“When Jack got in trouble with Cabrini and was on the run, I stepped up to the plate and finally had my chance to shine. I was helping Callie in every day matters. I even gave Jack places to hide and work to earn money to send to his family. Between running the company and being responsible for all of them, I finally felt in charge, like I was doing something better than him.”
“And now that Jack is back, able to provide for his family?”
A crooked grin twisted his mouth. “I’m being stupid. Ignore me.”
Stepping closer, she leaned toward him. “No, you aren’t. You’re being human.” Closer, not where she should be, but his revelation had made her see a different side toScott Holland.
“Dude.”
The voice at their backs had them whipping apart and turning around. Her stomach dropped. Three young Asian men, dressed in black with red bandannas around their necks crossed the large area. Who the hell were these guys? Gang members? The ones who had warned people away from their territory? Reaching into her purse, she grabbed her pepper spray and held it in front of her.
“Don’t even think about coming another step closer,” she warned, though her hand shook visibly. Maybe they couldn’t see it in the dim lighting. Good thing electrical hadn’t been first on the list ofthings to fix.
Scott’s chuckle surprised her. Standing next to her, he lifted his chin at the new arrivals.
“Jian, howyou been, man?”
The tallest of the men strode forward and grasped Scott’s hand, shaking it hard. What the hell? How did they know each other? If her knowledge of attire and colors was correct, Scott was having a friendly greeting witha gang member.
“Been okay. Trying to keep things quiet, but you knowhow that goes.”
“And Mei, she doing all right? Staying out of trouble?”
Jian, as Scott had called him, grinned. “I got her set up in a private girls’ school in Vermont. It’s a little boring for her tastes but she likes the freedom to be who she wants to be.”
“Not the sister of the Northside Dragons’ leader?”
Holy shit. This guy was the leader of the Northside Dragons? Seriously, how did they know each other? What other little tidbits of info did Scott have in his background that she didn’t know about?
Jian chuckled then looked around. The other guys with him merely stayed in the background, their eyes sharp. “I saw the symbol when we first came in. That ain’t ours. Someone wants to scare you off by using our mark.”
“That’s what I thought,” Scott answered. That’s why he hadn’t been freaking out like she had when they first got here. “Figured I’d check with the real deal though. Wasn’t sure if you had decided to expand your territory to this little town.”
“Not yet,” Jian answered, his eyes alight. Damn, did that mean he mightin the future?
She took a step forward, but Scott slung his arm over her shoulder and held her back. Damn man seemed to have radar as far as her thoughts went. Pulling her along, they walked to where the other graffiti was.
Lifting his finger from the still wet paint, Jian said, “We would have written this in blood. Not cheap paint.”
“We’ve had some trouble since startingthis project.”
Jian’s eyes wandered around the room. “What’s the problem and what are your plans for this place?”
Staying tucked behind Scott, she listened as he explained the mill expansion and the issues that had delayed the renovations. While she wanted to give this guy a piece of her mind, it seemed Scott might have it allunder control.
“While this is out of our territory, I’d be happy to have a few of my guys keep an eye out. It’s not that far and it’s nicer scenery than our typical haunts.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
“I appreciate what you have been doing for me. You got any big jobs coming up soon that mightneed more men?”
“As a matter of fact, I recently signed a contract for some new projects. Plus this one will need quite a few good workers. But you know what my stipulations are.”
Was Scott seriously considering hiring anyone this gang leader sent him? He couldn’tbe that stupid.
Jian shifted his shoulders. “Yeah, I know what the rules are.So do my guys.”
“Send me their names and I’ll seewhat I can do.”
