Page 196

I was still floored. How the hell had I not known Harley’s old friend was a son of the Vahdat clan alpha? Since Suri had taken Dylan and Harley both under his wing, so to speak, would Lakeview and Vahdat eventually be able to work together?

My mate was full of surprises.

“Thank you,” I said to Harley. “I know you’re the one who called in this favor, but… that’s not always how inter-clan deals work. I don’t want to be in debt to the Vahdat clan.”

“Suri wouldn’t expect that,” she said.

“I don’t doubt it, but his father might.” I exhaled. “Do you mind if I talk to Suri? I need to know the details of this plan before we do anything.”

Harley nodded and grabbed her phone off the nightstand. She dialed Suri’s number on her phone.

“Hey, Suri. I’ve got Steph here. Mind if he talks to you?” She listened for a bit, then handed the phone over to me.

“Suri,” I said. “Thanks for taking my call.”

“Of course,” the dragon on the other end said in a warm, friendly tone. “Happy to help where I can. This line is secure, by the way.”

That was a good sign—that Suri already knew the importance of being on a secure line for talks like this. Not that I’d expect anything less from a Vahdat dragon.

“So, Harley told you a little about my clan?” Suri asked.

I chuckled. “We may be a small East Coast clan, Suri, but we’re familiar with the Vahdats.”

“And I’m happy to help Lakeview where I can.”

“I’m grateful for that,” I said. “Listen, I have to ask. I had my guys look into your background a little when Harley mentioned you’d helped out with Dylan. None of the Vahdat connections came up.”

“That’s on purpose,” Suri said. “My father and I keep our relationship private. If other dragons on the East Coast knew I was connected to the Vahdat clan, that’d put a target on my back. You know how these power-hungry clans can be.”

I hummed in agreement.

“I value my freedom and independence, but I still have a strong relationship with my family, both the clan and my personal friends. My father would be happy to do this to protect Harley and Dylan.”

I cleared my throat. “I understand. But as the Lakeview alpha, I want to be sure I’m not putting my clan in a position of being indebted to the Vahdat clan?—”

“Ah,” Suri said in realization. “That’s what this is about. I should’ve led with this, sorry.”

“With what?”

“The Vahdat clan prides itself on the cleanest, finest product in the nation, as I’m sure you know.”

“I do,” I said. The Vahdat clan sold cocaine exclusively and prided themselves on its purity. Their product was ubiquitous in major cities and sold to the richest and most powerful celebrities and executives.

“Well, your old friend Thames somehow managed to get his hands on the product. I’m not exactly sure how—I wasn’t privy to the details—but I suspect one of our approved distributors was subcontracting to make some more money. Anyway, Thames decided to stretch the product.”

“He cut it,” I said.

“Yep. Purity ruined, but still with the Vahdat label on it. Bad for business. Our distributor faced consequences for the subcontracting, but Thames disappeared. Now that I know he was near Lakeview, it makes more sense. You’re a bit isolated up there.”

“Just the way we like it.”

“All of this to say, we’ve got a little win-win situation on our hands,” Suri said. “You’ve brought Thames back onto the Vahdat radar. My father will be glad to put a little pressure on him. So, there will be no debt. If anything, my father might be interested in developing a closer relationship in the future.”

“If that’s the case, then consider the Lakeview clan in agreement. I need Thames to end his deal with my brother, Sean, no matter what it takes.”

“We’ll make that happen,” Suri said. “Well. Not ‘we.’ I try to stay out of clan business. But Harley and Dylan are my family just as much as my clan is, and I’ll do anything to keep them safe.”

“And you know I’ll do the same,” I said in a gravelly voice.