“Protection? From what?” she asked.
“It was insurance. Having proof of their illegal activities tucked away meant I was safe from them ever doing anything to me.”
“That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard,” Sage said. “You can’t ever go to the police with it. There’s no crime-fraud exception here.”
“Yeah, well, I thought it would keep me safe,” he muttered. “Turns out, they want the thumb drive.”
“Imagine that,” she muttered right back.
The mob wants incriminating files back?Imagine that.
“Look, I’m not rich like you. Nothing’s guaranteed for me.”
“You’re rich?” Hayes asked, then looked my way.
I shrugged. “It’s news to me.” I didn’t care if she had money. I could give her everything she needed.
“Jackson, you’re such an idiot.”
“They’re coming for the thumb drive,” he said. “Word is they’re already on their way.”
She frowned and glanced between me and Hayes. “What do you mean they’re coming for it? Who?”
“Bobby Mancuso.”
Sage glanced at me and Hayes. “Vincent Mancuso, the Don, is his dad.” Then, she pulled the phone closer and asked, “Bobby’s on his waywhere?”
“Montana,” Jackson said. “That weird town you’re in.”
Sage popped to her feet. “Why is Bobby coming here to Devil’s Ditch?”
“Yeah, what kind of town is named Devil’s Ditch?”
Sage ignored his question. “How does he know wherehereis?”
“Because you have the bag. I like my fingers, okay?”
“You put my woman in danger and you’reworried about your fingers?” I asked, setting my hands on the table and leaning in. “I’ll do more than cut off your fingers you asshole.”
“Are you with Dirty Harry or something?” Jackson asked Sage and she rolled her eyes.
Hayes grabbed the cell and hung up the call, dropped it back on the table with a thud.
He ran his hand through his hair again. He kept his hair the longest of all the brothers. For a lawyer, he wasn’t all that clean cut. He was the fairest of the bunch, looking more like a California surfer than Montana cowboy. Colt was pretty chill, but Hayes, he was quiet. There was a difference. He was silently ruthless. Smart. Cunning, even. He was always the first of my brothers I called when shit hit the fan.
“What the fuck are we going to do?” I asked. “Some mob guy named Bobby Mancuso–who sounds like he’s right out ofGood Fellas–is coming here for Sage and a stupid thumb drive?”
“I know what to do,” Sage said. She looked at Hayes. “You run your own law firm?”
Hayes nodded. “Wilder Legal.”
She smiled. “Good. Even though I can’t practice until I pass whatever tests Montana requires, I’m your new employee.”
Hayes’ eyes widened, then narrowed with somekind of understanding that it seemed only those who passed the Bar understood. He even grinned. “I like the way you think, Sage.”
I tossed up my hands. “What? What the hell’s going on?”
Hayes turned to look at me. “Get the guys together. Then get your gun.”
