Page 12 of Dangerous Men

“Protection money?” I ask. Now that’s interesting. That sounds like someone is trying to hustle in on our turf. Onmyturf. “Who’s he paying it to?”

“We don’t know yet,” Ashton says. “The guy Doc questioned didn’t say.”

“Because he didn’t know, or because he wouldn’t talk?”

Ashton gives me a long look, and I retract the question. If Sebastian couldn’t get it out of him, then the guy clearly didn’t have the information. There’s less than a handful of people on Earth who could hold up to Seb’s interrogations and not talk.

And no one on Earth who could hold up to our other brother.

“Send Viper to have a chat with Giovanni,” I tell Ashton. He pales, but nods. “And figure out who can take over at Golden Rings quickly. I don’t need the board sniffing around if I don’t have a replacement who won’t run the damn thing into the ground.”

We can’t afford to have one of our top casinos out of commission, even for a few days, without attracting the board’s attention. It’d be best if we could just slot a new player in to run it the second Giovanni is out of the picture.

And once Viper gets him, well…

There won’t be enough of Giovanni left to fill a bucket, let alone run a casino.

“I’ll let Doc and Viper know,” Ashton confirms, coming to his feet.

“Good. Thanks,” I tell him as he heads toward the exit. “And close the door behind you.”

Ashton sarcastically salutes me, and the second the door shuts behind him, I reach out for the book that made Sydney hesitate, the one with the red cover. Maybe I have time to solve one mystery tonight.

Settling back in my chair, I open it and start to read.

5

SYDNEY

For the firsttime in years, I catch myself humming as I work. A silly piece of music, probably nothing more than an advertisement jingle I heard on TV, but humming nonetheless. A moment of joy, just for me.

Jade was right. Blocking Chase really was the best thing for me and my mental health. Without the low-level anxiety of knowing another message from him could disrupt my day, I’ve been in a better mood this last week than I have in months.

I should have blocked him right after we ended things, if I’m being honest with myself. But it just felt so… final. I’ve never been great at no-contact endings with anyone, let alone someone who had been such a huge part of my life for so many years. But the sinking feeling I’d get in the pit of my stomach every time my phone would buzz is suddenly gone, and with it a huge weight I didn’t even realize I was carrying.

I’m feeling lighter than air as I set to work putting up the publisher’s display for the third book in The Prince’s Knife series. Sure, we can’t technically put any copies out until the book’s official release date, but wecanstart buildinghype among the book’s fanbase by advertising it. Instead of the newest book (still nestled safely in an unopened box in our stockroom), I fill the display with copies of the other books in the series, as well as a few of the author’s back catalogue and lesser-known works.

Satisfied, I step back a few paces to judge the full display. It looks good, but I can’t help but think it still needs something extra to really make it pop. Maybe some of the fantasy-themed shirts and bookmarks we keep near the back register?

I chew my bottom lip and gaze around at the other displays, considering what to add.

That’s when I spot him.

Lounging in an armchair sandwiched between our Science Fiction and Fantasy sections is Alec. He looks perfectly in his element sitting there, one ankle resting on his knee and a book in his hand, looking for all the world like he’s been there for hours.

My heart skips a beat when I notice the book he’s holding.

He’s reading The Prince’s Knife.

As if sensing my gaze, Alec looks up, and we lock eyes. It’s too late to pretend I wasn’t looking at him and too late to duck into one of the other aisles and hide. So, a little embarrassed, I raise my hand and wave.

A slow smile creeps over his face. He waves back briefly before gesturing me over.

My feet carry me over to him before I can even stop to think if it’s a good idea or not.

“Sydney,” Alec greets me, closing his book. I glance down at how far he is through it, morbidly curious, and see he’s almost at the end. Great. No chance in hell he doesn’t know exactly what sort of book it is by now. “I thought I might have come on your day off. I didn’t see you up front.”

“Oh, no.” I laugh. “I hardly ever take a day off. It’stoo much work for just Jade or me to handle on our own. And we’re the only employees right now.”