Page 19 of Lane (East Dremest Mafia #5)

RAIDEN

A week had passed since we returned from spending the weekend with Alton. In that week, Hartley had made two outfits for Lane, with more on the way. He said slacks and a top were easier than a full suit. Jordan didn’t tell him to put a rush on it, but Hartley would always put his partners first.

Lane had spent almost every day shadowing Jordan where it pertained to his illegal endeavors. This was a chance for Jordan to show Lane how he conducted business. There was no one who handled things like Jordan.

This morning, when I showed up to take my post in Jordan’s home and be with him for the day, Vincent was there so I knew right away he either needed both of us, or I was doing something else.

“Have a seat,” Jordan said when I entered his office.

I sat in the chair on the opposite side of his desk, waiting, trying not to fidget. Jordan was intimidating on a good day. I didn’t forget how lethal he was.

“I have a new assignment for you, if you accept it that is,” he began.

“Lane is smart, smarter than I gave him credit for. It wasn’t that I thought he couldn’t handle working for me.

More like I knew the damage his piece of shit family did to him.

This past week, he’s picked up a lot quickly.

I’ve put him through numerous tests.” He didn’t need to remind me of what they were. I was there for them.

On Tuesday, Jordan went to the home of a buyer who was late on their payment. A few fingers were cut off before half the money was handed over with the promise of the remainder in three days. Lane cut off one of those digits.

Wednesday brought the delivery of a drug dealer who wasn’t from around here but thought there was potential in trying to sell in our city.

There was a reason East Dremest didn’t have dealers.

Barrett took that asshole to one of the warehouses after a tip he got from a business owner.

Jordan questioned him. Lane slowly killed him.

Messages had to be sent, or more would come here to attempt to do the same.

On Thursday, Jordan and Lane went to a company Jordan owned, where Lane sat in on an executive meeting about budgets.

Not only did Jordan ask for his input but also let Lane make suggestions.

Lane had no investment in the business, so it didn’t matter to him one way or another what they chose to do, but Jordan liked that Lane didn’t buffer his thoughts and made suggestions

Friday was the negotiation of a new gun deal.

This one went a lot smoother than the last one Jordan took Lane to.

There was no lap for Lane to sit on and no need to do much of anything.

The buyer was more than willing to pay Jordan’s fee since he came under in price of an out-of-town seller.

Jordan had competition all over. In his own city, he had none.

The person he made a deal with lived outside Dremest. It was a good way for Jordan to continue to stake his claim and have more of a monopoly on the deals around Dremest as well as in it.

Lane had the weekend off. I had to work Saturday, so Lane and Alton spent time in Lane’s apartment until my shift was done, and then we moved to mine.

With Sunday off, the three of us only left the bed to handle our basic needs.

The rest of the time, we had our hands all over each other, unable to sate the need inside of us.

The worst part was when Alton had to leave.

Lane and I both felt his absence, as I was sure Alton felt ours.

It sucked that he didn’t live in the building, but Alton had a practice to run and other commitments to honor.

Now we were back to Monday and me sitting in front of Jordan.

“Lane has been doing well, better than I’d hoped,” Jordan said.

“He’s firm in his decision that he wants to be my second.

Of course, there will be a continuing trial period before I hand him a lot more responsibility, but I don’t see him changing his mind, which brings me to the reason you’re here.

Lane needs protection. There’s no one better to do that than you.

Yes, Lane can handle himself, but he’s nothing like Malik was, and for that, I’m grateful.

Mal was more muscle than business. Lane is more business with muscle.

He’s strong. I’m not discounting that. I’d feel better if he was covered, especially given how much he means to you. ”

I couldn’t do more than watch Jordan. He’d brought up Malik, his ex whatever the hell he was.

Malik was someone Jordan cared deeply about.

Neither of them acted on it. He was also Jordan’s second, who Jordan had to kill for threatening JJ, Jordan’s son.

Just the mention of Malik was shocking. Add in Jordan asking me to be Lane’s guard, my brain wasn’t firing like it should.

“Does this sound like something you want to do?” Jordan asked.

I stared at him. He was asking me, not telling me. I was in some parallel universe.

“Blink once for yes or twice for no,” he growled, growing impatient.

“Sorry, sir. I was absorbing what you said. Yes, I’d like to do that.”

“If you and Lane split up, you’d come back to my detail, and I’d assign someone else to him.

This wasn’t the way I saw things going, but I’m impressed with Lane.

You’re both adults. I trust you won’t let business mix with pleasure.

You can be mature enough to not let your personal lives interfere.

From what I’ve already seen, you’ll do just fine. ”

Jordan was right to bring up my relationship with Lane, but we could handle it. I was good at pushing my emotions aside when I had to, and I’d seen Lane be lethal.

“You can count on me, sir, although I have a question. Is the reason you want to move me to Lane solely because we’re together? I’m curious as to whether I did something wrong to make you want to reassign me.”

Jordan leaned forward, his elbows on the desk, eyes narrowed. “Do you have a reason to feel guilty you’d like to get off your chest?”

“No,” I replied immediately because I didn’t. I always did as he asked of me.

“I’m reassigning you because it’s the right solution.

I don’t want you to have to pick my life over Lane’s if it comes down to it.

Do you know the kind of fucking guilt I’d feel if I lived, and Lane died because you dove for me?

Jesus Christ. Not to mention what Hartley would go through losing a family member.

No, this is for the best. You’re one of my top guards, and you’ll be with my possible second-in-command. I’m elevating Vinny to your role.”

Sheldon or Oleander would have been good choices as well, but Oleander had grown very close with Vail and his family.

Sheldon was the nomad of the organization, floating from one thing to another, there if he was needed while also able to live his life.

He could guard well but he was deadly when he snuck in with his poisons and other weapons.

Kayli was Jordan’s secret weapon, who would also be good in the role. Jordan gave her the added responsibility of recruiting a handful of new guards to join us, all women. We were far too male dominated, and Jordan wanted to fix that.

Vincent was the obvious choice to move to my role.

“Have you told my brother yet?” I asked. It was fine if he did, it wasn’t my decision. A part of me wanted to be the one to do it. Reghan and I had worked together for Jordan for years. We still would in different ways.

“No. The only ones who know are Barry, Vinny, Hart, Vail, and you. I’m leaving it up to you to speak with Reghan, Lane, and Alton. Do that today. Tomorrow, I’ll let everyone else know.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I don’t need to tell you I’m counting on you.

That goes without saying. I have full trust you’ll do this job as well as you have while working for me.

Remember, if things don’t work out between you and Lane, you’re not going anywhere.

Neither is he. You both have job security. It will just take time to adjust.”

“I hope we won’t need to do that.”

“As do I. I can’t handle bullshit inside my organization. It’s bad enough I have to deal with it outside of here. Tomorrow, you and Lane will head out on my behalf. That will give you time to speak with him and your brother today.”

“You can trust me.” I extended my hand and leaned forward in my seat.

Jordan looked at where it was over his desk.

For a moment I didn’t think he was going to shake it, but he grasped it tightly and gave it one solid pump before releasing it.

“You’re all business when you need to be.

It’s one of the reasons I’m glad to have you.

Now get the hell out of my office before I do something that will irritate me, like offer to get you a puppy too.

Fucking dogs are everywhere,” he grumbled.

“They better grow up to sink their teeth into the assholes who inevitably try to cross me.”

I laughed as I stood. “I’m sure they will, sir.”

Without waiting for him to say more, which I didn’t think he was going to, I turned and left, stopping by the elevator in front of Vincent, not yet pushing the button.

I widened my stance and clasped my hands in front of my waist. Vincent and I got along great, but he was moving up the Altair mafia ladder.

“You know,” I said.

“Congrats on the move.”

“Thanks. If you fuck up, you won’t only have Jordan to worry about.”

His lips quirked. “Is this the mafia version of if you hurt my child, I’ll kill you?”

“Something like that.”

“You know me well enough that I won’t do anything to jeopardize the boss or his family. I’ve already taken a bullet for Lane. I’d take one for any of them and for you too. I hope you know that.”

The tension bled out of me. “I never thanked you for what you did for Lane. I’m sorry. You deserved better from me.”

He waved me off. “Don’t worry about it. You were all fucked up over him and Alton. Besides, I didn’t keep him from getting taken so it wasn’t like I did a stellar job.”

“You were caught off guard. We all live with regrets.” I could make a list of the shit I wished I’d done differently. “The best we can do is learn from each experience and be better for it.”

He nodded. “So, you going to go tell your brother or Lane first?”

“Lane will be happy. Reghan will worry. When I tell him we’ll probably see each other more now, he’ll be fine. Lane will spend time doing shit with Jordan, which means I’ll be there with either you or my brother. Whichever, it will work out. I’m not worried.”

Reghan would be happy for me. After getting together with Barrett, everything changed for him for the better. He was more settled than before. Happier when he wasn’t on the job. He wouldn’t be upset I was changing roles. We’d still live next door to each other and spend time together off-hours.

“I’m happy for you too,” Vincent said.

“Thanks, man. I’m pretty fucking happy myself.” I grinned.