Page 31 of Lane (East Dremest Mafia #5)

RAIDEN

We sat a block away from Jack’s home. After showing Jordan what we’d gotten from Dexen, he contacted Lawson, who reached out to Greer.

The two of them worked together so Lawson could find the channels Greer used.

It wasn’t that Lawson didn’t know his shit.

The man was brilliant, but Greer had this other side where he came into it differently and looked at it with a fresh pair of eyes.

Wasn’t there a saying about after seeing something so many times, stuff was bound to get missed?

I thought that was what happened with Lawson.

Jordan calmed down and wasn’t as pissed that Lawson missed it once he was able to talk to him longer.

Lawson noticed a connection between Ulrich and Jack.

It was old though, from at least five years ago.

They’d exchanged money. That was all Lawson could find, but it was a breadcrumb that Jordan wanted investigated.

Enter Lane. Given how Jack reacted to him, Jordan hoped Lane could gather information from him.

If Jack decided to threaten us; we could kill him.

It wasn’t a shock Jordan went there. Lane had other plans though.

Before we left the building, he said he wanted to keep Jack alive.

While his death would be warranted if he was involved, we could use him to bring Ulrich out into the open.

Not in a bribery way, but following Jack to see what shit he pulled.

“Are we sitting in here all day or what?” Barrett asked from the back seat.

“I don’t know what you’re bitching about,” Oleander stated. “I’m the one wedged in the way back. This third-row seat is bullshit.”

There were five of us for this mission. Vincent was with Jordan and his family. He made sure to keep them home today, which was easier given it was a Sunday. No school for Ava and while Hartley protested he had a lot of work to do, Jordan was able to convince him to do it from home.

Lane sighed. “Let’s go. I’m procrastinating. I really don’t want to have to kill anyone today or have you guys do it. Let me lead. Don’t go into cop mode, Barrett.”

“I wish everyone would stop using that against me,” he grumbled.

“You were a cop for a long time, Bear,” Reghan said. “It’s natural that you fall back on how you’ve been trained. We just need you to not right now.”

“God, I hate all of you.”

Lane peered at him over his shoulder. “No, you don’t.” He opened his door and got out, the rest of us following suit.

We decided to park down the street to seem less obvious. We also could make a quick getaway if need be. If Jack was smart, he’d know we were here. The jury was still out on if he was or not.

I stayed by Lane’s side as we walked up the sidewalk and approached the front door, where Lane knocked. A camera was pointed down at us. I was tempted to give them the finger but refrained, not wanting to get this off on the wrong foot.

The door opened, and the man from the other times we’d been here stood before us. “You’re not on the schedule today. Unfortunately, you can’t be seen.” He attempted to close the door, but Lane was fast and pushed himself inside.

“It’s nice of you to invite us in,” he said with a smile. “Thank you so much for your hospitality.”

The rest of us filed in behind him. I’d rip the door off its hinges before I’d allow Lane inside by himself.

Lane began walking to the room we met in before as the butler ran after us, saying we couldn’t be in here. Jack showed up as soon as we were in the room.

“Lane.” He nodded in greeting. “While I appreciate seeing you again, we need to schedule a time. You can’t barge into my home.”

“Can’t I though? We have unfinished business.”

“We have no deal in place, so there’s nothing for us to discuss.”

“Isn’t there?”

Lane took a seat on the couch and turned so he could face the door. I took up the spot to his right, standing by his side, the wall at my back. The others fanned out, Barrett inspecting every inch of the room like he was about to dust it for fingerprints.

Jack sighed and took a seat on the couch opposite us. “If I’d done this in Jordan’s building, I would have been shot.”

Lane nodded. “And killed, but we’re not talking about that. Let’s get right to it. Tell me how you know my godfather, Ulrich?”

If I hadn’t been watching Jack, I would have missed the slight way his eyes narrowed before he steeled his face. “I’m not sure who you’re referring to.”

“Really? You’ve got a good poker face. Before the first time we met you knew damn well who I was, but I didn’t have a clue.

There were no tells. Lots of skill is needed for that.

You know what else skill is needed for? Research.

It seems you and Ulrich have traded money before.

And wouldn’t you know, Ulrich is the reason there was a barrage of gunfire at my lover’s home.

We won’t discuss all you’ve taken from him because if I bring it up, I won’t have to worry about furthering this conversation.

He’ll shoot you in the head without a second thought. ”

Jack glanced up, his eyes meeting mine. He wasn’t a fool. Word had spread fast about what had happened at my parents’ house. “I had nothing to do with that.”

“Not directly, but someone has been feeding information to my waste of a godfather,” Lane stated.

“You know what? Let’s not call him that.

Let’s refer to him as my fake family. That’s really what he is.

Kind of like a fake smile. Looks good on the outside, full of hatred on the inside.

Are you going to own up to any of this, or do I need to threaten you? ”

“I won’t let you threaten me.”

“Really? I think you will.” Lane stood and walked around the coffee table in the middle of the floor until he stood in front of Jack.

I was right at Lane’s side, ready to intervene.

Lane sat on the table. “Where is he? If you tell me, I’ll leave you alone.

After all, you didn’t pull the trigger, did you? ”

“No, absolutely not. I knew what would happen if I did.”

“Then it’s lucky it’s only me here today and not Jordan. Although, it’s a toss-up who’s more dangerous. I have not one but two of the sons of the man who was murdered with me. Revenge is a hell of a motivator. They’d love to skin whoever took away their family.”

His gaze flicked to me and then to my brother. “I’m sorry for your loss. I truly didn’t have anything to do with it. I’d heard about it, but it wasn’t me.”

I saw Reghan take a step forward, but Barrett placed a hand on his chest to stop him.

“Do you know who I am?” Barrett asked, putting himself in front of my brother.

“You’re the cop who left the force to work for the mafia.”

“Right, so you’re aware I have a lot of tricks up my sleeve.

Not only do I know where to hide a body so it will never be found, but I know how the minds of cops work.

You like your house here; all cozy with whatever you could possibly want.

It would be a shame if you were repeatedly raided by the police.

How would that look for you? You’re not a big name like Jordan.

He can get away with the cops serving him a search warrant.

Any business you’re doing would be vulnerable.

Who’d want to work with you when you can’t keep the cops out of your home? Oh, what they would find in here.”

“I’m not sure what you think I have.”

“I’m not talking about the guns, which we know you purchased last week from Ethan, one of Jordan’s buyers. He was doing that deal for you. How badly you must have wanted those weapons.”

“Don’t worry,” Lane added. “We’re dealing with him too.

Where do you think Jordan is right now?” It was a lie.

We were headed to Ethan’s next. There was already someone on his home so he couldn’t escape.

Lane had a few fingers to sever at a minimum and money to collect.

Ethan wouldn’t be doing illegal business in the city any longer.

“Take this painting for example,” Barrett continued, as if Lane hadn’t spoken.

“It appears to be the English countryside. At first glance it looks like a hell of a knockoff, but I searched quick and found it’s stolen art.

Not that you stole it. You’re not that smart, but all the cops care about is where it’s found.

Here. With you. I’m sure it’s one of many items they’d locate where they don’t belong. ”

“What do you want from me?” Jack exploded, jumping from his seat.

I stepped forward with a growl, ready to put him through the wall. Lane touching my hand pulled me back from the brink.

“Where is my fake family?” Lane asked and stood as well. “It’s one question. Answer it.”

“I don’t know.”

Faster than I could track, Lane pulled his gun and shot Jack in the knee.

He crumbled to the floor, crying out in pain.

No guards came rushing to his aid. Oleander had already seen to the couple who were in the house.

While we were in this room, our friend was handling things for us.

If I had to guess, they’d be zip-tied and gagged in a room nearby, along with the butler and whoever else was in the home.

“You asshole!” Jack yelled.

“This is what happens when you play the real game, Jack. You get shot and I have fun. You think Ulrich is a threat? I’m an Everhart with an Altair organization at my back.

You can’t best me, motherfucker. I haven’t survived this long without learning a thing or two.

” He lifted his gun again, finger on the trigger, this time pointing at Jack’s thigh.

“If I hit you just right, you’ll bleed to death.

That would be fun to watch. The room really could use the infusion of crimson. It would be a nice accent color.”

“You’re fucking insane!” Jack shouted.

“Nah, just had a traumatic upbringing, which continued into adulthood. Good times for all involved. Tell me where he is.”

“I don’t know!”

Lane shot him in the thigh. There was more screaming from Jack.

“Did you think I wouldn’t do it?” Lane seethed. “Fuck you for having a hand in destroying my real family. I will take out every one of you for what you did. No, you didn’t pull the goddamn trigger, but you knew he was here, and you were working with him. That makes you guilty.”

Before Jack could say anything else, Lane put a bullet in the center of his forehead.

“So much for not killing him,” Barrett muttered. “It’s a good thing I’m skilled at thinking up stories. Let’s see how this one will play out.”

While he hashed it out with my brother, I took Lane in my arms and held him close. His body shook against me.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I wanted to get answers. You need closure. We have to find Ulrich so you can get it.”

“I only need you and Alton. Yes, I want to see Ulrich dead for what he did and those who helped him, but you two are my future.”

He nodded against me. “Take me home, Ray. Let’s pick Al up along the way. Send someone else to deal with Ethan.”

“Anything you want.”