Page 40 of Protecting Lainey (Broterhood Alliance #7)

The humidity clung to her skin as Lainey stepped out of her car at the site. Despite the cleanup efforts, the air still carried a faint scent of charred wood.

“Over here.”

Lainey turned at the man’s voice. Councilman Cho was standing next to a black car, and a woman was standing next to him.

Good God, no! Sarah Granger.

Their shoes crunched over the gravel as they walked toward her.

“Lainey,” Councilman Cho said, smiling like the politician he was. “Thank you for making the time.”

“Not a problem,” she said. She kept her voice calm even though her gut was roiling. Lainey smiled at Sarah.

“Lainey Harper.” Sarah smiled, extending her hand like they were old friends. “It seems like I was just out here, and now not only did I hear there was a fire but also a scaffolding accident.”

Lainey shook her hand firmly. “Yes. But we have everything under control.”

“That’s what we like to hear.” Her gaze flicked sharply around the site, focusing on the shed.

Cho pointed at the burnt ground where the shed used to be. “We heard you’re requesting another temporary structure. A replacement for the one that burned.”

Lainey nodded. “It’s the same dimensions. Materials already ordered. I need it in place before inspections resume.”

Cho tilted his head. “Mmmm. That might be … premature.”

“The previous shed was approved and used to store reimbursable project materials.” She narrowed her eyes. “This is a continuation, not a change.”

Sarah exchanged a glance with Cho. “We’re getting pressure from the state finance board. They’re requesting closer oversight before the next reimbursement cycle.”

Lainey shook her head. “There haven’t been any delays in my paperwork. Everything’s been submitted on time and itemized.”

“Oh, I believe you.” Sarah smiled. “And I do understand your point. But perception matters. Especially when the public’s money is involved.”

“I’m fronting every dollar here. I’m reimbursed after. Delaying payments could stall the project.”

Cho nodded slowly. “Which is why we’re here, to avoid any misunderstandings. We’d hate for there to be any … gaps.”

There it was. Subtle. But still a threat.

Sarah moved a little closer. “Off the record? There are folks wondering if you’re stretched too thin. Taking on too much. There’ve been incidents, setbacks, unexpected costs.” She sighed. “Just a friendly reminder. We’re not the only ones watching.”

“Good.” Lainey met her gaze. “Then they’ll see exactly how committed I am.”

Sarah didn’t reply. She didn’t have to. It was clear to Lainey that they weren’t here to help.

Cho stepped forward, lowering his voice enough to sound like a warning. “That may be true. But the city doesn’t rush into reimbursing costs tied to questionable risk management without a thorough review.”

So that was it. They weren’t just delaying her. They were setting her up to fail.

“Two major safety concerns this month, Lainey. That’s not a coincidence,” Cho added.

“If you’re implying the scaffolding accident was my fault,” Lainey said evenly, “you should know it was installed by a licensed contractor, inspected and reported the moment it failed.”

Lainey took a deep breath and continued.

“Then maybe you should be looking at whoever is trying to sabotage the project. Not the ones fighting to keep it going. If the city wants to review the security footage or permits, I’ll email them by the end of the day.

But I want to be clear here. The fire wasn’t caused by neglect.

As for the scaffolding, I have the repair receipts.

We’ve reviewed all site protocols and followed every protocol.

Every inspection. Every report. I’ve done everything by the book. ”

Sarah offered a tight-lipped smile. “Lainey, we’re just here to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.”

Cho checked his phone. “Let’s walk the perimeter. Get a closer look at the site.”

Lainey nodded. What else could she do? This wasn’t an inspection.

It was a warning.

Sarah walked beside her. “You’re still within the ten-day closure, right?”

“Yes, I’ve got eight more days to finish cleanup. The new security measures are already in place.”

Sarah nodded. “There seems to be … some concern you won’t be able to bring things into compliance in time.”

Lainey stopped walking. “Where’s that coming from?”

Sarah shrugged. “Calls. Inquiries. You know how people talk.”

She didn’t say who. But Lainey could guess. The visit from Hartwell Redevelopment Group didn’t come out of the blue. And who knew who else was itching to get this project?

Cho jumped in. “There’s also the matter of your last invoice. Something about the documentation not matching up.”

“It matched,” Lainey said. “It was itemized, signed, and I have receipts for every nail.”

Cho gazed around the site, wouldn’t look Lainey in the eyes. “They may need more time to review. Nothing’s been denied. Just delayed.”

Lainey willed her pulse to slow down. Any delay meant she’d be out tens of thousands of dollars. Her crew had to be paid whether they worked or not. Supplies cost money. Every stalled day cost her more.

“Oh, by the way, we did receive an alternate proposal,” Sarah added. “Someone submitted a review concept for the site. Private contractor. More profitable.”

“Who?” Lainey asked, trying to keep the edge from her voice and knowing she was failing miserably.

Cho raised his brow. “It’s early. Probably won’t go anywhere.”

Riiight. She heard the implied threat. Step aside or get pushed out.

She squared her shoulders. “If the city wants to push me out, they’ll have to work for it. I’ve fulfilled every permit, passed every inspection and filed every report required of me, on time.”

“We know that,” said Sarah sweetly. “We’re just here to support the project.”

They continued walking. Cho was tapping something on his phone.

The vultures were circling, waiting for her to trip.

The tour wrapped up ten minutes later, although it felt like an hour.

Cho shook her hand. “We’ll be in touch.”

Sarah patted her shoulder. “It’s a lot to manage.”

She didn’t watch them leave. Stood in front of her office, maybe her ex-office, and let out the breath she’d been holding.

As she walked toward her car, it felt like her dream was slipping through her fingers. Again.