Page 12 of Lane (East Dremest Mafia #5)

LANE

“Oh, good, you’re not working,” I said as I strolled into the gym and found Raiden lifting weights. He was shirtless, which I preferred, every inch of his upper body bare for my eyes to soak in. There were muscles for days. Luckily, no one else was in here to watch me eye Raiden up and down.

He put the weights on the rack and gave me his full attention.

Sweat glistened on his skin, drawing me closer.

He was like a shiny penny I found on the ground, calling my name, beckoning with its promise of good luck.

If only luck was all I needed to get him and Alton on the same page and communicating with one another.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

I stopped a couple of feet from him and tapped my chin. “Do you know what Barrett told me?”

“With him, it could be anything.”

“You’re supposed to be the easier-going twin. The one who’s lighter and happier. Yet, all I get is how I see Reghan. I don’t get the fun side of you. Why is that?”

“I’m not sure who to be with you. You mix me up inside.”

“You didn’t seem so confused when you were kissing my throat the other night.”

“I was asleep.” Okay, this wasn’t getting me anywhere.

“Guess who I saw this morning?”

“Barrett?”

“No, smart-ass. Alton.”

His eyebrows lifted. “He’s here?”

“Nope. I took a car to his office and paid him a visit. A pretend one where I needed a follow-up on my illness.” I fake coughed for effect.

A genuine smile lit Raiden’s face, making him more gorgeous than he already was. “That had to have gone over well.”

“Like you, Al’s torn up, not sure what to do with me or you.” I stepped closer, bringing us only inches apart, as I looked up into his eyes. The height difference had me salivating. I wanted to hook my legs around his waist as I’d done with Alton. “He kissed me.”

“He did?” No anger was in his words, just curiosity.

“Mmhmm. I did it first but then he took over, initiating the next one. He demanded entrance, Ray. His tongue…” I groaned.

“If a man can kiss me to the point I have to pry myself away, I know he’ll be amazing in bed.

” Lifting my hand, I brought it to Raiden’s sweaty chest, tracing a line down the center.

I dropped my voice to a whisper. “I put my legs around his waist and held him by the tie to keep him close. He wants me, and you too. I told him to leave you to me.” My fingers trailed south, stopping at the waistband of his shorts.

He gripped my wrist, not painfully, just enough not to allow me to go farther. “This isn’t a game.”

“No, this is a strategy. Without me, you two won’t ever get together.”

“You say that as if I don’t want you as well.”

“You both do, but it’s not easy connecting the dots here.

I’m the line drawn from point A to B. I’m not in this for fun, although I’m always up for that.

This, between the three of us, could be very real if you want it to be.

I’m old enough to be done playing around.

The question is, how bad do you want us? ”

Raiden erased the remaining space separating us, wrapping his arm around my waist, pulling me close with enough force to push the air from my lungs. “I could have killed Jack for touching you.”

“You have no idea how much of a turn-on it is when you protect me, but I can handle myself.”

“I didn’t say you couldn’t. That doesn’t mean I’ll stand on the sidelines. It’s not in me.”

“Say you want to be with us, Ray.”

“It’s not going to work.”

I held back a sigh. He was still fighting this. Not for me, I didn’t think. For Alton. “He desires us. He’s worried you won’t agree to try.”

“Jordan spoke to me.”

I watched him, attempting to figure out where that came from. “Congratulations?”

He chuckled. “About you and me. He doesn’t want what I feel for you to interfere with my job protecting him and doing as he asks.”

“Circling back, I can take care of myself. I’m not kidding when I say I can fight, shoot, and kill if need be. Your job is to protect Jordan, not me.”

“What if I want to do both?”

“Then you’ll have to let me protect you too. I’m no damsel, Ray.”

His forehead dropped to mine as his eyes slid closed. “I get that you’re in this life, but Alton’s not. Why would he want to be in deeper?”

“I don’t think he’s as clean as you think he is. Remember, he’s the one who comes here or wherever he needs to patch up stab wounds, bullet holes, or whatever else. All for Jordan and the rest of you. He’s at least up to his waist in it.”

“How do we do this?”

“Are you saying yes to Alton and me?”

Raiden leaned down and placed his hands around the backs of my thighs to lift me off the floor. My legs went around him on instinct. “I don’t like that he had your tight body around him, and I haven’t had the same luxury.” My hands gripped his shoulders as my heart sped up.

“You’re going to have to share me when we’re together.”

“All or nothing,” he said. “I’ll be too jealous any other way. If you two are together without me, I’ll wonder where I fit.”

“So I’ll get two dicks instead of one? Not a bad deal if you ask me.”

“Lane?”

“Yeah?”

“Give me your mouth.”

My hands drifted over his shoulders to his neck before threading into his hair.

I grasped it tightly in my fists to drop his head back slightly.

First, I kissed his left cheek, followed by his right, skipping his lips.

I dragged my tongue up his cheek, tasting the salt from his sweat.

“I’ll own you both as well. This isn’t a one-way street. I can be possessive too.”

“I’m counting on it.”

“You can’t take over all the time. No thinking I’m weak.”

“Never.”

I nodded, glad to have that out of the way. It was one thing for Raiden to be possessive of me. It was another for him to do it because he thought I couldn’t handle myself. We were entering unfamiliar territory, but I’d be damned if I lost my sense of self while doing so.

My mouth descended, my lips pressing gently to his. The other night on my couch, I wanted him to kiss me, but I understood why we couldn’t. Not only was I full of germs, but Alton had left. After sharing a kiss with him this morning, it was only fair for me to do the same with Raiden.

Raiden held me so gently, easily supporting my weight as his tongue swept into my mouth.

He was more of a lover than a fighter in this sense.

The way his tongue moved was sensual, not hurried.

He didn’t try to swallow me whole like Alton did.

That made what we would be like together all the better.

If we were the same, it wouldn’t be nearly as interesting.

My cock was already halfway to hard. I had to be the sensible one and put a stop to this before I had him fucking me against the wall for anyone to walk in on. Leaning back, I held his gaze. “All or nothing.”

“I protect Jordan when I’m working, and you protect yourself?”

“Have faith in me. I’m a survivor, a fighter. I don’t give up easily.”

“And Alton?”

“He’ll probably need us both to watch over him.” Alton wasn’t a small man, but I didn’t picture him holding a gun, ready to take out whoever came for us.

Raiden grinned. “True. Now, what do we do?”

“Well, I’m going to talk to Jordan while you shower.

We should go out tonight. Nothing fancy.

Maybe I’ll make it an adventure. Dress comfortably and meet me in the garage at six.

” If Raiden was supposed to work tonight, he’d already be in Jordan’s home, which meant he was free.

I had no clue where I was going to take them.

Lucky for me, I was good at thinking fast.

Slowly, Raiden lowered me to the floor but didn’t release me until he brushed his lips over mine again. “I’ll be ready.”

“You better be.” I smiled and turned. My legs might have been a little weak as I walked away. My clothes might have sweat on them from Raiden’s skin, but I was determined. Jordan tested me to see what I’d do. I wanted to solidify my position in his company. It was time for me to be an active part.

I pressed the button on the elevator and rode it up to the top floor.

My mom… What would she have thought of me doing this?

If she were alive, I wouldn’t have. Without her here, I had to be my own man and make my own way.

Nothing about working for Jordan felt wrong.

This organization wasn’t my pretend father’s.

People actually liked working here. Jordan had a good side.

It was the one the world saw openly when he did charity events, raised money, and donated to the city. That made all the difference.

Reghan eyed me when I stepped off the elevator.

“What? Your brother’s sweaty. I can’t help it.” I ran my hands over my shirt.

Poor Reghan didn’t expect me to say that and started coughing.

“Is Jordan in his office?”

“Yes.”

“Perfect.”

Leaving a flustered Reghan behind me, I strode down the hall and knocked on the open door.

Jordan lifted his head from where he was focused on his computer. “What the hell happened to you?”

“One of your sweaty guards got too close.”

He sighed. “I can guess which one. I already talked to him if that’s why you’re here.”

“Can I sit?”

He gestured to the chairs on the opposite side of his desk.

“So… Raiden will protect you if I’m out with you, and I’ll protect myself.

Great. We’re solid there. Same if he’s guarding Vail and/or Hartley.

There’s really no need to worry about that portion of things.

However, if for some reason he and I don’t work out, I want to know he has a job with you.

That you won’t fire him. And before you say you won’t, remember I’m related to Hartley and know how persuasive he is.

If Raiden and I don’t stay together for whatever reason, I’ll leave and find somewhere else to live if we can’t be near each other.

The last thing I want is to jeopardize what he’s built here. ”

He cocked his eyebrow. “Are you done?”

“I mean, not fully. I have more to say.”

“Raiden will always have a place here unless he harms someone I love. You do too. You’re both adults and I expect you to handle yourselves as such. I’m not worried about Alton.”

“You assume we want anything to do with him.”

Jordan growled, “Don’t fuck around with the time I’m giving you.”

“Fine. I want a real seat here. I want to be part of what you’ve built.

My family was horrible, except for my mother, and no, I never wanted any part of what they did.

It’s different here. People care about each other.

You’re lacking a second-in-command, someone to handle what you don’t want to do or have the time to. ”

His eyes narrowed. “I had one and have zero desire to fill the role again.”

It was important I kept my tone even. Jordan was reactive.

“I’m well aware of Malik. I’m not him, nor will I ever be.

I expect I’ll have to prove that to you.

It will take time, but just consider me for it.

I’m damn good at negotiating. Before you ask, I can do it without falling into someone’s lap.

I can shoot, hit, kill, whatever. My moral compass is fractured.

I won’t kill for sport, but I’ll protect the people I care about and work for.

I could be a good backup for you, Jordan. A person you can trust.”

“You’ll have to excuse me if I don’t jump up and down at the idea of my rival’s son becoming my second.”

“And you’ll have to excuse me while I take that for the insult it is. While I understand why you said it, that fucking stung.” I barely resisted calling him a prick.

“Goddammit. You’re going to make me regret agreeing to this, aren’t you?”

Leaning back, I propped my ankle on my knee and put on the relaxed look I felt.

“You need help, Jordan. Neither of your men nor your son or his partners want anything to do with your illegal shit. What happens when you retire? You will eventually. Hartley and Vail will want to spend more time with you. You’re going to need to have the business run by someone who knows what they’re doing.

You can teach me so I do it by your rules. ”

“Fine,” he bit out. “You’ll have a trial period.

You’ll come with me when I handle this side of my business.

If you fuck up, find something else to do.

There’s no guarantee you’ll get the spot you’re after, but I have room for you.

The only people who get that close to me have proven their worth. You’ll have to do the same.”

There was a need. I had to show others I wasn’t just the child of his rival, because I wasn’t. I was so much more than that. I’d be useful and kick some ass along the way.

“Deal,” I said. “Can we start tomorrow though? I have a date to plan.”

He growled again. “Get the fuck out of my office.”

I grinned. “With pleasure.”