Page 42 of Beautiful Scars

Zane sighs heavily, but I can see him wavering. "If I say yes, will you shut the fuck up and let me finish this?"

"Absolutely not," Colt grins. "But I'll buy the first round."

I clear my throat, interrupting. "As entertaining as this is, we need to focus. We need to make a decision on Oak Valley. It's becoming an issue."

Colt's playful demeanor shifts instantly, his blue eyes sharpening behind his glasses. "What kind of issue?"

"The kind that requires our attention." I pull out a manila folder from my desk drawer. "Remember that safe house on Cherry Street?"

Zane sets down the gun he's cleaning. "Your father's old place?"

"That's the one." I spread out several photos across my desk. "It's been sitting empty since he died. But I think it's time we got it operational again."

"Operational for what exactly?" Colt moves closer, studying the pictures of the dilapidated but sprawling ranch style house.

"If we don't make some moves to re-establish our presence there, we're going to lose it. It's been neglected for a long time." I tap my finger on a photo showing broken windows and overgrown landscaping. "Oak Valley used to be central to everything when my father ran things. We've let it slip."

"And now you want it back." Zane's voice is neutral, but I catch the slight tension in his shoulders.

"Weneedit back," I correct him. "The competition's getting bold. They think because we've been focused elsewhere, they can move in on what was always ours. It's fine for now, but it'll hurt our business, especially the guns, in the long run. Makes us look careless, weak."

Colt picks up another one of the photos. "This place looks rough, man. How long are we talking to get it ready?"

"A week, maybe two." I lean back in my chair. "We need to install new security systems, reinforce entry points, the works. It needs to start looking lived in. Neighbors need to get used to having company again."

"Neighbors." Zane's lip curls slightly. "That was always the problem with that house. Too many eyes."

"Which is exactly why it's perfect for us." I stand up, pacing behind my desk. "It's quiet. Unexpected. My father understood that. It's why he chose it in the first place."

"Speaking of your father..." Colt hesitates, glancing at Zane before continuing. "You sure going back there is smart? There's a lot of history back there. He may be gone, but there's a lot of people who remember him and remember what happened."

"That history is exactly why we need to do this." My voice hardens. "People there need to be reminded that things changed. They need to remember who we are."

Zane sets aside his cleaning supplies completely, his full attention on me now. "Why now? Last time I checked, you wanted nothing to do with any part of the business that was your father's."

I keep my expression neutral, even though I'm irritated by the lack of vision I'm surrounded by. "I don't. But, I also don't want to take any hits on anything we've built for ourselves."

"You sure that's all it is?" Zane stands, his height making the office feel smaller. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks an awful lot like you're trying to prove something to people who don't matter anymore."

"Z..." Colt warns softly.

"No." I hold up my hand. "Let him speak."

"Going backwards like this is never a good idea," Zane continues, his blue eyes intense. "Who gives a fuck about Oak Valley. We've got plenty of other things to worry about besides stirring up all that old business."

"Concern noted." I say, my tone icy.

Colt moves between us, his usual lighthearted demeanor replaced with something more serious. "Maybe we should focus on the logistics first. Give me a day to get together with Wolf. We'll draw up some plans."

I force myself to take a deep breath, reining in the anger that threatens to spill over. “Fine. But I want preliminary designs by tomorrow. Z, I need you to make some calls and figure out what we're up against. Get all the details on who's who and what they're moving."

"And you?" Zane asks, still watching me carefully.

"I'm going to make some calls of my own." I sit back down at my desk. "There's a lot of bad blood there, but there are also a few people in Oak Valley who owe my family favors. Time to collect."

"Your father's old contacts?" Colt asks hesitantly.

"My contacts now." I pull out my phone. "Whether they like it or not."

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