“I think we need to go to Dallas and have a sit-down with Max Adorite,” Archer stated when Brantley joined them.
Or they could do that.
Reese accepted a cup of coffee when Brantley passed it over and waited for Archer to elaborate.
“We know that an FBI agent was blackmailing Meredith Prescott into testifying to a murder.What we don’t know is whether there’s any merit to the accusation.Just because she didn’t see it happen—according to Decker—doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.”
“And what?”Atticus grinned.“You just wanna walk up to a mob boss and ask him if he offed someone?I see that turnin’ out well.”
“I think that’s exactly what we’ll do,” Brantley stated.
Reese couldn’t help it, he grinned, hiding it behind his coffee cup.He could absolutely see Brantley confronting Max.The man was not the least bit intimidated by the notorious mob boss.
The problem was, perhaps he should be.While Max seemed like a laid-back kind of guy, he had a black heart.His attempt to transition to legal activities after marrying Courtney hadn’t quite taken root.Not entirely.From what Reese had heard, Max was actually in the process of solidifying his territory by restructuring his entire organization.The news proclaimed the Southern Boy Mafia was on the verge of a turf war with Sabrina Moroso, and that rivalry had been strengthening ever since she killed her brother to take over as head of her family.Whether it was accurate that they were at odds or merely speculation was anyone’s guess.But Reese knew Max well enough to believe it was the former.
“When do we leave?”Simon asked, looking far too eager to sit down with the mob boss.
Brantley looked his way, and Reese knew he wasn’t hiding his anxiety well.
“I’ll do whatever’s necessary to get this closed,” Reese told him.And he meant it.He didn’t look forward to confronting Max or potentially seeing Madison while he was there, but he would do it in order to get this over with.Hell, he would walk through fire naked if it would get them one step closer to finding Kylie, provided she really was alive.
And no, Reese wasn’t sure he was buying all of it, but he had to admit, it didn’t sound quite as crazy to him as it probably should.
“It’s after eight, now.We’ll need a few hours,” Brantley told the room.“I’ll book the hotel and send you the location.Anyone wanna ride with us?”
Simon raised a hand.“I wouldn’t mind.”
“I’ll catch a ride with Atticus,” Archer said, looking at his partner.“If that’s cool with you.”
“Yup.”
“We need to be on the road no later than two,” Brantley said before looking at Reese.“You can call Max and get us a sit-down for tonight or first thing tomorrow.”
Reese nodded.He wasn’t eager to talk to Max, but as he said, he would do whatever was necessary to get through this.
“We’re gonna run by the hospital, see JJ and Baz,” Brantley told Simon.“We can swing by and pick you up when you’re ready.”
Simon nodded.
With that, Reese followed Brantley out of the barn, Tesha trotting beside them.He plastered on a neutral expression and pretended his stomach wasn’t twisting in knots.It would serve no purpose to let Brantley know he was already dreading this plan.
“I’m gonna shower before we go,” Brantley said when they walked into the house.“Join me.”
Reese closed the door and turned, expecting to see Brantley standing there, waiting for a response.But he wasn’t there.He was strolling across the living room.
Okay then.Clearly that was a command rather than a request.
“Now, Reese!”Brantley called when he turned down the hallway.
Evidently his husband was past the point of saying please.Or asking nicely.
Because he understood the way Brantley’s mind worked, knew in his soul what the man needed, Reese followed.When he reached the bathroom, he found Brantley stripping off his shirt.Reese stared, admiring the hard body beneath those clothes.
When they met, Brantley had been on the mend, rebuilding his strength after nearly being crushed by a building during one of his SEAL ops.He’d put on some pounds—all muscle—since then.His daily regimen of running, weights, and time spent with the hanging bag had honed that body into a work of art.His arms and shoulders were exquisitely sculpted.His broad shoulders, too.But those abs… The way Brantley’s chest tapered downward, his abdomen chiseled as though an artist had designed it, made Reese’s mouth water.
And that ass and those thick, tree-trunk thighs… Lord have mercy.
It was safe to say Brantley did it for him in so many ways.
