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Liam parked outside the tall fence, throwing the door open before the car stopped. He walked with purpose through the compound, the streetlights surrounding the lot casting strange shadows on the ground.
“What if they know about her?” I asked, jabbing Liam’s side as we walked into the warehouse. Cold droplets of rain pelted down on us, rolling down my face.
“If you keep talking about it, then they will,” he said as his jaw tensed and his pace quickened.
Logan walked up ahead, his head on a swivel.
There was a time where this was home, in a wicked way. At ten years old, not long after my parents died, I had been stupid enough to steal from Samuel. Liam had vouched for me, a stranger to him. Since then, I had been a full member and one of Liam’s ‘men’—a position that offered me freedom.
But now, we were walking into the bear’s cave with no weapons, protection, and our hands painted red like the thieves they thought us to be.
Laila fucked us in that way when she stole Liam’s car. The product inside was surrendered to authorities, and the amount lost hit the crew hard.
The warehouse stood in front of us, its silhouette looking ominous against the storm clouds brewing in the air. I squinted in the darkness, focusing on its peeling paint and patches of rust. A single cracked door was all between us and danger. Light flooded out along with the thunderous noises of the crew.
As we continued forward, the Red Widow Crew members lurking in the shadows outside the warehouse came into view. Their faces were lit up by the flame on the end of their cigarettes. Some glared, some avoided eye contact, and others were ready with death threats on their lips. At least to Logan and me. For reasons of birth, most, if not all, were terrified of Liam. But he was nothing like his father.
Right?
The thought was unsettling.
The warehouse was filled, and all members of any and all ranking took up the space. Samuel and his two right-hand men—new ones this time because we all knew that job was a death sentence—stood at the front. The table in front of them was cluttered with paper maps, bottles of beer, and ashtrays.
“I want him found,” Samuel banged his fist onto the table, the room going silent.
Liam looked too much like his father. The green eyes, the jawline…even the smirk. His gaze landed on us, and a single finger danced in the air, prompting us forward.
Samuel was a few inches taller than me and glared down at me with casual authority. His tailored gray suit was molded to his frame, accentuating the muscles underneath. The top button of his undershirt hung open, and small red droplets stained his collar. Wisps of smoke gathered around him from the lit cigarette in his hand.
“Son,” he said, his jaw tight.
“Father.” Liam nodded.
“Your payment?” He held his hand out.
Liam placed a bulging manilla envelope in his hands—almost all the money we’d earned from the art bounty. Although the guy hadn’t been thrilled we hadn’t returned with the thief’s balls, he’d still paid us in full. The rich asshole had taken his painting, handed us the cash, and slammed the door in our faces with a grumble.
But something about that job still didn’t sit right with me. I just couldn’t place it.
“Is this all of it?” Samuel weighed it in his hand.
“And then some,” Liam grinned, the lie undetectable.
“Perfect.” He tossed the package to the side, discarding it like it wasn’t thousands of dollars.
I swear we were overpaying this guy for the cheap ass cocaine we were on the hook for.Fuck Laila, I thought, cursing the dead.
“Anything else?” Liam asked.
“Nate’s missing,” Samuel said, tapping his fingers on the table.
The name stunned me. My heart thundered in my chest. I swore those nearby would hear it and know. Unless they already knew? I wouldn’t put it past Samuel to get his payment before skinning us alive or burning us to death. He loved to find new means to torture.
“He’s known to go on drunken stupors.” Liam jutted his chin out, expressionless. There was no fear, surprise, or worry on his face. I hoped mine looked like that.
“Hardly a reason to rally the entire crew,” Liam added.
“And this is why you aren’t a leader, son.” Samuel turned back to the crowd, shooing us off.
