Page 28 of Lane

“Fine,” he bit out. “You’ll have a trial period. You’ll come with me when I handle this side of my business. If you fuck up, find something else to do. There’s no guarantee you’ll get the spot you’re after, but I have room for you. The only people who get that close to me have proven their worth. You’ll have to do the same.”

There was a need. I had to show others I wasn’t just the child of his rival, because I wasn’t. I was so much more than that. I’d be useful and kick some ass along the way.

“Deal,” I said. “Can we start tomorrow though? I have a date to plan.”

He growled again. “Get the fuck out of my office.”

I grinned. “With pleasure.”

11

RAIDEN

What did it say about me when I’d follow Lane anywhere he wanted to go? I had no clue what he’d planned for the evening but I was along for the ride, as was Alton.

I stood waiting in the garage, not knowing who was driving or if we were even getting in a vehicle. Alton showed up next, parking his deep-blue Mercedes E-350 in his designated spot. If Alton needed to get here and park in a hurry, he had to have a place he knew no one else would park in.

He exited the vehicle wearing a pair of dark jeans and a beige sweater beneath a black thigh-length coat. His look always said he had money, but he wasn’t like that. Alton didn’t flaunt what he had. Jordan paid him very well, plus he had the money he made from his practice. Sure, he drove a nice car, but he could have afforded much more.

“Raiden,” he said in greeting as he stepped up next to me, both of us facing the same way now, shoulder to shoulder but not touching. “Any idea where we’re going?”

“Not even a little.”

Alton and I had to talk more. The urge to speak was there on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t get it out. That sting of rejection still hurt, no matter how much I wished it woulddisappear. Lane knew what he was doing. I didn’t have a clue, at least where Alton was concerned.

A sleek black Land Rover pulled into the garage, did a lap, and then parked beside us, facing the front of the building. None of the other guards moved, so I had a feeling this was Lane. The window rolled down, and he turned on the interior light. “Get in.”

I opened the front passenger door for Alton, who wasn’t sure what to do at first. He watched me for a moment before climbing inside. “Thank you.”

With a nod, I closed him inside and got into the back, closing the door and putting my seat belt on. “Is this yours?”

“It is now. I bought it gently used.”

“How did you have time to do that?”

“Money talks.”

I kept forgetting he had money in an account his mother had set aside for him. He originally had much more, but after paying a hefty sum to the city for Jordan helping take out Lane’s father and brother, Lane was left with enough to comfortably live on. Like Alton, he didn’t flaunt it, but didn’t hold back from buying what he wanted. Case in point with the Land Rover.

“Where are we going?” Alton asked.

“I told you it would be an adventure, and since you’re both serious a lot of the time, I figured we could relax and have fun. We’re going to a water park.”

“In January?” I asked. “In Pennsylvania?”

“Did you forget about that huge indoor one in the Poconos? It’s a school night. It should be quiet there.”

“We don’t have bathing suits,” Alton supplied. “And for all you know, we can’t swim.”

“Yes, you can. I know because I asked Reghan and Jordan. And before you ask how Jordan knows, think about that question.” Of course, my brother would know if I could swim,and Jordan with his infinite background checking and deep diving into people’s past, he’d find out if Alton could too. “I borrowed Reghan’s swim shorts for you, Ray. Al, I made my best guess and borrowed from one of the guards.”

He put the SUV in drive and headed out onto the street. The city was still dealing with the remnants of rush hour. We drove through it until we were on the highway moving north.

“Doesn’t it close soon?”

“The water park? Nah. I got them to stay open an extra hour for just us. We probably should sit down and get you two to actually have a conversation, but I don’t think that will happen until you loosen up. What better way to do that than going down a waterslide? You can’t help but smile rushing down those things.”

“Have you been here before?”

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