Page 21 of Seduction in Spades

“Guess it’s work catching up with me.”

“You’re not holding out on us, are you?” Ryder studies me and I swear he can see right through me.

We’re more than business partners and best friends. We’re brothers. Maybe not by blood, but I can’t remember a time in my life when Ryder wasn’t a part of it. Other than being away with the SEALS, he’s been my person, as cheesy and girly as that sounds. It also means he can read me.

No SEAL training can block Ryder’s interrogation of me.

“I knew it. Fuck.” He drops to one of the stools at the counter, and I scrub my hands across my face.

I’m not ready to hear the lecture about how bad I fucked up by sleeping with Trey’s sister, even though I didn’t have a fucking clue.

“He’s been sniffing aroundRedas well.”

Ryder is never serious. I’m screwed. “Trey?”

“The Club? Shit. You think he’s been staking out Trey as well?”

He?I’m so fucking lost.

Ryder gets up and paces the sunken living. I follow him and wait for him to speak, not wanting to reveal my sins if that’s not what he’s alluding to.

“Donahue and his posse showed up for dinner last week. I wasn’t made aware until they were halfway through their meal.”

Okay, thank fuck he isn’t talking about me and Avery, but a bigger fuckery is Micky Donahue. The Irish crime boss has been the central part of too much crime in Boston.

I was able to take care of Eddie without it looking like any of us were involved, but it’s been a few months. A few quiet months with no word from Micky, and he likes to frequent our poker tables. If he’s somehow learned of our involvement in Eddie’s overdose, then we have bigger issues to deal with than Trey finding out about me and Avery.

“Did you talk to him?”

“I made it look like I was doing my usual rounds and pretended to be surprised to see him. There’s supposedly no need to have him on our radar so I didn’t want him to know we have eyes on him.”

“How come I was never told about this?”

“You weren’t on duty that night. You, Drake, and Nora were at The Club. Wait. Wasn’t Avery there too? I thought you two didn’t meet.”

“I got there later. Pretty much as Drake and Nora left. Avery must have been on the dance floor in the mob scene. Trey had some emergency to run off to, so I left as well. But that’s beside the point. Why didn’t you tell me or have my security team report Donahue was in the building.”

“I had him followed. He and his two associates left immediately after dinner. Never came back. I didn’t think there was anything to report.”

“I don’t trust him. He’s been too quiet. There hasn’t even been much chatter on the streets about his men moving product around.”

“Should we let Drake know? He may want to put security on Nora again.”

“Hell, she’ll hate that. For the most part, she stays in the penthouse writing when Drake’s working, and then she’s with him.”

“Yeah. I’m gonna change and then I’ll go talk to him.” I loosen my tie as I head down the hall to my room.

“Hey, No-go.”

I turn and drape my tie over my shoulder as I loosen the buttons on my shirt.

“You need to get laid, you let me know. I wouldn’t call any of them golden pussies, but I’ve got a little black book full of numbers.”

“You’re such an asshole.” I laugh and turn back toward my room.

Ryder managed to distract me from thinking about Avery for ten minutes. Hopefully she’ll be gone by the time I change and go back to Drake’s office.

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