My mouth curved down. “You’ve been hanging out with Blake too much.”
A faint grin showed on his face.
He was right, though. There was that uncomfortable shifting inside of me. Blake was the one to identify that idiosyncrasy of mine. She was right. In the past I would’ve shot two men by now from the first time Levi called me Boss.
But she made me realize that it was easier to tell him not to call me that label.
Though IwasLevi’s boss.
Levi wasn’t going to get involved between us, but he also knew that I couldn’t go see her either. Blake and I had an agreement. I wasn’t supposed to have anything to do with her. Mostly.
I wasn’t supposed to visit her. I wasn’t supposed to interfere with her life except for the one condition that I had someone watching her. That was my stipulation. It was for her safety. Her part of the agreement was that she wouldn’t run from me.
I sent a text to one of my men who’d been instructed to keep eyes on her.
Me: Real time images.
Then I addressed the two heads that ran this city. “Thank you for coming to my nightclub.”
Tristian West scoffed, a half laugh, while Ashton Walden looked like he wanted to kill me then and there. He probably did, but that was for later. Tristian West looked like a smooth motherfucker. He had the whole bit. High cheekbones. Square jaw. Six four. A little over two hundred pounds and I’m sure most of that was muscle. Hair slicked back like a lawyer. I’d seen other pictures where his hair was a little ruffled. He looked better with it ruffled and when he looked out of control.
Though, of the two, Walden was the one who’d more likely snap.
He was similar in body to his best friend, except there was an extra fire to Walden. Dark hair. Dark eyes. He used to model, and yes, he was photogenic. I could see it now in person.
“You’re both very handsome.”
They faltered, shooting each other a confused glance.
I indicated the booth. “If you’ll have a seat? Before we get to business, please give your orders to my man. He’ll taste the drinks in front of you, if you think I’d consider poisoning you.”
“We’re not here to have drinks, Lane.” Walden growled. “This isn’t a friendly sit-down.”
“True. We’re in a war.” He was right, of course, but I’d hoped for some friendly banter before we got to the threats.
Tristian West cast a wary glance at his best friend, running a hand over his jaw before he moved into the booth first. Walden sat beside him. Both remained as close to the edge as possible.
I sat across from them.
Neither man was happy to be here, but we were still in the early stages of a war right now. This was the phase where they needed to pretend to play nice.
Neither asked for a drink.
I motioned for my man to leave. “Another person might be insulted. I offer you beverages and you refuse. Are my beverages not good enough for you?”
Ashton Walden expelled a harsh curse, jerking back in the seat. “My eyes can’t roll as high as I’d like them because that’s the biggest bunch of bullshit I’ve ever heard. You. Being insulted.” He jerked forward, the movement so abrupt and threatening that I saw Levi’s arm moving. If I’d looked, I was sure that I would’ve seen his hand on his gun under the table.
“Yes.” I smiled at him. “West reached out on your behalf. He asked for a face-to-face meeting. I suggested my nightclub. Are we not here in one of my booths? Come now. There’s dancing. Drinking. Music. This is a place for friendship. Maybe we could be friends?”
Levi shook his head next to me.
I knew what was to come when Walden had this look. I’d studied him enough. He was arming himself, getting ready to strike. West knewthis and placed his hand on his best friend’s arm. At his touch, Walden’s eyes closed. He went even more still.
I frowned. I couldn’t discern what was happening, so I asked, “Why are you so hostile toward me?”
West cursed, his head falling back.
Walden’s eyes opened to slits. “You’re fucking with me. Aren’t you? I can’t tell if you’re incredibly calculating or incredibly stupid. Which are you, Lane? We’re here because you’ve been making moves against us for a while.”
