Page 144 of Broken Dreams

“Why? It’s fucking cold here,” sniffs an older gentleman good-naturedly. “I can think of better places to move to.”

Shrugging, I answer, “Why not? I’ve spent some time in Michigan and Illinois. I typically have difficulty staying in one place for long, and there’s a rare charm here.”

Corbin hides a smile, but I’m being sincere. Driving to the build site has me passing some really beautiful scenery that Detroit could never beat.

“Well, if Corbin is bringing you around, it’s because you’re someone we should know. I’m Theo Finnegan,” the man says.“Over there is Cian Sullivan, Aiden Hayes, Hudson Hughes, and Everest Mohan.”

I recognize the last name of Mohan, nodding as I put names to faces. Shaw isn’t here tonight, but I’m quickly putting together the men in his pack. Intelligence and fact gathering have been a hobby of mine because it keeps me alive when working with a new client.

Too many people would like me dead so it’ll free up the stranglehold I have on the industry. While I know it’s not that serious, I have amassed a decent amount of clients over the years. I could easily afford to stop taking new people, stop traveling, and simply take orders for weapons through encrypted communications.

I never wanted to before because my travels allowed me the flexibility to say I was just in the area to see Quinn and Linus. It appears I’ve been lying to myself about what they mean to me for a long time.

The man named Cian glares at me for a moment before smoothing over his expression. It appears we’re all lying to each other as well.

“What do you do for a living, Christian?” Hudson asks. He has a cruel air about him as he speaks to me, but glares at the whiskey in his glass.

This is Quinn’s father. I recognize his name from my discussion with Corbin at his club, and it’s hard to imagine that a father could sell his own daughter.

“Arms dealing,” I grunt. “There appears to be a need for it as I’ve traveled for the last fifteen years. I think it’s time to put some roots down, though. All of the moving about has gotten old.”

Cool, aloof, unassuming. That’s what I’m going for, while giving kernels of truth within my statements.

“I don’t know that we have a need for what you’re selling,” Hudson says, glancing up to rake his gaze over me. I don’t care what he thinks of me, so it doesn’t bother me. “Good luck convincing anyone else.”

Throwing back his drink, he doesn’t even wince as he puts down his glass.

“Good night, everyone. I’m going to take myself home to my fucking empty house,” he grumbles, pushing himself to his feet.

“Sure you can drive?” Cian asks, brow raised.

“I hired a car tonight,” he says. “I have no interest in driving.”

Hudson walks out of the room without waiting for anyone else to verify if he’s telling the truth, and everyone is silent. It’s as if they want to make certain he’s gone.

Corbin glances at Everest who gives a slow, affable smile as he stands slowly to walk deliberately toward the entrance of the room. I’m sure there are people who would think Everest is someone who gives away his smiles without care, however, I can recognize a fellow conman.

The smiles cover up his darkness, which makes him dangerous. I’m also willing to bet that he’d laugh as he slit your throat.

“He’s definitely gone,” Everest mutters, closing the doors and throwing the lock. “We can speak freely.”

“Fuck, does anyone else worry that Hudson is cracking?” Theo asks, shaking his head.

“Lies have a way of making you lose your mind,” Cian says, shrugging as his sharp gaze stays on mine. “He’s the last person I’m worried about. His daughter is the one we should be keeping our attention on.”

“Why is that?” I ask, pretending to be unconcerned even as the mention of Quinn makes my chest fucking ache.

“Because Hudson Hughes is a walking dead man,” Everest grunts. “Now, why are you really here?”

The men here can obviously smell bullshit, so I sigh, crossing my ankle over my knee. I may as well get comfortable, I have a feeling I’ll be here awhile.

“I seem to have lost some people who are important to me due to some personal reasons, and I’m looking to make amends,” I tell him. “Quinn Hughes is one of those people.”

“Is that what we’re going to call a broken heart?” Cian asks shrewdly. “She doesn’t seem the type to be petty, even when I would gladly give her the green light to be.”

“More than that, are we really going to get involved in personal relationships?” Aiden asks, brow raised.

“Boy, don’t be a hypocrite,” Cian says, barking out a laugh. “I can’t tell you the number of times you almost ate my gun for being a dick to my daughter.”

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