I think that’s why he brought me here.
“Alder Roy?”
We both turn to see a man standing before us, with one of the Basin Kings behind him like a menacing shadow. The man is dressed in a sleek suit with not a hair out of place, but looks like he’s about to shit himself as his fingers twitch and he looks at Alder with wide eyes. The King behind him gives Alder an exasperated look, like he’s already bothered by this guy.
Alder eyes the twitchy man. “What?”
“I’m a buyer for A.J. Vince. He bought from you before…” he says, trying to stand up a little taller, though it does nothing for his confidence. “He’s currently in Spain and sent me here to bid for him.”
Alder takes one last drag of his cigarette, the end flaring orange as he stares the man down. The buyer shifts his weight like he’s waiting for the floor to open him up and swallow him whole.
“You want my permission to buy here?” Alder asks as he drops the cigarette and grinds it out under his boot.
The guy nods, but the King behind him gives him a sharp nudge. “Yes,” he blurts.
Alder looks him over once more. “What’s your favourite tree?”
The buyer’s brows draw together. “Uh…” His eyes shift around the room as if he can find a tree in this warehouse. “Maple?”
The King releases a heavy sigh, and Alder’s face immediately hardens.
“Get out,” Alder says in a low voice.
“What?” the guy asks, glancing at me like I might have the answer.
But I’m just as confused.
I glance at Alder, but he suddenly moves forward to grab the man, twists his arm behind him, and yanks him close until his mouth is right at his ear.
“I said out,” he growls, then shoves him towards the door.
The King who escorted him over here grabs him by the arm and hauls him towards the door, rolling his eyes at Alder on the way.
“Fucking maple,” Alder mutters, adjusting his cut and dragging a hand through his hair. “Like fuck he or Vince will ever see an auction again.”
I watch him as he seems to gather himself, and I try to make sense of what just happened. Of everything that has happened here tonight so far, with Boot at the door, and some kind of stiff exchange with Kurt, atreerattled him?
But his nameisa tree, and he clearly fucking loves them, so maybe that tracks. He’s just the right kind of unhinged for that to make some sort of sense.
A burst of static suddenly crackles through the air, and the crowd quiets as a man steps in front of one of the cars with a microphone in hand.
“2019 Ferrari 488 Spider. Custom import from a collector south of the border in Portland, Maine. Fully wiped, low mileage, engine tight, and transmission clean. Heat’s off.”
Hands lift into the air, and numbers start flying. There’s no introduction or welcome speech. Everyone just gets right to business, sliding effortlessly into their roles.
“Got that one six months ago,” Alder says beside me, sliding another cigarette between his lips and lighting it. “Tracked the guy for three weeks before we could take it. Fucker launched an investigation afterwards which made its way across the border, so we had to store it until the heat died down.”
The bidding moves fast, with subtle nods, raised fingers, and men in suits murmuring into phones and calling out bids.It moves quickly, until it’s just two bidders pushing each other higher, neither willing to blink. I don’t even know where to look as the auctioneer points between them, rattling off their competing bids, which is now over $250,000.
“Why are you telling me this?” I turn to look at Alder as he watches the bidding war unfold with smoke spilling from his lips. “You don’t know me, and what I could do with this.”
For all he knows, I could walk out of here and take this whole thing down.
His gaze slides to me, and a slow smile forms on his lips as he lifts a hand and wraps it around the back of my neck. My chin lifts automatically, and my heart thumps harder, as electricity seems to spread through my chest.
Then he leans in and brings his mouth to mine, pushing his tongue past my lips. His kiss is demanding and heated, leaving me no other option than to take him in, even though it’s exactly what I want. I taste the smoke on his tongue as my hand finds his side, my fingers brushing over the holster beneath his cut. The rev of an engine sounds loudly through the warehouse, sending a spike of adrenaline coursing through me. It’s something I haven’t felt in years… the rush of want, need, danger, and freedom. It drives me to lean in and take more, and to lose myself in everything he’s offering.
Until he pulls back and lifts his cigarette to his lips. “That’s why.”
