Page 10 of Lane

“I thought you wanted to get away from this kind of life,” Raiden said.

“No, I told you I wanted away from the life my pretend father had and my asshole brothers. It’s not the same here.”

Would my mom be happy I was part of this? No, but I couldn’t live for someone who was no longer here. I thought I could honor her wishes and keep my hands clean. The longer I stayed with Jordan in his building, the more I realized I didn’t want to leave and find something else to do. I had one life and had to live it on my terms. If that meant tagging along with Jordan and getting somewhat involved in what he did, so be it.

My gaze returned to Jordan. “You never know. I could be useful.” How? Who knew? That was part of the fun.

“Ride with Ollie.”

I grinned and handed my bags to the guard standing near the elevator. “I’ll grab these when I get back. Thank you.”

Jordan’s Maserati was already waiting for him with Albert holding the door open. “Mr. Everhart, so kind of you to join us.”

“It’s my first Altair outing. I’m excited.”

“He’s a Weathers,” Raiden felt the need to say.

“Actually, I’m still an Everhart. I haven’t changed my name.” Maybe I would, maybe I wouldn’t. Technically, I was a Weathers since my father by blood was, but I’d grown up with the Everhart name. A part of me didn’t want to let that go because it felt like losing another piece of my mom.

The closing of a car door snapped me into motion. I slid into the passenger seat of the black, tinted Lincoln Navigator and put my seat belt on.

“Your first field trip with Jordan,” Oleander said. “I remember mine. I wasn’t nearly as excited as you.” His dark hair was pulled back into a bun today. The boots he wore were the kind that could kick some ass. Other than that, he wore jeans and a T-shirt under a tan work jacket. It looked warm, and if blood got on it, I doubt he’d be broken up about it.

Oleander pulled away from the curb, following the Maserati as Albert turned west toward the other side of Dremest.

“I’m overdressed,” I muttered.

“Nah. Jordan’s in a suit. You’re fine.”

“Yeah, but he’s the boss. I’m just… me.”

“Ray seemed to like how you looked.”

I chuckled. “Ray doesn’t know what to do with me.”

“Truer words have never been spoken.” I liked Oleander. He was easy to talk to. I still kept a lot to myself. There was no way I was going to pour my heart out to him on this little adventure.

“Where are we going?”

“West Dremest. There’s a gun buyer who wants to see a sample of what Jordan has to sell. We have cases in the back with some of Jordan’s finest offerings in them.”

“His are probably better than the shit I learned on.”

“I figured you knew how to shoot.”

“I’m good too. I can fight as well, but my reflex isn’t to go into fight mode. One of the perks of not having the DNA from the Everhart gene pool.” My pretend father had taught me, although years later, he told me he regretted it since I didn’t turn out like he’d wanted. Boo fucking hoo for him.

“You don’t have to tell me, but we have some time to waste. If you wanted nothing to do with this life, you still wouldn’t be here. Raiden might not see it, but I do. You’re free to do whatever you want, and yet you remain. It has to be for more than Hartley and Forest.”

Looking out the windshield, I watched heads turn on the sidewalk when they saw Jordan’s car. Even though there were others who were wealthy around us, I doubted any had the same reputation as Jordan did. “There’s more here. A sense of family. I’m not pushed away like I don’t matter. Plus, the rent is ridiculously cheap.” Hopefully, he recognized the exit sentencefor what it was. I really didn’t want to delve deeper into this right now. I’d rather be a spectator at the afternoon meeting.

He laughed. “That it is.”

“Were you supposed to ride alone?”

“Sheldon was going to come, but he caught whatever Ava brought home from school. Jordan didn’t want him coughing and sneezing while he was trying to make a deal.”

“Lane by default.”

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