under surveillance too.”
“Please, my op-sec is solid, there’s no way—“
“Alexan Sarkissian is one of the most talented information technologists in the world. If you have a phone, he cracked it. You’re tapped.”
Sam’s face pales. “Alright, I’ll keep that in mind.”
“What can you give us about the house?”
My brother wipes two hands down his face, takes a third shot, and flips open a book to a blank page, where he starts to draw.
It’s a good diagram. Brenden leans over and they discuss the details. Sam adds what he can, though he clearly hasn’t been in every corner of the place. By the end though, Brenden seems to think we have enough.
“Be careful,” I say, hugging Sam tightly. “And don’t worry about us. No matter what you hear, we’re fine.”
“What did you two do, anyway? Seriously, is Arsen watching our house because of me? Or is it because of you?”
I don’t bother answering. “Just be careful, okay? We’re working on it.”
Brenden leads us back out into the game room, which is now noticeably louder as the free drink tops off blood alcohol levels. Jason’s sitting at the cramped bar with an ice pack on his face and blood down his shirt, glaring as we walk past. Sorry, I mouth to him, and he flips me off. Fair enough.
“We’re going to put this right,” Brenden says once we’re back out on the street. He takes my hand like it’s an impulse, and one that I like, but I don’t share his optimism. Meeting with Sam and seeing him afraid put a stone in my guts. I don’t know how to get it back out.
“What happens if we mess up? If we don’t get the other ledger?”
“I’ll get it.”
“But what if—“
“I’ll get it, Tallie, and if I don’t, I’ll come up with some other way to protect you and your family.” He stops and faces me. His face is hard as he grips my arms and leans in closer. It’s dark where we are under a broken street lamp. “I dragged us into this, and I’m going to make sure we can get out of it. I swear, baby, no matter what, you’ll be okay. Sam will be too.”
“You don’t know that.”
“But I do.” He says it grimly, like the options aren’t good. “You’re trusting me, right?”
“I am, but—“
He kisses me. His mouth is firm like he doesn’t want to hear any more arguments, and if I’m honest with myself, I don’t want to make any more. I kiss him back before he leads me away from the bar, leaving my nervous brother behind, hoping that’s not the last time I see him.