“I have an idea that I think both of you will like. I seriously doubt she’s doing this on her own. She’s being used or was hired by someone else.”
“Agreed,” I said, although the nagging in the back of my mind remained, something I couldn’t put my finger on. “What are you suggesting?”
“That we play the same little game she’s playing. Seduction. We can enjoy ourselves while extracting information.” Alexander’s face was practically beaming.
I shrank back, shaking my head several times. “I’m an officer of the law now, in case either one of you forgot that.”
“And I know all your dirty little secrets, my friend,” Alexander retorted.
Hissing, I moved closer, fisting one hand.
Brogan jumped to his feet, moving between us. “Hold the fuck on. We’re not going to beat each other to death over this. We all had a part in what happened to Garrison. We’re equal in blame, and we need to deal with this together. This woman might be the hired assassin, but she can and will lead us to the fucker who threatened us.” He snapped his head in my direction. “And you’re not going to play the CIA card, buddy. Alexander is right. We did this together. Whatever better life you made for yourself could come tumbling down one way or the other.”
Sighing, I looked away, contemplating what he’d said. Brogan had never been considered the voice of reason, but at this point, he made good sense. “Fine. I’ll pay close attention. However, I need a detailed plan as well as some hired guns. I’m not killing this woman.”
“I never said we’d kill her, Daniel,” Alexander offered. “Once you meet her, you’ll realize that there is something very special about her. I say we use her, enjoying what she already offered. Then we make the decision about what to do with the mysterious woman.”
My God. The man was more demented than he’d been years before. If I went along with this bullshit plan, no matter what happened, the truth could be exposed, and I’d be ruined.
“And where are we going to take her for this special interrogation?” I spit out.
Alexander had the same expression on his face that he’d held just before pulling all three of us into another dark game he’d enjoyed playing.
“I have a special location in mind. In fact, it’s so unique that I’d already been planning on asking if you’d like to invest.”
Brogan exhaled. “I have limited funds.”
“Bullshit, Brogan. Your father ensured that you’d have everything you needed to succeed after getting out of prison. I’m no fool. I’ve checked.”
Alexander’s contemptuous answer was a reminder of the control and power he’d held over the rest of us during our four years together. His connections given his family’s powerful influence were something he’d stated far too many times.
Which had pissed me off more than I’d dared to express before.
“Fine. I have money squirreled away, but that doesn’t mean I’m prepared to enter into a business with you or anyone else.” Brogan kept a hard glare on Alexander.
“Understood, but I think you’ll grow to appreciate my offer. It’s an exclusive location I call Pleasure Island. The facility has yet to open, but when it does, I expect it will rival my club. We’ll talk business after we take our mysterious guest to the location. So we agree?” Alexander glanced from Brogan back to me. I was the unknown player, and he knew it.
After everything we’d been through, I was forced to admit we had limited choices.
“We owe it to Garrison. From what I heard while still behind bars, he was slaughtered like an animal and the goddamn prisoner guards did nothing to stop it.” Brogan’s words rang loud and clear. We owed it to the fourth man in our group, the one who’d taken the brunt of something we hadn’t done, but were guilty for nonetheless.
“What do you say, Daniel? We need your help on this. If you don’t agree, she will hunt you down at some point when you least expect it.” Alexander stared at me intently.
There was no good answer to this, but they were both right. We did owe it to a man who was a kinder, gentler soul than any of us. We’d nurtured him, kept him from being bullied. We’d turned him into the killer he’d become.
“Yeah, I’ll do it, but you will give me what I need and that includes support. We need to learn as much about her as we can,” I said, unable to keep from snarling.
“You can have several of my men at your disposal. They’ll handle any necessities, including cleaning up the scene. Just be prepared, my friend. She’s damn good at what she does, a chameleon with a sole intent in mind. Killing all three of us.”
I glared at Alexander then nodded. “Then the two of you stay out of the public eye until this is finished. The event is three nights from now. It’s likely the only opportunity she has to strike. I’ll let you know what happens.” I gulped more of my drink, although the scotch no longer set well in my stomach, bile taking hold.
“Understood,” Brogan said quietly as he moved closer, holding out his glass. “To Garrison. May he rest in peace.”
There was nothing that could have prepared me for the level of emotions rolling through my gut or my heart. I’d missed the years we’d spent together, the schemes we’d played and the confidence that had been built through our camaraderie. However, I was no murderer.
At least not any longer.
However, whoever this mysterious woman was, she would soon learn that coming against the Wild Boys had been a big mistake.