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Trout hadn’t changed much from that time Grey had recruited their help to trespass the art gala in Nashville. He’d only met West’s boss once, but Trout had left an impression with his arrogant swagger, and the way he set his jaw like he held everyone around him in contempt. Word was he was going into politics. West was way over his head if he thought that he could dress that guy in sheep’s clothing to trick the world into believing he was all about kissing babies and bringing world peace.
A team of security men in dark suits piled out of the SUVs to surround Trout, their every move made in deference to their leader. They looked like modern gunslingers approaching the OK Corral. Their boots raised up more dirt as they approached the junkyard.
A beautiful blonde slinked out of the SUV after Trout. Porter also knew her at a glance, since she’d been the one to enlist her daddy’s help against the senator’s son. It was the infamous Eva Trout. The popular influencer held herself up with the confidence of a movie star. She was heart-wrenchingly stunning and clearly knew it. Her big red lips pouted becomingly. She wore a little red dress with matching boots. Her every move was meant to capture attention.
Lacy stepped back as Trout advanced on him with his entourage. “Do you also have business with Nash?” he blustered.
“As a matter of fact, I do,” Trout said. “His brother said that I would be very interested to see what was going on down here.”
“Daddy!” Eva whined. “I can take care of myself.”
Of course she could, but what was she talking about? Whatever it was, Porter had no doubt that West’s hands were full with keeping her out of mischief. He might’ve met his match in her, though she was far too young for West. She was probably closer to Cole’s age, but try telling that to her. She wanted what she wanted.
“Darling,” Trout cooed over to her. “Let me take care of this.”
She tossed her mane of hair, seemingly losing the battle of wills andseeminglynot. She met Porter’s eyes and winked. His brow went up. Oh no, no, was this really about Nash? Had he gone for Trout’s daughter, or had he rejected her in some cruel way?
That would be typical Nash.
“The thing is,” Trout said, “I’m protective of my little baby. She calls her own shots, but I don’t like anybody messing with her.”
Lacy’s eyes traveled over Eva than veered to Porter. The guy was no idiot. He seemed to read what was going on between Trout’s daughter and his new business partner. “You have my deepest sympathies,” Lacy said, hurriedly. “I’d wondered why things hadn’t worked out between this dingbat and his latest plaything, but, of course, I’m keeping out of it. We were just finishing up.”
Trout stiffened. Eva’s hands went to him. “Daddy!”
Her daddy turned to her. “Quiet.” He fixed his wrathful eyes on Lacy. “What kind of deal you working out here?”
“We’re almost done, I assure you, then you are free to take care of whatever business you’d like with him.”
“You working out a deal for that oil?” Trout asked.
Porter sighed. The truth was about to come out. Lacy must’ve feared that this was the case, because he raised his hands. “We were just finishing up,” he said smoothly. His brows rose at Porter. “Nash, let’s just…”
“Nash?” Trout snorted. “That ain’t Nash.”
“Of course he is,” Eva said… too quickly. Was she covering for “her man,” or did she really know the difference between the twins? What had Nash gotten them into this time?
Lacy’s feigned friendliness twisted into a nasty glower as he studied Porter more closely. “You’re not Nash?”
Porter held up his hands, not caring if this went anywhere. He’d lost the moment he’d gotten West involved. “You’ve got me.”
Trout’s dark laughter echoed over them. “Now who’s double crossing who? Nash Slade’s the agent, not Porter. Anything you sign with him will be invalid.”
Not quite true, but Porter wasn’t about to admit to being able to sign this deal. Not anymore.
“Did Nash put you up to this?” Lacy shouted at him. He turned to the two huge men at his side. “Crawley. Stein! Isn’t Nash’s girl performing at that concert tonight? Why don’t you drop in and pick him up. He needs to sign this, not his stupid twin.”
Was he joking? “Wait,” Porter said. “You can’t just drag him over here to sign something that he doesn’t want to sign.”
“Oh, he’ll sign it when he sees what I’ve done to his twin brother.”
Over his dead body.Maybe that would be the case. Porter moved to push past them, and the squattier bodyguard stepped in front of him. Even short, he still looked like a rock. A menacing one.
Behind him, he heard Funches’s friends snarl out their objections, but they were hopelessly outnumbered. Trout’s men helped form a human blockade in front of the exits.
“You’re not going anywhere,” Lacy said.
Porter inwardly cursed his brothers. “Nash can’t help you. He’s got no idea what’s going on here. West played you. He’s playing us all.”
