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“With her being so…hands on.” Dominic repositions himself in his seat. “Have there ever been instances, and forgive me for being so specific, where she has been kidnapped?”
Miller doesn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
“Lately?”
"No, not since the fallout. Franklin was the one who ordered the hit."
“Why?” Dominic asks him.
“Because Johnny had done something that no one else except his brother had done before. He outsmarted him. I’m sure you heard all about this on your end.”
“Yes, we have heard rumors of what happened.” Dom rubs at his beard. “It was my understanding there was a longtime feud between brothers. That came to a head, both dying at the hands of each other. If I’m being honest, things have been so chaotic in the fallout that the specific details have been lost in the shuffle.”
“It’s a much longer story than I bargained to tell, but the importance of it is not relevant today. Perhaps another time I will correct the erroneous details.”
“Dominic has a point,” I tell them.
Dom looks at me with a tilt of his head and a warning stare.
“I’m sure you heard of the council meeting where Dom was crowned the successor of the west coast.”
“Hayes,” Dominic says with a quiet but vicious urgency.
“Let him talk, Dom,” Bryant interjects.
Miller remains focused on me, not paying much attention to either of the other two men in this room. The kid has the ability to stay completely stoic in the face of danger.
“Ourpartner took a bullet that day. She almost died. And that wasn't the first time her life was in peril. A few weeks prior to that, she was abducted, tortured, and had she not gotten away, I don't think she would be here with us." I focus on each word and do my best to continue. "We were under the impression it was ordered by our enemy, our competition. But upon him finding out what happened to her, he tracked them down and brought her attacker to justice. We witnessed it with our own eyes.
"We continued a cease-fire until we eliminated what we thought was the group of people responsible for the attack—another faction that was trying to gain control over who won at that council meeting. But threats have been coming in from time to time, threats against her life. Very specific threats left at these transit sites that have been seized. They point directly at this person from before, the one we were sure we had purged."
Miller blinks a few times like he’s processing the information. “And you’re sure it’s not a copycat, someone just picking up where the other left off?”
“We aren’t sure of anything, other than these things are tied together, and that she isn’t safe.”
“This information cannot circulate.” Dominic stares right at Miller.
“Understood.” Miller sighs, something weighing on him. “I have something I’d like to share, too.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a slip of paper. He slides it across the table to Dominic. “This was at the last cargo van that was compromised.”
I walk over and stand behind Dom to get a better look. Bryant joins me.
Dominic clears his throat and reads the paper. “You took what is mine, now I will take what is yours.” We all turn to Miller.
“What does this mean?” I ask him.
Miller shakes his head slowly. “I have no idea; I was hoping you could tell me.”
* * *
Dominic and I ride across town to one of the warehouses on the outskirts of town. A run-down old thing that doesn't have much security or prying eyes—a perfect place for pickups and drop-offs.
As much as he insisted to be a part of this stupid fucking mission, I was even more persistent in demanding that I go with him. He needs backup, and if he isn't willing to bring one of our men, there isn't anyone more suited to be at his side than me.
Bryant and I played rock paper scissors to determine which of us would go, but even if he had won, I’d have hogtied him and left him with no choice. If something happens to me or Dominic, I want Bryant to be the one to comfort June. He’ll know what to say and how to handle the situation, and he’ll provide her more stability than I ever could. I hate admitting someone else is more capable of being the man she needs, but when it comes to her heart, I cannot be selfish. I never have been, and I never will be. For her, she deserves the whole fucking world.
And that’s exactly what she will get—even if I’m not the one to give it to her.
If Dominic didn’t agree, he wouldn’t be so carelessly risking his life.
