“Are you investigating me, Zaney baby?” I purr, and that muscle in Ryder’s jaw immediately starts ticking. The silence on the other end of the phone is telling. “Let me put it this way, Zane. When Icatch a whiff of you in my business, I will take away anything you have left.”
“Are you threatening me, Beautiful?”
“It’s not a threat. It’s a promise. You know who I am and what I’m about.” I hear a bunch of commotion on the other end of the phone before I hear a door click shut.
“Les, I need you to listen to me,” Zane rushes out. “You need to get the fuck out of there. Now. We’re about to raid that address you gave us.”
My heart sinks; we’re only two buildings down. “When?”
“Five minutes. Tops.”
I hang up and drop the phone to the floor. Dex smashes it under his big boot. “We have to go. Now.”
“What about them?” Leo asks, gesturing around the garage.
“Let them go.” I push my Glock in the face of the first guy who was pleading with Gage. “You say a word, and I will be back. You won’t leave here alive the next time.” He nods like a bobblehead. “Grab Xander and the rat.”
Playboy whimpers when Gage jerks him to stand, Dex cuts the zip ties off the others, and they scatter out the back door. Ryder knocks Xander in the temple with the butt of his gun, knocking him out cold, then zip-ties his hands.
“What about the coke?” Ryder asks, heaving an unconscious Xander over his shoulder.
“Looks like you just got a new car,” I tell him. “Take it to the docks.”
Ryder grins like crazy, dumping Xander in the backseat. “Be careful,” he says, kissing my lips firmly.
“You too.” I turn to Dex. “Go with him.”
He jerks a nod, and folds his large frame into the too-small car. It fires up with a roar, echoing through the garage. Damn. I should have chosen that car.
Ryder slowly backs it out while Gage and Leo close the garage doors. I jump into the driver’s seat of Gage’s Range Rover; Leo and Gage cram Playboy in between them. No sooner than I hit the button to start the car, I hear sirens wailing in the distance.
“Shit,” I mutter, shoving it in drive and tearing off behind Ryder.
Five minutes my ass.
Ten minutes later,we’re sitting at the docks where my shipments come in. The shipping containers are mostly for show, but I have legit stuff shipped out of here. We pull in behind them for cover.
I look at Leo. “You good?”
“I’m good, Baby,” he says with a smile.
I look at Playboy. “Don’t try anything stupid.” He’s shaking his head before I even finish my sentence. I honestly don’t think he’ll try anything; he looks seconds from shitting himself.
“Take him to Gerald and meet us back at the house,” I tell Gage and slide out of the car.
“On it, Boss,” he replies, jumping out of the backseat. He gives me a quick kiss before climbing into the driver’s seat and taking off.
I walk over to Ryder and Dex, who dumped Xander on the asphalt unceremoniously. I send a quick text to Gerald to tell him I’ll explain later and just keep an eye on Playboy.
“Morning, Xan,” I greet when Xander groans. Ryder roughly pulls him into a sitting position by his shirt. “You know I’ve given you more than one chance which I don’t do. Call it whatever you want, but the only reason you’re still alive is that you worked under my dad.” I pull my Glock out and aim it at him. “That ends now.”
“Wait. Wait! I can be your inside man with Viktor!” Xander begs.
“You think we can trust you now?” Ryder asks in disbelief.
Xander swallows, turning pleading eyes on me. “I fucked up, but I need the money.”
Don’t ask. Don’t ask. Don’t ask.I beg myself.
