Page 27 of Carnival Obsession

I roll my shoulders, feeling the tension coiled in my muscles. “They’ll do their part. They know what’s at stake.”

We fall silent, the weight of this deal with the Blackwood Brothers hanging heavy in the air. I know I’ve been slacking because I’m too caught up in my obsession with Alice to give this the attention it deserves. Tonight, however, I can’t afford to let my guard down, not when we’re so close to pulling this off.

The sound of approaching vehicles catches our attention, and we exchange a loaded glance. It’s time.

I push off my bike, squaring my shoulders as I watch the black SUVs pull into the abandoned lot. Xavier and his other brother, Vane, step out, their expressions cold and calculating. At least that jackass Knox isn’t here this time.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what’s to come. This will be a serious fucking payday if we pull it off. We’ve got the product. We just have to hope that nothing goes wrong.

Xavier strides forward, a cruel smirk playing on his lips as he sizes me up. “Well, well...if it isn’t Lars Taylor himself. Gotta say I’m impressed you managed to get your shit together for this deal.”

I clench my jaw, wanting to wipe that smug look off his face. Before I can respond, Vane appears at Xavier’s side, his expression equally condescending.

“Hear that you’ve been getting a little distracted lately,” Vane sneers, glancing at Ty. “Something about a pretty little thing in Willow Creek catching your eye?”

Heat flares in my chest, but I force myself to remain impassive. Why the fuck Ty would mention Alice to these jerks, I don’t know. Now’s not the time to get riled up over their bullshit. I straighten to my full height, holding Xavier’s cold gaze.

“We’ve got your product,” I state flatly. “You got the cash?”

Xavier arches a brow, seemingly amused by my blunt approach. With a lazy shrug, he gestures to the black briefcase one of his guys is holding. “It’s all there. But I want to see the goods before we hand anything over.”

I’m about to respond when the crackle of Ty’s walkie-talkie cuts through the tension. “Nash, bring it in,” he orders.

A few moments later, the rumble of an engine breaks the silence as a large van pulls into the lot behind the Blackwood’s SUVs. The side door slides open, and Nash appears, waving us over with a grim expression.

“All four hundred pounds, packaged and ready,” he confirms. “You boys ready to do this?”

I shoot a look at Ty, who gives me a small nod. Steeling myself, I turn back to face the Blackwoods, holding Xavier’s stare.

“You know the drill,” I state, keeping my voice flat and emotionless. “Cash first, then you get the product...”

Xavier smirks, and with a casual flick of his wrist, he beckons one of his guys forward with the briefcase.

“Count it,” he orders, tossing the case at me.

I catch it easily, popping the latches and flipping open the lid. Inside are stacks of crisp bills bundled together neatly. Nodding at Phoenix, he steps forward, his eyes already narrowed in concentration.

“You heard him. Count it,” I mutter, passing the case over.

Phoenix takes the briefcase, deft fingers already rapidly flicking through the bundles. The rest of us watch in tense silence as he works, his brow furrowed in focus. Despite the tension, I can’t help but smirk. Phoenix may be a little off, but goddamn, is he useful to have around. The guy is basically a genius.

Phoenix looks up after what feels like an eternity but is likely only a couple of minutes. “It’s all there,” he confirms.

I turn back to Xavier, allowing a hint of a smirk. “Pleasure doing business with you, Blackwood.”

Xavier arches one brow cooly, regarding Phoenix with mild disdain before shifting his gaze back to me. “Let’s load the product then.”

Nodding at Ty, he jerks his head toward the van. Ty clicks his radio, giving Nash, Colt, and Remy the signal. They spring into action; Colt, Nash, and Remy start unloading the plastic-wrapped bricks and passing them off to Xavier’s guys.

I fight to keep my expression impassive as the weight of the situation presses down on me. Four hundred pounds. We’ve pulled some crazy shit in our time, but this is on another level.

The bricks move from our van to the Blackwoods’s vehicle individually, and the air feels tense.

My gaze flicks to Xavier, who’s eyeing the bricks in the back of his van. He runs a hand along one of the plastic-wrapped packages, giving an approving nod.

“Not bad,” he concedes, shooting me a look between mocking and impressed. “Not bad at all. You guys are impressive for carnies.”

Xavier is trying to get a rise out of me, but I remain stone-faced. “Well, I think our business is done here, gentlemen.”

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