the office. It’s been insane running my own thing and still covering a schedule at the main Black and Lock office.
My crew is solid now with all of my new additions, but I don’t know why I thought I was going to be in my own world. My brothers have bled over into my business. All I’ve done is brought on extra hands.
I’m not complaining. This happens to feel right. Dad and I weren’t expecting the unit to open up in the building. It’s a full floor of space and only two floors down from the main office. We’d been renting space to those tenants for years. I’d say it was meant to be.
Speaking of meant to be, I look at the text I sent to Roni earlier. She hasn’t replied. A part of me says I freaked her out.
At the same time, I want to think it’s something else. It’s time we talk about our relationship. At thirty-one, I’m watching all of my brothers settle with the women they love.
Wyatt’s on his second baby. Toby’s twins are growing so fast. I’m sure Noah will have Bean pregnant in no time. Felix is engaged and has an instant family. Hell, I never in a million years thought Brax would be married before me. Ryan is the only one not in a relationship.
I go to call Roni again, but my emergency text alert goes off. It’s a text from Wyatt that Noah is in trouble. I jump up without thinking and head out the door.
My adrenaline is pumping. I still don’t know what’s going on with Roni and Torque. I have an uneasy feeling in my stomach.
“I knew it was too quiet. Roni, where the fuck are you?” I mutter as I jump in my car.
Roni
I pull into the lower level of the garage and come to a screeching stop. Torque already has his laptop open with a visual of the chaos happening on the upper level. I’m seething. The drive back took way longer than I would have liked.
“They’ve ceased fire,” Torque says.
I look over at the screen. My sights are set on one person and one person only. When she comes up on the screen, I’m in motion again. I drive up a few more levels before whipping into a spot.
“That phone is her all right.”
“Stay here,” I say as I take the comm Torque offers me.
“I can help.”
“I said stay here. I’ve got this.”
I shove my way out of the car and look around the level that I’m on. An idea pops into my head and I start for the trunk to get the harness out. I plan to drop in on my little friend Missy.
I take a blade from the stash I have in the trunk and tear it through the fabric of the bottom of my sundress, then rip the entire thing off. Once geared up in the harness, I take off in a jog for the level they are on.
“John’s up there. All the guys are,” Torque says into the comm.
“Almost there.”
I get to the garage level where the action is happening and take a quick look around. It’s exactly like the level I parked on. I spot a ladder that leads to the rafters and head for it, my gun aimed for anyone that dares to get into my way.
Once at the ladder, I tuck my gun away and start the climb. I can hear that whiny ass voice from here. Ugh, I don’t know what John saw in her.
Moving into the shadows, I inch forward slowly. Everyone’s too distracted to notice me up here. I tune out their chatter and keep my focus on the blabbering idiot that has been taunting me for weeks.
I’m almost right above their heads as I vaguely dial into their conversation.
“I don’t know. I didn’t think that out. If I can’t have you no one can,” Missy says, causing my blood to boil. “Mr. Coleman promised me one million dollars if I could get you all here. I wasn’t sure you would all come for John’s little friend, so I brought this guy in once I saw what he was up to.”
“Interesting,” Wyatt says.
Noah turns to Wyatt and shakes his head. “I told you. Stupid… dumbest plan ever.”
“Listen, she promised me half of the money. You’ve made my life hell. I had nothing to lose. Just leave me the hell alone and we’ll all walk away like nothing ever happened,” the guy holding Bean says. He looks like