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“I don’t think so,” I say carefully, but I can’t be sure. If I tell him that, he’ll turn this car around, and we’ll lose any chance we have at winning Jonny’s chain.
And we need Jonny’s chain. Now that I’m on the inside, it’s obvious that Liam’s struggling to find anyone willing to do business with him. Rustik’s got the whole city terrified and on edge, which means Liam’s having trouble getting people to so much as take his calls.
“I did my research,” he says, his voice quiet and solid. “Jonathan Jeffers has a clean record. No outstanding debts. No arrest warrants, no prior trouble with the law. Grandchildren in high school, children in professional jobs. Lawyer, doctors, that sort of thing. His family is in good shape.”
“Then why would he need to work with a man like Rustik? See, you’re being paranoid.”
He glances at me. “It’s always the clean ones I worry about most.”
“Convenient.”
“Everyone has some dirt. If I dug hard enough, I could find something on almost anyone. Including you, little wife. But Jeffers is clean. He’s too damn clean, and I don’t like it.”
“You’re being paranoid. This is just a business meeting, okay? You’ll wow him with your massive offer, and I’ll charm him with my… well, my massive charm. We’re a great team.”
He doesn’t seem convinced, but at least he stops arguing. There’s not much else to say—we’re doing this. We reach the strip mall, and I’m surprised to find it nearly empty. Only a few other cars are parked in front of a dollar store, but everything looks abandoned. The retail apocalypse really hit this place hard, it seems. Cardboard’s covering most of the shop windows, and weeds grow in cracks in the pavement. The grass looks like it hasn’t been cut in a few weeks.
The vegan spot is at the end of the row on the far side. All that’s left of the original advertising are a few faded window decals of sad-looking cucumbers. Liam’s cars approach and park. It seems dead: no sign of Jonny or anyone else. Hell, there’s no sign out front at all. If he really did buy this location and he does plan on renovating, he definitely hasn’t started yet.
“I want you to remain in the car,” Liam says. He’s sitting at attention, scanning the area.
“That’s not what we discussed.”
“My men will sweep the interior to make sure it’s safe. Once I’m sure this isn’t a trap, you may enter.”
“Liam—”
“Don’t argue with me,” he says firmly, turning to stare into my eyes. His expression is hard, and there’s a hint of worry in his tone. “For once, do as I say.”
I shut my mouth, work my jaw, but I nod. I hate giving in to him, but I can’t keep on fighting for no reason. And besides, he’s right—it can’t hurt to check the place first. It’ll turn up nothing and Liam will relax enough to let this meeting happen.
Which it desperately needs to if he has any hope of competing with Rustik legitimately.
His men get out of the cars and head toward the building. I watch anxiously as they file inside, six big guys with hands on guns. Liam’s waiting nearby, leaning up against the front bumper and speaking with Sean in hushed tones. Nobody looks happy. I wish I could hear what was going on, but after a surprisingly long time, one of Liam’s men comes back out from the building and jogs over. He looks grim.
An ugly feeling fills my stomach.
Could this really be some kind of trick? Jonny Jeffers has never been anything but a legitimate businessman—but maybe he got mixed up with Rustik after all. That or Rustik somehow threatened him.
Liam follows the soldier inside. Another long time passes. Each second is an agony. It’s obvious something’s wrong, but nobody’s bothering to tell me anything, like I’ve been forgotten. I can’t sit still and finally unclick my seatbelt. Sean’s still out front, keeping an eye on the parking lot, when I step out of the SUV.
“What’s going on in there?” I ask him.
He looks uncomfortable. “Please wait in the car. I know it’s boring—”
“Is he going through with this meeting without me?” It’s an irrational fear, but I wouldn’t put it past Liam. “Is that what this is all about?”
“No,” Sean says, shaking his head. “It’s not safe right now. Please, just stay in the car. We’re almost done.”
“Done with what?” I’m about to go storming into the building to demand some answers when the door opens and Liam comes out.
His face is hard. He spots me standing outside of the SUV and I swear a vein pops out of his forehead. Sean turns white as he ushers me into the back seat. “Just stay here for both our sakes,” Sean whispers, looking anxious, before he closes the door.
