Page 38 of Forbidden Pawn

Ryker

A deep black Aston Martin is rolling up my driveway, gleaming as the sun is reflected on the sleek body. The car comes to a halt and I watch as two familiar men step out of it, Jack and Carter Reid.

What the hell are they doing here? My shoulders tense as I step in front of Grace in a protective motion, shielding her from the intruders. Only when I feel her presence behind my back do I realize how strange this is. These are her brothers, after all. There’s nothing she should fear from them.

But I can’t say the same for myself.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I demand, my voice cold as I watch them approach. Jack is leading the way, dressed in dark denims and a black shirt with rolled-up sleeves, exposing the ink on his forearm, while Carter follows a few steps behind, his hands pushed into his jeans’ pockets. Both of their expressions are hard as granite, suggesting that this visit is not a friendly one. My alarm bells are going off, loud and insistent.

“Is something wrong?” I probe, keeping my tone even as I try to read them.

Jack’s mouth curves into a bitter smile. “I guess you could say so.”

Carter gives a curt nod, his jaw tight. “The Cortesis are trying to interfere with your waterfront deal. Things might get ugly if you do nothing about it.”

I narrow my eyes, not trying to hide my confusion. “Who?” The name is completely foreign to me.

“The Cortesis,” Carter repeats, sounding annoyed, as if he’s talking to an idiot. “They’re mafia. Minor players, which mightbe why you haven’t heard of them. But they’ve been trying to make a name for themselves for years.”

The idea that some unknown crime family from the Boston area has taken an interest in my business puts me on edge. But how the hell did they know about this before I did?

“And how do you know about this?” I ask, trying to keep the suspicion out of my voice.

Jack sighs, as if he’s indulging a child. “They’ve been trying to move into our territory for years. We’ve been keeping tabs on them, so we always know what they’re up to.”

Every instinct is telling me to be cautious. This whole unannounced visit feels a little too rehearsed. And so unexpected.

And then there’s something else—neither of them has even acknowledged Grace so far. She’s right here, standing just a step behind me, clearly thrown off by their sudden appearance. I turn around to look at her, detecting a flicker of worry on her face, mingled with confusion.

You’d expect them to show some affection toward her, a hug, relief to see her unharmed after handing her over to a criminal they barely know. But it’s like she’s invisible to them. It’s odd. She’s been here over a week without a word from them, and now that they’re finally here, they treat her like she doesn’t even exist.

I turn back to Jack, studying him carefully.

“Why are you telling me this?” I ask, keeping my tone steady without hiding the edge in my voice. “This doesn’t involve you.”

I catch a brief flicker of unease between them when Jack and Carter exchange a look. Carter lowers his gaze down to the gravel under his feet. Jack’s expression tightens before he answers.

“This involves us,” he says finally. “If things go downhill for you, that also jeopardizes the operation you’re handling for us.”

“For which you still owe me my share,” I point out.

Carter lifts his head, and his eye fall on Grace for the first time since they got here.

“Plus, you have our sister,” he says flatly. Grace manages a timid smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. And it strikes me she doesn’t look the least bit happy to see them. There’s something there, something hidden behind her bland expression, but it’s not relief.

“Of course, we want nothing happening to her,” Carter continues. “Which means we also want nothing bad happening to you.”

I glance at Grace, but she keeps her eyes on her brothers, her face a blank slate. I can’t read her, and that irks me more than it should. If what Jack and Carter are saying is true, then Grace is in danger because she’s here with me, caught up in something she never asked for. The thought makes something twist uncomfortably inside me. I can’t let that happen.

But her brothers don’t look nearly as concerned as they should. They’re tense, but I don’t think it’s because of her. There’s something else eating at them, something they’re not telling me.

“So, what do you propose we do?” I ask, studying both of them carefully.

Carter glances at Jack, who clears his throat before speaking, ready to lie out a plan. “Actually, we thought a meeting with the landowner is in order, as soon as possible. We know he’s become suspicious of the rapid acquisitions and inflated offers connected to your operation. That’s why he’s hesitating, and doing some research that you don’t want him to do. An on-site meeting could be the key to convincing him. Get him on board and have him sign the agreement right then and there.”

I cross my arms, more skepticism rising in my mind. “My team and I have been pushing for a meeting for a while, but he’s reluctant.”

“We are aware,” Jack says.

---