Page 6 of Lane (East Dremest Mafia #5)

LANE

Warmth seeped into me when I entered the building.

I’d spent my morning walking through the shopping district of East Dremest. I didn’t think that was what they actually called it, but I did.

It was store after store within blocks of each other.

I’d bought some new clothes, but other than that, it was mostly to get out of the building.

The elevator opened, and Jordan, Raiden, and Oleander exited. Raiden looked me over from my expensive boots to the jeans that did wonders for my ass, up to my fitted sweater and my gray wool coat. When he got to my face, I winked.

“Raiden,” Jordan barked. He got back into the elevator. “Wrong fucking floor.”

“Where are you going?” I asked and piled in with them.

“Business meeting,” was all Jordan said. I didn’t expect him to give me extensive details.

“Can I come?”

“You want to join us?”

The elevator doors opened on the garage level. I stepped out, giving them room to do the same. “Yes, I’m bored. Please.”

“I thought you wanted to get away from this kind of life,” Raiden said.

“No, I told you I wanted away from the life my pretend father had and my asshole brothers. It’s not the same here.”

Would my mom be happy I was part of this?

No, but I couldn’t live for someone who was no longer here.

I thought I could honor her wishes and keep my hands clean.

The longer I stayed with Jordan in his building, the more I realized I didn’t want to leave and find something else to do.

I had one life and had to live it on my terms. If that meant tagging along with Jordan and getting somewhat involved in what he did, so be it.

My gaze returned to Jordan. “You never know. I could be useful.” How? Who knew? That was part of the fun.

“Ride with Ollie.”

I grinned and handed my bags to the guard standing near the elevator. “I’ll grab these when I get back. Thank you.”

Jordan’s Maserati was already waiting for him with Albert holding the door open. “Mr. Everhart, so kind of you to join us.”

“It’s my first Altair outing. I’m excited.”

“He’s a Weathers,” Raiden felt the need to say.

“Actually, I’m still an Everhart. I haven’t changed my name.” Maybe I would, maybe I wouldn’t. Technically, I was a Weathers since my father by blood was, but I’d grown up with the Everhart name. A part of me didn’t want to let that go because it felt like losing another piece of my mom.

The closing of a car door snapped me into motion. I slid into the passenger seat of the black, tinted Lincoln Navigator and put my seat belt on.

“Your first field trip with Jordan,” Oleander said.

“I remember mine. I wasn’t nearly as excited as you.

” His dark hair was pulled back into a bun today.

The boots he wore were the kind that could kick some ass.

Other than that, he wore jeans and a T-shirt under a tan work jacket.

It looked warm, and if blood got on it, I doubt he’d be broken up about it.

Oleander pulled away from the curb, following the Maserati as Albert turned west toward the other side of Dremest.

“I’m overdressed,” I muttered.

“Nah. Jordan’s in a suit. You’re fine.”

“Yeah, but he’s the boss. I’m just… me.”

“Ray seemed to like how you looked.”

I chuckled. “Ray doesn’t know what to do with me.”

“Truer words have never been spoken.” I liked Oleander. He was easy to talk to. I still kept a lot to myself. There was no way I was going to pour my heart out to him on this little adventure.

“Where are we going?”

“West Dremest. There’s a gun buyer who wants to see a sample of what Jordan has to sell. We have cases in the back with some of Jordan’s finest offerings in them.”

“His are probably better than the shit I learned on.”

“I figured you knew how to shoot.”

“I’m good too. I can fight as well, but my reflex isn’t to go into fight mode. One of the perks of not having the DNA from the Everhart gene pool.” My pretend father had taught me, although years later, he told me he regretted it since I didn’t turn out like he’d wanted. Boo fucking hoo for him.

“You don’t have to tell me, but we have some time to waste. If you wanted nothing to do with this life, you still wouldn’t be here. Raiden might not see it, but I do. You’re free to do whatever you want, and yet you remain. It has to be for more than Hartley and Forest.”

Looking out the windshield, I watched heads turn on the sidewalk when they saw Jordan’s car.

Even though there were others who were wealthy around us, I doubted any had the same reputation as Jordan did.

“There’s more here. A sense of family. I’m not pushed away like I don’t matter.

Plus, the rent is ridiculously cheap.” Hopefully, he recognized the exit sentence for what it was.

I really didn’t want to delve deeper into this right now.

I’d rather be a spectator at the afternoon meeting.

He laughed. “That it is.”

“Were you supposed to ride alone?”

“Sheldon was going to come, but he caught whatever Ava brought home from school. Jordan didn’t want him coughing and sneezing while he was trying to make a deal.”

“Lane by default.”

“Not a bad deal.”

“Not for me.” I smiled.

We made small talk the rest of the way to the location. It was easier than cracking my chest open.

I left my coat in the SUV when we exited in front of an old restored home near the edge of the city. The outside was stunningly done, to the point I felt transported back in time.

A man in slacks and a button-down opened the door for us and showed us to a room off the main entryway. Oleander carried a case, as did I. If I was going to be here, I might as well be helpful.

The room we were in had plush couches on either side with an ornate table in the middle.

I sat the case by the couch closest to me, as my eyes were drawn to the painting on the opposite wall.

It was the kind you’d find in a period movie where they liked to have grand portraits done with people in elegant clothes they couldn’t breathe in.

“Jordan, so nice to meet you in person,” a man said as he entered.

His salt-and-pepper hair had an elegant swoop to it, keeping it out of his crystal-blue eyes.

A sculpted jaw and a regal nose screamed good genes.

Even if we weren’t standing in this room, I would have noticed him, especially given the way his arms tested the limits of the cashmere sweater he wore.

I had to pull myself together. I wasn’t here to find a hookup. Too bad because, damn, he was good-looking.

“Jack, thank you for agreeing to meet.”

He chuckled. “I don’t think anyone tells you no. This is a mutual meeting. I see you’ve brought samples for me to see.”

“Yes.”

Oleander picked up his case while I stood waiting to see the guns inside.

“Lane,” Jordan growled.

“Oh, right.” I grabbed the case from the floor and propped it on the couch before unlatching it. This was not the way to get Jordan to want to bring me along for a ride again. I couldn’t even remember to open a case.

“Hello,” Jack said to me, his hand trailing along the small of my back. No chills. No spark of anything except annoyance at his boldness. Too bad his hotness was wasted on me.

I turned and offered my hand, stepping away so he no longer touched me. “Lane. Nice to meet you.”

The smooth fucker he was lifted my hand and kissed the back of it. “You’re charming.”

“So I’ve heard.”

“Let’s see what you’ve brought me.”

I stepped to the side so he could lift the gun from the case. Movement in my peripheral brought my eyes to Raiden, who appeared to be seconds away from strangling Jordan’s potential buyer. Well, well, well, someone didn’t like Jack touching me. Good to know.

Jack lifted a gun, inspected it, placed it back in the case, and moved to the other one on the table near Oleander. He examined that case too, before taking a seat on the couch near me. I quickly closed the case and moved it to the floor so he wasn’t squished to one side.

“They’re very nice,” Jack stated. “Have a seat, and let’s work out the numbers.”

Jordan sat opposite of him, with Raiden taking up a position on Jordan’s right, Oleander with the case on his left; neither man sat.

There were two bodyguards Jack had with him who stood just outside the doorway.

Arms relaxed, waiting to grab their guns.

Legs braced as if they could block us from leaving as they stared each of us down.

There was a lot of dick swinging in here, and not the kind I cared about.

While Jordan and Jack discussed the quantity of guns Jack would need, and what price Jordan was willing to sell them to him for, I fixated on the painting again.

Seriously, who decorated this place? Or was it an homage to Jack’s family he couldn’t take down?

It was a step back in time, while also having modern comfort like the couches and the contemporary vase in the corner.

“Do you like my painting?” I heard a bit later. I’d zoned out, so I was surprised his question broke through.

I turned to find Jack watching me. “It’s your family.”

“Yes. Generations ago. It used to hang in a castle in their home in England.”

“It’s very nice.”

“Mmm, unlike the deal Jordan’s trying to cut me.”

“I told you that was as low as I could go,” Jordan said, leaning forward with his forearms on his thighs.

“You did, but it still leaves a hell of a profit for you.”

“Why would I do this if not to make money?”

“I’d like half of the shipment at cost and the other at the price you offered.”

Jordan’s jaw ticked. I’d seen it enough to know what was about to come out of his mouth wasn’t ideal. Leaving here without a deal wasn’t good for business. It was obvious Jack was a powerful man. So, I did the only thing I could think of.

Rounding the front of the couch, I kept my eyes on the painting, pretending I didn’t see where I was going. “It really is stunning. The attention to detail is—” And then I fake tripped right onto Jack’s lap.

“I’m so sorry,” I rushed to say, righting my limbs so I wasn’t completely sprawled out on top of him.

“Nonsense.” His arm circled my waist as he pulled me closer. “You fit just fine here. Do you come as part of the package? You’d certainly sweeten the deal. I wouldn’t mind paying the full price if I had you.”

I grinned and looped my arm around his neck. “Oh, that would be interesting... Daddy.” He sucked in a sharp breath. “But here’s the thing. I’m not sure if you’ve heard of my family. I’m an Everhart.”

Jack’s eyes widened, although he didn’t release me. “Are you now?”

“If you’ve heard what happened, you’ll know my father and brothers are dead.

I’m the only remaining member. Another fun fact, I’m related by blood to one of Jordan’s partners.

While the size of your plump dick against my ass is certainly promising, I couldn’t shack up with someone buying from my family.

It wouldn’t be ethical. However, I assure you, these guns are where you’ll want to invest your money.

You can’t get this kind of quality anywhere else for the same price.

I should know. I have more training than probably all of you combined.

” That was a bit far-fetched. Since being in East Dremest and free of a guard on my ass, I’d been going to the shooting range to hone my skills. I never knew when I’d need them.

“You keep surprising me.”

“It’s what happens when you’re underestimated. Not by Jordan, mind you. My family didn’t think I was worth a damn. Always have the upper hand, am I right?”

He shifted me on his lap, his dick now fully hard, and dear god, was he packing. I squirmed a little to give him a taste of what he couldn’t have. “How about you agree to Jordan’s offer, and I’ll make sure to personally deliver them?”

“What else will you do for me?” He dragged his nose along my neck.

“I think you’ve already gotten enough from me.” I peeled myself away from him, stood, and walked to the other side of the room, next to Oleander, with my grin firmly in place. “Do we have a deal?”

Jack’s eyes went from me to Jordan. “We do.” Then he watched me again. “If you ever tire of being in the Altair organization, Lane Everhart, you’re more than welcome here.”

“Noted.”

Jordan stood and extended his hand to Jack. They shook.

I helped make that happen. I was pretty damn proud of myself until I was outside and Jordan told me to get into the car with him.