Page 32 of Protecting Lainey (Broterhood Alliance #7)

Sixty miles away from Haywood Lake, Travis was sitting at a quiet, upscale bar.

The counter was polished chrome so smoothly you could see your face in it, with a mirror behind it reflecting all top-shelf liquor. The lighting was low, and private booths lined the edge of the room.

Soft piano music played in the background.

It reeked of money.

Smelled like money with undertones of fear.

His fear.

It wasn’t his kind of place. He much preferred dented wooden bars with cheap beer, bright lights, and no private booths unless you paid for a woman to be sitting next to you or, preferably, under the table sucking your cock.

But here he was.

Sitting across from a man in a black suit with dead eyes.

Travis took a large gulp of whiskey and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

“You said this would be handled,” the man said, his voice low and gravelly. “That there wouldn’t be any problems. Yet here we are.”

He tapped his fingers on the table and shook his head.

“Status?”

Travis shifted uncomfortably in the leather seat. He watched the man casually clip the tip off the end of a cigar and then light it.

“The site is locked down,” Travis said. “Extra security has been brought in.”

“So?” The man arched a brow. “Isn’t it your job to unlock it? Didn’t you promise to make sure this was settled quickly? Didn’t you accept a large fee to disrupt the build?”

Travis felt his head start to explode. Too many questions. Too many wrong answers that would get his head blown off in the middle of the night. Or worse.

“It’s not that simple,” he said carefully.

“I didn’t know the Brotherhood Alliance set up the cameras.

I thought it was only one guy providing security, low-profile.

But now they’ve come in with more sophisticated equipment, doubled the patrols, armed guards.

I can’t get close without showing up on a dozen feeds. ”

The man took a long puff on the cigar and let the smoke curl around Travis like a warning.

“If we make a move, they’ll trace it back,” Travis added. “That’s not the kind of heat you want.”

The man nodded, then leaned forward and tapped the ash into a crystal tray.

“Then move around it.”

Travis frowned. “Meaning?”

“Lainey Harper,” the man replied as if he were explaining to a toddler. “She’s the face of the project, holds the permits. Make it uncomfortable for her.”

Travis swallowed hard. “She’s got a kid.”

The man gave him a sly smile. Travis’s stomach lurched. He suddenly knew exactly how prey felt when a snake started circling.

“And?”

“She doesn’t seem the type to scare. It’s going to get messy,” said Travis.

“Again, why is that my problem?”

Travis hesitated, then nodded. “It’s not. I’ll find a way to make it work.”

He hoped the man wouldn’t catch the tremble in his voice. Hurting women or kids had never been part of the job. It was just supposed to be causing havoc. Something he enjoyed. Besides, he actually liked Lainey. She was tough but fair to the crew. Treated them with respect.

“Good.” The man nodded, sliding an envelope across the bar. “Final payout. Spend it fast.”

Travis didn’t reach for it, just nodded.

He didn’t have to ask what that meant. Dean had gone dark a couple of days ago, vanishing without saying goodbye. Now it was his turn.

The man finished the drink, rubbed out his cigar, and stood. He clapped Travis on the shoulder. “Do what you were paid to do.”

Then he walked away smiling, leaving the smoke and Travis’s pounding pulse behind him.