Page 42 of Deadly Conflicts

Janet made a face. “I hardly think I’m hoodwinking you.”

“Shut up, Janet,” Mandy ordered, locking gazes with Jake. “Here’s the thing, I don’t want to bankrupt you. I’m not sure how much you can afford.”

“I can afford whatever she wants,” Jake said. “Try me.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my entire life.”

Mandy’s face split into a wide grin as she giggled. “Oh, you’re going to make Ally so happy,” she said, extending her finger toward the case and bypassing every ring on the display stand. “Show me that deco one in the corner.”

Janet’s eyes widened. “That is vintage.”

“You heard the man,” Mandy said. “Price isn’t a consideration.”

Jake smirked at the determined look on her face. “I knew it wasn’t going to be torturous shopping with you. James exaggerates.”

“You haven’t seen the price tag on that,” Mandy said. “You might want to hold back on your adoration.”

“Oh, no,” Jake said, shaking his head when he saw Mandy’s face light up as she got a closer gander at the ring. “I’m going to adore you forever.”

“I think we have a winner,” Mandy said, sighing as she held up the ring. “This looks exactly like the ring Ally showed me in a magazine when we were fourteen. I was dreaming of marrying James and she wanted … whoever the quarterback was on the football team that year.”

“Well, I guess we’ve made our decision,” Jake said, handing the ring to the clerk without even glancing at the price tag. “Ring her up.”

“THANK YOUfor seeing us on such short notice,” James said, shaking Peter’s hand as the man led him inside of his mammoth Grosse Pointe mansion an hour later. “I didn’t think a face-to-face meeting was in order, but my father was insistent on being introduced and seeing where Sophie grew up.”

“That’s fine,” Peter said, waving off James’ apology. “I wasn’t doing much anyway. I’ve enjoyed running through the names of some of the area chop shops. I should do it more often. I found a few I want to snuff out of existence.”

Louis’ eyes widened at Peter’s blasé attitude. “Wow. Will you kill them?”

“Dad!” James was alarmed. “He didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”

“It’s fine,” Peter said, chuckling. “I find it refreshing. Your father is merely curious.”

“He’s something,” James muttered, taking a seat in the middle of Peter’s arboretum and smiling at the woman who poured him a mug of tea “Did you find anything?”

“We haven’t found the specific car, but that’s a pretty small circle and everyone who cuts cars knows everyone else,” Peter replied. “The rumor is that it was an inside job and people are just waiting to see where it will turn up.”

“Yeah, that doesn’t surprise me,” James said. “I can’t stand the jerkoff who owns the car and I’ve been wondering if he’s somehow involved.”

“Yes, Sophie gave me a brief rundown on him,” Peter said. “It sounds as if he’s a real … what’s that word Mandy uses all of the time?”

“Tool,” James supplied. “He is a real tool. He’s supposed to be getting us a list of his employees. We’ll run everyone and go from there. It’s just such an odd way to steal a car.”

“Yes, it doesn’t sound very professional,” Peter agreed, shifting his attention to Louis. “Tell me, Mr. Hardy, what do you think of your son’s business?”

“Call me Louis.”

“Then you must call me Peter,” the gentlemanly mobster said. “We’re almost family, after all. I’m sure eventually we will be family.”

Louis stilled. “Wait … are Grady and Sophie engaged, too?”

“Not yet,” James replied. “Soon, though. Grady has a ring. Sophie is the one stalling for a little time. I think she’s still wrapping her head around a few things. It won’t be long now.”

“Yes, I’m looking forward to a big wedding,” Peter said. “I don’t care what Sophie wants at all.”

James chuckled. “Mandy is with Jake picking out a ring for Ally right now.”