Page 90 of Ruthless Reign

“Not about this,” she called. “I agree with them. You need to leave the runs to the brothers. Now, fuck him up, Hollywood, or let him go. I’m tired and it’s too wet out here for my suede heels.”

Hollywood rolled off me and I lay in the grass, staring at the fading summer sun and trying to catch my breath.

“Fine,” I finally conceded. “I’ll stop doing runs.”

“Good,” Hollywood said, nailing me in the stomach one more time before pushing to his feet and holding a hand out for me to take. “I wouldn’t have to kick your ass if you’d just listen to me once in a while.”

I sneered at him, but walked to my wife and scooped her in my arms to carry her back inside so she didn’t ruin her pretty shoes.

A few days later,I was at the garage, trying to figure out what was wrong with an old Ford Ranger when the familiar sound of a clearing throat got my attention. I rolled out from under the pickup and sat up, glancing at both KC and Thor before pushing to my feet.

“Mr. Montgomery,” Detective Jordan said from her spot at the entrance.

“Detective Jordan.” I raised an eyebrow and wiped my oily hands on a rag. “To what do I owe this great honor?”

She nodded back toward her unmarked car. “Can I have a moment?”

Thor shifted onto his other foot and KC shrugged, raising his eyebrows like maybe it wasn’t the best idea. I thought back to thelast time I’d talked to her, when I told her to find the leak in her department. Someone had been working with the Caputis and the secret of who that was had died with Gabriella and her men.

“You have a warrant?” I glanced around, noticing she’d come by herself. No other police officers trolled the perimeter, nor was her partner Detective Asshat in her car.

“My visit’s not exactly…on the record.” She stared at me, perhaps willing me to pick up what she was laying down. Her bright hazel eyes sparkled in the sunshine, her body tense with whatever had brought her to Rose territory with no backup.

“All right,” I said, shaking my head when Thor picked up a wrench. “I’ll be back in a few.”

“Uh-huh,” he said, watching as I followed the detective back down to her Crown Vic.

“What’s going on?” I asked, sudden alarm shooting through my chest and into my gut. “Is it my old man?”

“No,” she said. “Randall’s fine. Ashley’s fine.” I hadn’t heard Crow and Aris referred to by their legal names in so long, it took me a moment to realize who she was talking about. “It’s, um…” Jordan cleared her throat and glanced down to the ground, kicking a rock back and forth with her boot.

“What?” I asked. “I don’t have all fucking day?—”

“It’s about the leak,” she said. “You said you thought someone in the Feds had been working with the Caputis.”

“I did,” I said. “I still do. And?”

She put her hands on her hips, pushing her suit jacket back far enough to reveal her badge and gun. “I believe you.”

“Oh.” That took me by surprise. I’d been expecting her to tell me the whole thing was ridiculous or perhaps arrest me for my part in any number of the illegal shit my family got up to. I had not expected this. “What changed your mind?”

“I’ve been a cop for ten years. Not once have my instincts steered me wrong.” She shook her head and glanced around.“After the last time we talked, my gut told me you were right, that there was more to what you were saying. I did some digging.”

“And?” I crossed my arms, glancing back toward Thor and KC, who stood outside and watched like hawks. If Jordan made one wrong move, they’d descend like a pack of wolves. I tried to reassure them with my expression.

“And…it’s not good,” she said. “But I need your help. There’s no way I can get close enough to do this on my own.”

“Help?” I scoffed. “You obviously didn’t listen last time. I’m not a snitch, and neither is my old man.”

She tucked her lips between her teeth and steeled her gaze, taking a long, slow inhale. “I can make it worth your while.”

“How?” I let out a sick laugh. “You gonna let my dad go? You gonna let Aris walk?”

“I can’t,” she said. “But I can convince the DA to lower the charges. If the evidence was obtained illegally, it’s inadmissible in court. And if what I suspect is true, we don’t have much.”

That lit a small fire of hope in my chest. “What’s in it for me?”

“You wanted to see your dad?” she asked. “I can arrange that.”

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