Page 64 of Lane

I stopped behind Albert in the rear of the restaurant, jumping out on instinct with my gun drawn. Lane came up behind me, his hand on my lower back. I had to know where he was at all times.

We’d started training together, having cues no one else would notice. There was one for when he should duck. Another if I needed him to pretend to faint. The list went on. We were also sure to spar, although not too seriously. Lane and I needed to move in sync like my brother and I did. Predicting each other’s moves would be valuable when we were back-to-back, fighting an enemy.

I’d like to hope Lane wouldn’t have to fight and I could handle whatever came our way. The truth was, Lane didn’t want to sit on the sidelines and be protected. Not that Jordan ever did either. But Jordan lived the life of someone who had constant guards on them and would only shoot when necessary. Lane was ready to jump into the fray without regard for his own safety. Hopefully, the training we did would save his life if it was ever in jeopardy.

Jordan peered over his shoulder at me. Without a word, Barrett slid into my spot protecting Lane, and I took up positionnext to my brother. Barrett was a damn good shot, but he didn’t know the layout of the steakhouse as well as I did. Reghan and I were aware of every corner, nook, and access point in the restaurant.

Reghan nodded. Time to enter the building.

I placed my hand on the knob and noticed it was unlocked. Reghan had the key on him if need be. It was part of the regular carry of shit we had when we guarded Jordan.

Reghan stood at the ready, gun in hand. I turned the knob and opened the door. He entered, checking as he did so. Coming up behind him, I moved to his left flank. Together, we swept the back room that emptied into the kitchen.

Jordan wasn’t one to stay behind. He was at our backs. Someone threatened his employees, and he wasn’t about to wait to see who we found. Jordan required a front-row seat so he could make a judgment call.

With the room clear, Reghan pushed the door open to the kitchen while I entered first. The bright lights were on, but the room was empty. No prep cooks at the stations. Ingredients were laid out; knives and half-cut vegetables were on the counter.

I went low, checking under the counters, while Reghan kept it clear high, making sure no one would jump out to surprise us. Sheldon eased up along my side and opened the walk-in fridge and freezer, as well as checked the dry goods storage area. No doubt, the rest of them were behind us, none of us saying a word.

The swinging door from the kitchen to the dining area was propped open, lights in the main part of the restaurant were on. My stomach turned, my gut never leading me wrong. Someone was in here who shouldn’t be, and they were holding our people hostage.

If they wanted to kill us, they would have hidden and attacked as we entered. It didn’t ease my mind though. I had twoof the most important people in my life with me. I couldn’t lose anyone else.

Reghan entered the dining area first with me right behind him and Sheldon at my back. We spread out as soon as we were through the door, forming a wall of protection for Jordan and the others.

Seated in the middle of the dining area was a man with a gun on the table in front of him, his hand ready to grasp it. In the chairs surrounding him were the prep cooks with their mouths taped and their hands bound behind the chairs. Their ankles were bound to the chair legs.

“I wondered how long it would take you to get here,” the man said. His blond hair was cut short on the sides with an elegant sweep on the top. The navy suit he wore spoke of money, as did the gold rings on his fingers and the diamond studs in his ears. He was cleanly shaven with dimples near his eyes. They didn’t soften his appearance.

Jordan laid a hand on my back, so I’d move to the side. This was the part I never liked. Over the years I became used to it, but it made Jordan vulnerable, even though he wouldn’t admit to it. Behind us, he was protected.

“Who the fuck are you?” Jordan growled.

“I’ll answer that once you bring my godson forward.”

“Excuse me?”

“Oh, fuck,” I heard Lane whisper.

I couldn’t take my eyes off the man in front of me. I also couldn’t tell Lane to stay back. If this man knew Lane was important to me, he’d exploit the weakness.

Lane walked around Reghan to stand beside Jordan. “Ulrich, it’s been a long time. Decades even.”

“Ah, Lane. The last time I saw you, you were barely old enough to drink legally. Your father was powerful then, moving quickly and building something spectacular.”

“Yet you disappeared when I turned twenty-one.”

Ulrich hummed. “It was time. Edison thought he could use me as a pawn in his game. You see, the money he amassed, he was only able to do so with my help. He promised if I walked away, I’d get my share. I was patient. After all, the more he made, the more I’d get. But then the shit hit the fan, and all of you fled. I should have anticipated him doing it. However, I never saw my money.”

“There’s nothing left,” Jordan said, his tone even.

“You’re right. Edison couldn’t manage an investment if his life depended on it. His wife, however, could. She was incredibly smart. How much did she hide for you, Lane? Six point nine million, wasn’t it?”

“What do you want, Ulrich?”

“My share plus interest, compensation for all I’ve been through. What I’ve lost. Once you crawled here, Edison and Noel didn’t live long enough to get me my money. If you and Jordan hadn’t taken them out, I would have killed him myself and taken what I was owed from you directly.”

“If you know so much, then you also know it’s gone,” Lane said. I had to give him credit. His voice was as even and steady as Jordan’s.

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