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Cole ran a hand down his beard. “Yes, I’m aware. I’m curious. If there’s an issue with him, what could be done about that?”
I swallowed. “It depends on the issue.”
“Let’s say I want him dead.”
His bluntness threw me for a loop, and I raised my chin. “The families in Braidwood stick together. We come before anyone else. Including business partners.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“Is there something I should know?” I asked.
“No. It’s in the past. Your partnership outweighs what happened. For now.” He took the last sip of his whiskey. “There’s no bad blood. Please forget I asked.”
That wasn’t happening, but I nodded anyway. Whatever River did, he’d really fucked up.
“I’ll call your father tomorrow.” Cole rose from his chair.
The meeting was over, and he shook my hand before I left the room. My head was spinning with everything I’d learned. Cole had at least one person keeping an eye on Braidwood. As much as I hated dealing with my dad, he needed to know about this.
I sent River another text, telling him the meeting was over while I left the building. My nerves heightened when I didn’t get a response. I stared at my phone as I sat in the car. River was either lying in a ditch somewhere or was getting beat to shit. I blew out a breath and searched for the bar’s name before setting it on the GPS. It was only a minute from here.
I parked near the bar and hopped out of the car. I should just go back to Braidwood and leave him here. But then my dad would flip out. I jogged to the entrance and pushed my way past the crowd. It was packed. People were nearly on top of each other as everyone danced. The music was so loud it was vibrating the floor. I searched, trying to spot him in the mess of people. I checked the bathrooms and every other inch of the small room. He wasn’t in here.
I shoved my way back to the front and stepped out into the cool night air. I pulled my gun out, keeping it near my hip as I rounded the side of the building. I had no protection here and really didn’t want to get caught with a firearm. But I didn’t know if I was about to walk into something.
A voice came from behind the bar, and I slowed my steps as I got closer. I leaned against the brick of the building as I listened.
“You’re going to pay for that,” the voice hissed.
“They were dicks.” River’s laugh was full of tension. “I heard one of them even slept with your girlfriend.”
“Shut the fuck up.”
“Think about this, Richie,” River said, his voice laced with vicious warning. “You don’t want to do it.”
“I really think I do. Cole found out who you really are. Did you think he wouldn’t find out when he does business in Braidwood?”
“I wasn’t hiding it.”
“Then why did you go by a different last name the entire time you lived here?”
“You know why. And you also know Cole can’t fucking touch me because of who I am in Braidwood.” River paused, letting his words sink in. “He relies on our business too much. You put a bullet in me; he’ll do the same to you for messing with his cash.”
“You aren’t part of our gang,” Richie snapped. “Don’t talk about Cole like you know him.”
“I spent six years dealing with him. I know how he’d react to this. And I can promise it won’t end well for you.”
“Where is she?”
I creeped closer, wondering who they were talking about. Peeking around the corner, I looked into the alley and saw River facing me. Two unmoving bodies were bleeding out on the concrete. The guy named Richie had his back to me as he pointed a pistol at River.
“I have no idea,” River answered, his face not giving anything away.
“Bullshit. She disappeared when you left.”
“Ever hear of a coincidence?”
“There was a deal in place. Her running fucked it all up.”
