I uncross my legs and lean forward. “I don’t have time for your posturing. You mentioned a deal.”
“You’re not fucking serious,” Noah says as he appears next to us. “You’re going into business with the man who kidnapped your sons?”
The mayor waves off his protest. “Semantics. Mr. Payne had a good reason for doing what he did, and besides, you’re both back, so no harm, no foul.”
Noah sputters. “No harm, no foul? He’s held us for weeks. You don’t even know what he’s done to us. To Ryder, especially.”
The mayor leans back in his chair and looks at his son thoughtfully. “Yes, I heard about that rather unfortunate turn of events, but you know your brother. He does need to learn to leave things well enough alone.”
Noah’s mouth falls open. “He… you… what? This isn’t happening. This can’t be fucking happening.”
The mayor sighs in annoyance. “If you’re just going to stand there and not contribute anything useful to the conversation, you might as well leave.”
“Excuse me?”
“You know how I feel about interrupted business deals,” the mayor says. “Now, I can either ask Mr. Payne to take you back and finish what he started, or you can excuse yourself.”
Noah’s expression darkens. “You wouldn’t send me back with him.”
“You’re right. Maybe I’ll just take care of you myself.”
I move to stand. “I can come back later.”
The mayor looks at me. “Nonsense. My son is just leaving to get himself cleaned up. Aren’t you, Noah?”
A heartbeat later, the mayor unties Noah and gives him a pointed look. Then, Noah crosses over to the door and throws it open.
As soon as he rounds the corner, the mayor shuts the door and returns to his earlier seat. He reaches for his drink and takes a few sips. “Don’t ever have children. Such a waste of potential and an embarrassment to the family name.”
The mayor clears his throat. “Now, then, where were we? Ah, yes. I believe you have a dock problem. I have the solution for that, but first, we should talk about terms.”
I down my drink and motion for him to continue. “Naturally.”
“I’m told you have contacts all over the world,” the mayor continues. “A man in my position could always use allies. I’m sure introductions would go a long way.”
I nod. “Of course.”
“I’m also open to a more long-term alliance should the right opportunity present itself,” the mayor adds, his eyes glittering. “I’m told your sister is beautiful and smart.”
I study the mayor intently. “She isn’t a part of the agreement.”
The mayor finishes his drink and walks over to the cart to pour himself another.
I study his back and resist the urge to reach for my gun.
I don’t want to be here anymore than Noah does.
But I don’t have the luxury of going elsewhere with my enemies closing in.
The Harrisons aren’t enough, and with their patriarch breathing down my neck for more favors, I’m not sure how much longer the alliance will hold if I have nothing else to give him.
And Jason Harrison is proving to be quite insatiable, even when compared to some of the other patriarchs I’ve dealt with.
“Everyone has a price.” The mayor turns to face me with an oily smile. “I’m sure you and I can come to an agreement.”
“My sister would chew up your sons and spit them out.”
The mayor throws his head back and laughs. “I’m not asking for them.”
