Page 17 of Played

“Could be longer,” I add. “Who knows what other information Spartan has been handed.”

Pop’s lips flatten into a thin line. “Then I’ll wager it’s not going to be easy to find out who it is. They obviously haven’t done anything to come to our attention in the monthly security sweeps.”

Nathan leans back in his chair and runs a hand over his beard. “It could be someone from security.”

“So we need to hire someone from outside. Someone we’ve never worked with before?” I suggest.

Elijah looks around the table. “Any of you know any decent PIs?”

Drake’s eyes light up.

“Are you thinking Jessie Ryan would help?” Elijah asks. The Ryans are some of Nathan and Drake’s biggest clients. They’re also Irish Mafia.

Nathan shakes his head. “I’m not sure we need to involve them at this stage, not unless we need a hacker. And as much as I respect them, they’re still the mob. Besides, Shane keeps riding my ass about them having me on retainer and not the other way around.”

“And Jessie is pregnant, so they’re more protective than usual,” Drake adds, pulling off his tie and stuffing it into his jacket pocket. “I was thinking of someone else, anyway. He’s a guy I used in Chicago.”

I rest my forearms on the table and take another bite of cookie. “A good PI?”

“Better than a PI,” Drake says. “I believe the Morettis call him a fixer.”

Nathan rolls his eyes. “So, we’re gonna jump into bed with the Italian Mafia instead of the Irish mob?”

The irony of him being the one who objects to bringing this guy on board is too good not to comment on. “More of your closest friends.”

“Yeah, well,” he says, shrugging. “But my point still stands. Jamestech is a legitimate multi-billion-dollar corporation.”

Drake shakes his head. “This guy isn’t Mafia. He’s legit, I swear. He’s the one renting out the apartment in Marble Hill.”

Elijah frowns, and I can see him running down the extensive list of properties we own. We have a lot of properties in New York, and they’re managed by a realtor, but Elijah knows more about them than the rest of us. “The guy who’s looking after his sick grandfather?”

Drake nods. “Yes. See, he’s a good man. And he’s really fucking good at his job. Back in Chicago, they call him Hotshot.”

“Hotshot?” I roll my eyes. But I guess he can’t be as pretentious as his name suggests if he’s looking after his sick grandpa.

Drake grins. “Don’t worry, Mase, he’s nowhere near as cool as you.”

I return his grin and flip him the bird.

Ignoring me, he continues. “That’s what people called him. He helped me out with a few really tough cases. Plus, he happens to be in New York right now, and he’s looking for a case to get his teeth into.”

Elijah’s already nodding, the cogs turning in his brain. “Can you set up a meeting with him for Monday?”

Drake smiles and leans back in his chair. “Yeah, I don’t think that’ll be a problem. That okay with you, Mase?”

I nod. “Sure. Elijah can meet with the hotshot and fill me in on the details.”

Drake smirks at me. “Wait until you meet him. You’ll find out what I mean.”

Well, now I’m all kinds of intrigued and looking forward to meeting him when I get back. Let’s see exactly howhotDrake’s guy actually is. Figuratively speaking, of course—I don’t mix business with pleasure.

Chapter

Eight

KING

Abead of sweat trickles down my back, and I glance around the elegant glass reception area of Jamestech. I have no fucking clue why I agreed to this. When Drake called on Saturday and asked me to meet with his older brother because he had a case for me, I said yes before I had a chance to think it through. Older ruled out the brother I’m trying to avoid at least, even if he is COO of this company.