Page 80 of Grim

“Whoa. Let me get this straight.” Brick suddenly leaned over the table. “I understand Jim Gates hired you to be his lawyer years back when he faced some serious charges. Since then, he’s taken care of you and kept you on retainer. He lets you and your family live here, work here, gives you unlimited access to his hotel and all it offers, and now you sit here in front of us and say you’re willing to undercut his son’s business?”

“Grim has many businesses.”

“You didn’t answer my question.” Brick held his gaze.

“Yes,” Cameron said through clenched teeth, “I guess if you’re going to word it that way, I am.”

“You know Grim is a member of the Devil’s Reach, right?” Brick looked at him like he was insane, which I now realized was incredibly accurate. “Meaning our alliance falls with Grim. Meaning that you offerin’ us something over Grim’s head really isn’t a smart choice.”

Cameron waited a beat then squeezed out the word, “Yes.”

“Just making sure.” Brick shook his head, obviously unimpressed, at Trigger. I looked at Cameron whose face had gone white. I hoped he wouldn’t race out of the room after that error in judgement.

“Still waiting to hear what’s in this for me.” Smoke rose from Trigger’s lips, and I felt my own head lighten from the drug. I started to panic. This conversation was tanking, and we needed a name to point the blame at for our client. Cameron might not live to see next week.

“Money?” Cameron blurted, and I dropped my head.

“We’re done here.” Trigger got up.

“Simon once worked a job with your brother, Brick.” Cameron swung the attention of the entire room to me. I felt like the floor had just been ripped out beneath me.

“What did you say?” Brick went for his weapon, but Trigger already had his pulled.

“Hold on. Hold on. What?” I glared at Cameron and fought to keep upright at the rush of blood that flooded my head. My face burned.

“This here is Matt Montgomery,” Cameron pointed at Brick, and my eyes widened.

“Holy shit,” I sucked in a gulp of air trying to get my brain to unstick from the gun he held. “Matt Montgomery? That’s you? I worked a job in Nashville with your brother years back. He told me a bit about your club. I just figured you’d left. I didn’t know you went by a different name.”

“Prove it.” Brick’s gun didn’t waver, and I second guessed if this was worth my life or not. I sent Cameron a look of frustration. I was furious at him for his lack of warning.

“Let’s see,” I pushed my glasses up my nose, buying a second to think, “your dad left when you were a baby, joined the DR, and died before you got to meet him. You guys have a sister named Jilly.” I swallowed and looked at Cameron who now had two guards by his side. Where the hell was my protection! “Please, lower your weapons!” I pulled at my tie as the oxygen strained to get down to my lungs.

“If I’d known how touchy this topic would be, I wouldn’t have said anything.” Cameron looked innocent as he tried to smooth the tension. It was too late; my heart was jammed in my throat, seeking escape.

After a beat, Trigger nodded at Brick, and he lowered his gun. I noticed he didn’t put it away.

“Where’s he now?” Trigger growled as he sat back down and drilled me with his eyes.

“Not sure. Shit went sideways after that job, and we got separated.” I fought through the fear and struggled to think. “Last I heard, he took a job in Mexico.”

“When was that?” Trigger’s voice was low and frightening. Brick sat like stone.

“Ah,” I rubbed my head and did the math, “ten – eleven years ago, give or take a year.”

Brick moved then and glanced at Trigger, and something passed between them. I fumbled to fucking breathe. I wasn’t prepared to discuss this today or any day or I would have thought harder about the facts. It was only desperation that drew the words from my lips. “Ahh,” I tried to get my head on straight, “I have a friend who’s really good at finding people.”

Cameron suddenly spoke up. “Yeah, he’s got someone good. He’s a DEA agent.”

My jaw dropped. Who was Cameron to give that information away?

“Something like that.” I glared at Cameron. “Anyway, if you help us, I’m sure I could find something.”

“What name did he use?” Brick said as he licked his lips, and I could tell I had caught his attention.

“David, I mean Dave Wilson.”

I saw Trigger eye up Brick as the room went silent. My heart pounded in my chest, and I thought I might pass out.

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