Page 17 of Hard Wired

He paused a moment, processing what Sandford had said. “Is that a threat?”

“Of course not. You know how much family means to your uncle. He wants to bring the Crane and Traynor family back together again.”

Dominic snorted a laugh. “I’m sure he does. What is he offering in exchange for my stepping aside and not challenging his authority?”

“Like you have any chance of that in your position?”

“Humor me.”

“All right, then. He’s offering your life.”

Cold sweat broke out under his arms. “How generous.”

“And the lives of your brothers.”

Dominic shot up to standing, his fist tight around the phone. “He’d better not lay a fucking hand on Raymond.”

“Or you’ll what? Accept the district attorney’s deal? Rat out your family?”

An icy shiver threaded through him. So this was Sandford’s real play. But how much came from the lawyer and how much from Charles?

“I have no intention of turning on my family,” Dominic said carefully.

“Glad to hear it. I’ll pass on the good news to your uncle. So, he has your allegiance?”

“I’m no betrayer. But even you must admit, this is pretty sudden. Let me think about what I’d like my role to be in the business going forward. Can you at least give me a few days?”

“I’m sure your uncle won’t have a problem with that. Take a little time. But just know, your bank accounts are being emptied as we speak. It’s the Syndicate’s money after all, not yours.”

So this was coming from Charles. Sandford wasn’t smart enough or brave enough. A small carrot, and several large sticks. Dominic wouldn’t have expected anything less from his uncle.

“I’ll be in touch,” Sandford said.

“I’m sure you will.”

Dominic had a choice: fold quietly back into the family business, with no authority whatsoever, or burn every connection between himself and the only life he’d ever known.

If Dominic even thought about turning on the Syndicate, then his uncle would go after Raymond and Warren. He assumed Sandford was passing on a similar threat to Warren in prison. His older brother was already segregated from the general population because of past assassination attempts. But would that truly protect him?

There was next to nothing any of them could do.

The minute Sandford was gone, Dominic called Max Bennett.

“Crane. Haven’t heard from you in a while. I thought maybe your old Syndicate buddies had finally gotten to you.”

Max’s idea of a joke. Obviously, the entire town would’ve heard if that happened. But every day, the possibility was getting more likely, especially after the news about Uncle Charles.

“I’m still here. But it’s not necessarily thanks to you. Your fancy custom security system is useless. Keeps switching itself on and off.”

On the line, Dominic heard the squeak of Max’s chair. “That’s weird. Nobody’s complained about anything like that before.”

“Well, it’s happening now. How am I supposed to know my house is secure if I don’t even know the alarm is working?”

“You called our techs?”

“Yeah. Which was pointless. Can’t you send someone competent to look at it?”

“Jeez, and people call me demanding. You’re not even paying me.”

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