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Greer didn’t so much as get a handshake, not that I expected him to. I received a hug.
It had always been my dad and me. My mom died giving birth, leaving my dad with a baby and not a clue of how to raise him. Jordan and his wife, Ella, helped my dad with whatever he needed. Back then, Jordan was finding his footing in crime, rapidly building a name for himself.
“Junior,” he greeted, his hazel eyes crinkling at the corners when he pulled back from the hug. His hair had gone completely silver. He kept it neatly combed back from his face. He had a thick silver beard to match. “How are you?”
“Good. It’s been a while. You doing okay?” Small talk with my uncle, just what I wanted.
“Of course. Look around you. I’m living the life. Come, have a seat. What can I get you to drink?”
Greer walked beside me and went to sit.
“Not you,” Jordan snapped. “You can stand over there with Malik where he can keep an eye on you. If you take one wrong move toward me, he’ll break your fucking neck. You’re not my blood. You’re disposable.” This was a stark reminder of who Jordan was. A ruthless killer. Out for his own gain.
“Uncle,” I said gently to pull his attention from Greer. My friend was seething. I didn’t need to see him to know it. I didn’t come here for bloodshed.
“Sorry, Junior.” Jesus, he was Jekyll and Hyde. He handed me a glass, which I sipped to be polite. I needed to keep my wits about me. Jordan sat with me on the couch, his leg on the cushion so he could face me. “What would you like to discuss? I assume this isn’t a social call since you don’t typically cross the border into my side of things, just like I don’t into yours.” He was right. We didn’t. It kept things running smoother this way. We didn’t interfere in each other’s worlds.
I looked around the room, making sure there was no one else here but the four of us. Malik had been by Jordan’s side for as long as I could remember.
“No one else is here. You have my word.”
Nodding, I took a deep breath and said words I didn’t think I ever would to him. “I need help.”
He leaned closer, his eyes sharp. “Who hurt you? I’ll kill them myself.” Right to violence.
“No, it’s not like that. PJS isn’t doing well. I don’t want to lay off employees. Money isn’t coming in like it used to. I’m not sure where else to turn.”
“To family.” He nodded. “It’s what I’m here for. Senior and you never liked what I did. You still don’t agree with it, and I don’t need you to. But I would never turn my back on you as I know you wouldn’t on my son.” A sinking sensation formed in my stomach. By the gleam in Jordan’s eyes, I knew he’d been waiting for this moment. The one where I could do something for him without much choice.
“What do you have in mind?”
“Right to the point. I like that. JJ has been flighty lately. Doing shit I don’t agree with, testing his boundaries.”
“He’s thirty-six.” My cousin was three years younger than me.
“And you’d think he would know what he’s doing with his life.”
“Does he still have the garage?” My dad would tell me how proud he was of JJ for not getting into the business his father was in and instead striking out on his own. Jordan didn’t approve but since JJ didn’t go far, Jordan didn’t put up much of a fight. At least he was still in East Dremest, where Jordan could watch him.
“He fixes cars all day like the people are above him. I hate it. A fucking mechanic.Myson. He was meant for more.”
“But not with you.”
Jordan lifted the glass to his lips. The amber liquid disappearing quickly. “JJ would rather slit his own throat than work for me.” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Here’s my proposal. You take JJ, give him a job at your company and not in the fucking mail room. None of that low-level bullshit. And I’ll give you an investment. In his name. Make him part owner.”
“Now wait just a minute,” Greer cut in.
I turned in time to watch Greer step forward. Malik put his hand around Greer’s throat and slammed him against the wall. Greer was not a small guy, but Malik had years of doing this, of fighting dirty by Jordan’s side. Greer maneuvered himself in a way to break the hold, spinning them around where they were in each other’s faces once more.
“Stop!” I yelled.
“Mal.” Jordan waved his hand so Malik would back off. “I told you to stay over there, Greer. You know better.” Jesus, I had to get the fuck out of here.
“How much?” I asked. I owned ninety percent of the company with Greer and Peyton each holding five percent. I did that so if anything happened to me, they’d still have a source of income if they were out of a job. But it was agreed I wouldn’t run business decisions by them for their approval. They didn’t need to sign off on what I did.
“Ten percent for five million.”
I sank back, letting the firmness of the couch hold me upright. Five million was a lot. Given the shady shit my uncle did, it was probably a small share. “You wouldn’t have anything to do with the company?”
