Uncle Mike tilts his head.
Trying not to let on how anxious I am to bring up this topic, I keep my voice steady as I ask, “Why’d you let Dash leave the business?”
My younger brother used to steal cars for our uncle, and he was good at it, if I heard right. But no matter how good, he got caught. Him and Leo, at the same time, and the pair went to prison. Only, when Dash got out, my younger brother started living by the law. Leo went straight back to our uncle.
Mike taps his knuckles on the metal surface of the industrial desk that takes up more than its fair share of the small space. He doesn’t answer right away, seeming to ponder his response.
“We had a financial arrangement,” he offers at last.
I knew about that.
“And his heart wasn’t in it.”
That’s new. Not that Dash stopped wanting to steal, but that Mike cared.
“What does that mean?”
Mike glares hard at me. “Someone who doesn’t want to be in this game is a risk to my business. I need loyalty, even if that loyalty is based off greed. Dash didn’t care about money or driving anymore. He just wanted out. I told him as long as I got refunded all the cash he was worth to me, I’d let him go.”
A small hope springs in my chest.
Could it be that easy?
“If you had someone else who wanted out, as long as you got your money’s worth, they’d be able to walk away?”
Mike pinches at his bottom lip. “Possibly. But some people are worth more to my bottom line than your baby brother.”
I lean forward, elbows on my knees, my eyes boring into his milky-blue ones.
“How much is Leo worth?”
CHAPTER 11
CHARLIE
Luna looks better in pants than I do.
My eyes track each of her steps as she glides up the aisle in her tuxedo pantsuit. Dash’s sister puts every man in attendance to shame by the way she wears her suit and excels in it.
As the small string band warms up, Luna and I take our spots under the floral archway.
“You look handsome.” The officiant pats down my lapel, and I treat her to a wide grin.
“As good as the CEO?”
Marianna Tweep smirks at me. “You’ve read my latest book.”
I shrug but keep on smiling. Marianna is one of the authors represented by Paige’s publishing company, but the two women became good friends outside of work. The author constantly graces theNew York TimesBest Sellers list with memoirs about her eclectic life.
Who better to lead my best friend’s wedding ceremony?
“Don’t worry. I’m sure no one has figured out exactly which tech billionaire you had your liaison with.”
Marianna smiles wickedly. “Especially because three separate ones have already claimed to be the man to the press.” She leans in close to whisper, “All three are lying.”
I chuckle, then glance up to find Luna watching the two of us. Her face is unreadable, and I find myself ravenous to know what she’s thinking.
I lean across the small space separating us. “You ready to fulfill your position as best woman?”
