Page 28 of Lane (East Dremest Mafia #5)

RAIDEN

“Well, that was uneventful,” Lane said as we stepped up to the elevator in Jordan’s building. It was our home too. For some reason I still called it my boss’s building because it was.

We’d just gotten back from an assignment and were still in the garage. There were always guards down here to protect the area. With this being an open space from the back and the front, anyone could walk in. There would be hell to pay if they didn’t belong here.

“Not enough excitement for you?” I teased.

“Not even close. The highlight was a dog sniffing my leg.”

“And Jordan got paid.”

He waved me off. “Yeah, whatever. I shouldn’t want something to happen.” In the next breath, his eyes widened, and he grabbed my arm. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just… You know what? Never mind.”

“Hey,” I said, taking his hand in mine. “It’s okay to want excitement on the job. I know what you were getting at. You don’t have to worry.”

“I’m sorry.” He wrapped his arms around me and laid his head on my shoulder. “That was shitty of me, no matter what you say.”

I embraced him back. Having the men I loved in my arms was the best thing in the world. Just being near them soothed me down to my soul. “We’re fine, Lane. Honest.”

We had eyes on us. The guards who were down here could grow bored. I remembered when I was new and had to work my way up. These shitty positions sucked. They were important but dull as hell.

My phone rang, which immediately had me tensing. Very few numbers rang through silent mode.

Releasing Lane, I pulled my phone from my pocket and saw my brother’s name on the screen. “Yeah?”

“We’re moving. Are you back?”

“In the garage.”

“Stay there.”

Just as I hung up, the elevator doors opened and Albert raced out, running to where Jordan’s Maserati was. Vincent was out next with Sheldon behind him.

“Jesus,” I muttered, and jogged to the Navigator I just parked, so I could pull it up to the curb behind the Maserati. Rolling the window down, I yelled for Lane to get in.

Sheldon rolled up behind me as the other elevator opened and Jordan stepped out with Reghan and Barrett. This had to be big if he was bringing the ex-detective along. Barrett didn’t go out with us normally.

Lane picked up his phone and called Vincent as I followed Albert out of the garage. Switching the phone to speaker, Vincent answered without a hello.

“The alarm’s been triggered at the steakhouse. It’s not open yet. Only the prep cooks are there.” Jordan owned a restaurant in the city. It wasn’t too far from here.

“Which alarm?” I asked. There were two. One would go off if someone tried to break in. The other was manually pressed by one of the staff because they were under threat.

“Not the one we’d prefer.”

“Shit.”

“Any video?” Lane asked.

“It’s been cut. We have no feed from inside.”

“Do you know anything else?”

“No.”

“Thanks.” Lane hung up.

We sped along the East Dremest streets, weaving in and out of the lanes before Albert cut down a side road that would save us time by avoiding traffic lights. The road was bumpier and narrow, but we’d gone down these streets so many times I could do it in my sleep.

I stopped behind Albert in the rear of the restaurant, jumping out on instinct with my gun drawn. Lane came up behind me, his hand on my lower back. I had to know where he was at all times.

We’d started training together, having cues no one else would notice.

There was one for when he should duck. Another if I needed him to pretend to faint.

The list went on. We were also sure to spar, although not too seriously.

Lane and I needed to move in sync like my brother and I did.

Predicting each other’s moves would be valuable when we were back-to-back, fighting an enemy.

I’d like to hope Lane wouldn’t have to fight and I could handle whatever came our way.

The truth was, Lane didn’t want to sit on the sidelines and be protected.

Not that Jordan ever did either. But Jordan lived the life of someone who had constant guards on them and would only shoot when necessary.

Lane was ready to jump into the fray without regard for his own safety.

Hopefully, the training we did would save his life if it was ever in jeopardy.

Jordan peered over his shoulder at me. Without a word, Barrett slid into my spot protecting Lane, and I took up position next to my brother.

Barrett was a damn good shot, but he didn’t know the layout of the steakhouse as well as I did.

Reghan and I were aware of every corner, nook, and access point in the restaurant.

Reghan nodded. Time to enter the building.

I placed my hand on the knob and noticed it was unlocked. Reghan had the key on him if need be. It was part of the regular carry of shit we had when we guarded Jordan.

Reghan stood at the ready, gun in hand. I turned the knob and opened the door. He entered, checking as he did so. Coming up behind him, I moved to his left flank. Together, we swept the back room that emptied into the kitchen.

Jordan wasn’t one to stay behind. He was at our backs. Someone threatened his employees, and he wasn’t about to wait to see who we found. Jordan required a front-row seat so he could make a judgment call.

With the room clear, Reghan pushed the door open to the kitchen while I entered first. The bright lights were on, but the room was empty. No prep cooks at the stations. Ingredients were laid out; knives and half-cut vegetables were on the counter.

I went low, checking under the counters, while Reghan kept it clear high, making sure no one would jump out to surprise us.

Sheldon eased up along my side and opened the walk-in fridge and freezer, as well as checked the dry goods storage area.

No doubt, the rest of them were behind us, none of us saying a word.

The swinging door from the kitchen to the dining area was propped open, lights in the main part of the restaurant were on. My stomach turned, my gut never leading me wrong. Someone was in here who shouldn’t be, and they were holding our people hostage.

If they wanted to kill us, they would have hidden and attacked as we entered. It didn’t ease my mind though. I had two of the most important people in my life with me. I couldn’t lose anyone else.

Reghan entered the dining area first with me right behind him and Sheldon at my back. We spread out as soon as we were through the door, forming a wall of protection for Jordan and the others.

Seated in the middle of the dining area was a man with a gun on the table in front of him, his hand ready to grasp it. In the chairs surrounding him were the prep cooks with their mouths taped and their hands bound behind the chairs. Their ankles were bound to the chair legs.

“I wondered how long it would take you to get here,” the man said.

His blond hair was cut short on the sides with an elegant sweep on the top.

The navy suit he wore spoke of money, as did the gold rings on his fingers and the diamond studs in his ears.

He was cleanly shaven with dimples near his eyes. They didn’t soften his appearance.

Jordan laid a hand on my back, so I’d move to the side. This was the part I never liked. Over the years I became used to it, but it made Jordan vulnerable, even though he wouldn’t admit to it. Behind us, he was protected.

“Who the fuck are you?” Jordan growled.

“I’ll answer that once you bring my godson forward.”

“Excuse me?”

“Oh, fuck,” I heard Lane whisper.

I couldn’t take my eyes off the man in front of me. I also couldn’t tell Lane to stay back. If this man knew Lane was important to me, he’d exploit the weakness.

Lane walked around Reghan to stand beside Jordan. “Ulrich, it’s been a long time. Decades even.”

“Ah, Lane. The last time I saw you, you were barely old enough to drink legally. Your father was powerful then, moving quickly and building something spectacular.”

“Yet you disappeared when I turned twenty-one.”

Ulrich hummed. “It was time. Edison thought he could use me as a pawn in his game. You see, the money he amassed, he was only able to do so with my help. He promised if I walked away, I’d get my share.

I was patient. After all, the more he made, the more I’d get.

But then the shit hit the fan, and all of you fled.

I should have anticipated him doing it. However, I never saw my money. ”

“There’s nothing left,” Jordan said, his tone even.

“You’re right. Edison couldn’t manage an investment if his life depended on it. His wife, however, could. She was incredibly smart. How much did she hide for you, Lane? Six point nine million, wasn’t it?”

“What do you want, Ulrich?”

“My share plus interest, compensation for all I’ve been through. What I’ve lost. Once you crawled here, Edison and Noel didn’t live long enough to get me my money. If you and Jordan hadn’t taken them out, I would have killed him myself and taken what I was owed from you directly.”

“If you know so much, then you also know it’s gone,” Lane said. I had to give him credit. His voice was as even and steady as Jordan’s.

“Yes, but you still have some left and Jordan, well, he has plenty. I’ve come to make a deal. I want twenty million or else.”

“Or else?” Jordan growled. One of the things he hated more than anything was to be threatened.

“I’ll let you put the pieces together. My threats aren’t empty.”

He didn’t need to say more for me to understand this was the man who called the attack on my family’s home.

Who sent people to shoot into the house.

Who killed my dad. It took everything in me not to lunge for him.

If I did, I’d put the others at risk. If I’d been alone, I would have done what my instincts were telling me to.

“I’m not unguarded,” he continued. “I’m well-armed too.

You’re not the only ones who can form alliances and build an army.

I’ll give you this, Jordan, it’s not easy hacking into your accounts or that of those you employ.

Let’s just say my tech people are better than yours.

” He placed a card on the table. “You have three days. I’ll tell you where to move the money.

If not, prepare to bury more of your loved ones. ”

It was Lane who lunged forward before any of us could stop him. Ulrich had his gun in hand in the blink of an eye and pointed directly at Lane’s head when Lane reached the table.

“I’ll fucking kill you,” Lane seethed. “You want to draw blood, tell me when and where.”

“That would be too easy, godson. Besides, your death wouldn’t be nearly as detrimental as others would be.” Ulrich’s voice turned hard. “I want the money that’s fucking owed to me. Do it and no one else gets hurt. I’ll leave this fucking shithole, and you’ll never have to see me again.”

Ulrich stood, keeping his gun aimed at Lane.

“Shoot me and I level the restaurant with you in it. I have people ready for my command. If I don’t make it out of here alive, they’ll kill you.

” He walked backward toward the door where a black sedan pulled up to the curb.

“Three days. Twenty million dollars. Miss the deadline and the funeral expenses will be astronomical.”

He stepped out the door and into the sedan. We didn’t move until he was gone.