by M. Leighton
By the time Gavin was a teenager, they were living in Ireland. His father somehow got caught in the middle of two nasty groups of rebels and ended up getting himself, Gavin’s mom and Gavin’s older sister killed. It wasn’t long after that when Gavin went on to serve in a different kind of military. The kind that doesn’t go on resumes and people sometimes die after finding out about.
He was a mercenary for several years. He’s a few years older than me—around thirty, I think—but he’s got some of the best tactical skills I’ve ever seen. He’s pretty bad ass and I’m glad he’s my friend and on my side.
Aside from his keen intellect and…other experience, he’s a pilot. He can fly virtually anything with wings, from Cessnas, to small jets, to helicopters. In fact, now that he’s no longer a merc, that’s what he does when he’s not helping me with the club—he has a charter business for his chopper.
We met through my father. Dad used Gavin’s piloting services a few times when he first started getting things in order to break ties with the Bratva, the Russian mafia. Gavin was competent and discreet, and Dad learned quickly that he was a man who could be trusted, especially when it came to doing the right thing, despite the consequences.
Gavin kept in touch with Dad when he went to prison, so when the economy tanked and Gavin’s business started dropping off, Dad put him in touch with me for some extra work. We hit it off instantly. Since that day, Gavin has been my best friend and the closest thing to non-imprisoned family I’ve had for years.
And now I’m going to need his experience and his discretion more than ever before.
“How much did Dad tell you about what happened?”
Gavin relays what Dad told him and I fill in the blanks. Well, most of them anyway. I don’t tell him about Nash’s death, or that I’m living as both brothers and have been for seven years. That’s information I’d like to keep to myself as long as possible. That’s a level of trust I have in few people. Actually, more like one person.
Olivia.
“So, you have no idea who’s gonna be showing up here in the next…” Gavin looks at his watch. “Twenty minutes or so?”
“Not a clue. Dad must think or know that they either have some kind of information that can help me or that they have some way of getting us out of this without giving up valuable, one-of-a-kind leverage or somebody’s life.”
“Yeah, making a copy is out of the question. That’s the kind of thing that really does get people killed.”
“My concern isn’t only with giving up the information that could get Dad off. It’s as much about how these people work. They don’t leave witnesses alive. Ever. I have to figure out some other way to make sure Olivia is safe. Completely. Permanently. I either have to get rid of them or…I don’t know what. But I have to do something. I have to make sure she’s safe.”
Gavin rubs his chin. “That could be tricky. These are dangerous people to underestimate. But you’re a great strategist. One of the smartest guys I’ve ever met. And that’s saying a lot. I’ve worked all over the world with all kinds of people. You’d have made an excellent merc. You might not have much to go on now, but once your dad’s plan B person gets here, you’ll know more. You’re a lot like Greg. And, knowing what kind of guy your father is, this mystery person’s gonna be a game changer.”
I reach up to squeeze the bridge of my nose, hoping to stop the dull throb that’s beating just behind my eyes. “I hope you’re right. If not, I’m gonna have to come up with something pretty damn fast. I’ve only got until nine thirty in the morning. They’re giving me thirty minutes after the bank opens to get in and get the books. Then I’ll be meeting them.”
“But the books aren’t at the bank, right?”
“No, they’re not.”
I trust Gavin, but I still hesitate to show my hand.
“Did you tell them which bank?”
“No. Why?’
“Well, that might play into it. Might help you on your time. Plus, they won’t be able to meet you there. Try to pull any of their typical tricks.”
“Yeah, the longer we have and the less they know, the better.”
“Always.”
Gavin and I spit ball back and forth while we wait. It keeps me from pacing, which is what I feel like doing. I don’t like waiting. I don’t like not having all the facts. I don’t like being the last to know. And, most of all, I don’t like worrying about being able to keep Olivia safe. There are too many unknowns, too many players, too many variables. What I need is for Dad’s man or people to get here so I can regain some amount of control.
For a while after the accident, I was blood thirsty. All I could think about was getting revenge against the people who killed my mother and brother, and who framed my father for their deaths. But, over time, the more I became Nash, the more I realized there was a legal way to go about it, a way that could free my father. That alone would be worth going about it without bloodshed. So that’s what I did. I set about getting my law degree and learning as much as I could about similar cases, so that one day I could use the evidence that my dad sacrificed so much for to see justice served.
But now all that is in jeopardy. Unless the ace up Dad’s sleeve is a damned good one.
Forty-four minutes later, an hour before the club closes, an ace walks through my office door. And holy hell what an ace it is!
CHAPTER ELEVEN- Olivia
It would be impossible not to notice him. Danger and confidence and reckless disregard for pretty much anybody and anything emanate from him like a stink. Or, for every female in the immediate vicinity, like a perfume.
I’m pretty sure that tickle at the back of my throat is Taryn’s pheromones. They might choke us all. I don’t even have to look down the bar at her to know she’s sitting up and taking notice. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was preening like a cat. But I could also understand it. He’s pretty…compelling.
He’s tall. Every bit as tall as Cash. The fact that he’s wearing a black leather jacket and sunglasses into a club in the middle of the night only makes him stand out that much more. But it’s not only that. It’s not just one thing. Or ten things. It’s everything about him. There’s no way this guy could hide. Not in the biggest crowd could he go unnoticed.
People step away from him as he walks through the room. I don’t know if it’s fear or reverence, but something causes them to give him ample space.
I’d guess his hair is chin length. Maybe shoulder length, but pulled back into a ponytail as it is, it’s hard to tell. The color is like pale straw, lighter on top than that underneath, which makes me think he works out in the sun. Often.
His chin is covered with a thick, light brown goatee. Between that and the sunglasses, most of the details of his face are obscured, but there’s something about him that seems vaguely familiar. I wonder if he’s been into the club before. Not dressed like this, of course, but maybe in regular clothes.
Without stopping, he walks straight to Cash’s office and disappears inside. It’s like there’s a pause after he’s gone, as though his slow, powerful walk across the room left a slight concussion in its wake. But after about thirty seconds, everyone returns to last call as if nothing happened.
But I’m more curious than ever.
CHAPTER TWELVE- Cash
I’m glad I’m sitting when he walks in. I’m also glad I’m not eating or drinking when he walks in. It would be a shame to make it this far and then choke and die from seeing the long-awaited visitor walk into my office.
And recognize that he’s my twin brother.
Nash.
“What the fu—”
My first thought, my first feeling is profound relief. Joy even. My brother isn’t dead. He’s very much alive. And standing right in front of me.
His hair is longer. And blonder. His face is familiar. I’d recognize it anywhere, of course. Even with the lower half covered in a dark blond goatee, it looks just like mine. Only harder. Much harder.
I feel the presence
of him in a way that no other person on earth feels it. We’re part of each other in a way that most siblings don’t experience. It’s different being a twin.
I think, on some level, I’ve always known he wasn’t dead. I never felt him leave, never felt him die. I never felt his absence like he was truly gone.
But what does this mean? What the hell is going on? It only takes me a few seconds to put the pieces together.
Dad.
“Dad knew. He knew all along and didn’t tell me.”
A slap in the face. A sucker punch to the balls. A reality check that reminds me there really isn’t anyone I can trust. Not completely.
I trust Gavin for the most part, but the two people I’ve trusted with the most have both given me reason to question my judgment. My father obviously withheld quite a bit from me. I don’t know why, but I’m damn sure going to find out eventually. Once I make sure Olivia is safe…
Olivia.
She’s the other person I’ve trusted with a lot. She hasn’t betrayed that trust, but she’s been withdrawing over the last day or two and it concerns me. I know she has a lot to overcome and deal with, but now isn’t the time for that. It’s too dangerous for her to decide all of a sudden that I’m not trustworthy and then bolt. It could mean her life.
What that means to me is that I have to either convince Olivia she can trust me, that I’d never hurt her, or I have to leave her alone. She can’t be safe if she doesn’t trust me. And I can’t trust her if she doesn’t trust me.
Nash’s words bring me back to his mysterious reappearance. “Yeah. We all had our reasons for making the choices we made. You included,” he says pointedly.
He’s right, but that doesn’t take the sting out of being the only one kept in the dark. My temper rises, but before I lay into Nash, Gavin shifts, reminding me that I’m not alone with my brother.
I glance at my bar manager and best friend who is looking back and forth between Nash and me. His expression says he’s a little confused, but not as much as I might’ve expected.
“I’ll explain all this later,” I promise.
Gavin narrows his eyes and then starts to slowly nod. “No, I don’t think there’s any reason for that. I think I’m up to speed.” He stands to his feet and steps over to Nash. “Gavin Gibson. I don’t suppose we’ve met before.”
I’ll be damned. He did figure it out.
I “met” Gavin as Nash once to add some legitimacy to the farce. If Gavin had ever had any suspicions about the identity, he’d never mentioned it. But then again, knowing Gavin, he’d probably keep it to himself in case he needed it later. I guess in this business—well, my Dad’s business—everyone has their secrets. And their weapons.
I nod to my friend. No point in holding anything back now.
I turn back to Nash, crossing my arms over my chest. “So, are you gonna bring me up to speed?”
Nash watches me. It’s in this moment, not when I first saw him and saw how different he looks, that I realize he’s changed. He’s more like me than he ever was, the way I used to be. Only much more dangerous.
“I didn’t come here to catch up on the last seven years. I came here because Dad sent the message. It must be time to get down to business.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?’
“I’ve got leverage.”
“So do I. But they know I have it and they’re making unacceptable threats, threats I can’t risk calling them on.”
He stops to watch me again. It’s like he’s trying to get inside my head. And when he finally speaks again, it seems like he might’ve been successful.
“Who do they have?”
“A girl I know. Someone they think is important to me.”
A slight frown flickers across his forehead, but then it’s gone. “Someone they think is important to you?” I nod. “But she’s not?”
I shrug. “I’m not particularly fond of her. But there is one that is important to me. And they know about her, too.”
He nods slowly, taking it all in.
“Well, I have enough to change everything if we use it right.”
“Then why haven’t you used it before now?”
“Dad. He wanted to wait. He was afraid of putting us in more danger. That’s the only reason he went along with any of this. He’s spent the last seven years in prison to protect us, not because he didn’t have a way out. He’s known all along he holds all the cards.”
“So the books…”
“Were only part of it, yes. But it has kept you safe all this time, so it was worth it. To him.”
To him.
I don’t know what to make of that last part. Does Nash resent me? I don’t see how or why he would. He’s known the deal all along, while I’ve been operating under only bits and pieces of information. He’s known the truth. I’ve known mostly lies.
My temper ratchets up another notch. “Man, if you’ve got something to say, say it. I’m getting real tired of this shit. I don’t take kindly to people messing with my life and only telling me half-truths and part of the story. You can either come clean or you can hit the door. I’ll figure out another way. Without you and…whatever it is you think you’ve got.”
After a few seconds, Nash’s lips turn up into a small, cold smile.
“At least you’re not a total pussy.”
I see red. I’ve had about enough of all this—this life, this deception, this game. I take a step toward Nash, fully intending to plant my fist right in the center of his face. He smirks like he’d welcome it, like he’d welcome the opportunity to trade a few punches with me. But Gavin steps between us.
“If I had to guess, I’d say there are more important things than your pissing contest right now. Focus, mate. Focus. For her, if nothing else.”
His eyes are as calm as the shallow blue waters they so closely resemble. Within a few seconds, the wisdom of his words and the person behind them cools my temper.
Olivia.
“This isn’t over,” I grind out through my gritted teeth. Nash nods once, his smirk still firmly in place. For a fraction of a second, I feel another surge of the desire to beat that smugness out of him, but it’s gone almost as soon as it arrived.
“We’ll find time later. I look forward to it.”
I can see by the hungry look on his face that he does. I don’t know what he has to be angry about, but I really don’t care either. I need him for one thing and one thing only. Then he can take his ass back to wherever he came from and we won’t ever have to see each other again.
“Well, if you think I’m going in there without knowing what you’ve got, you couldn’t be more wrong. This is going down my way. Period.”
Nash’s laugh is a short bark. “I don’t give a shit about saving your friends. Or your girlfriend. I’ve been waiting for seven years to take down the people who killed mom and stole my life. I can wait a few more days. I’ve got my own agenda.”
“I don’t care what you do as long as it doesn’t interfere with my plans or put anyone I care about in danger.”
Nash’s lips thin. “You don’t care, huh? You don’t care that someone blew up our mother? You don’t care that someone framed our father? You don’t care that he’s spent years in prison to protect us? You don’t care that somebody took our lives and pissed on ‘em then set ‘em on fire?” Nash laughs derisively. “Oh, that’s right. You wouldn’t. You’ve been the beneficiary of all our family grief, haven’t you, you son of a bitch?”
“What the hell are you talking about? How have I benefited? You mean by pretending to be my perfect brother, by living his perfect life and having to put up with the assholes someone like him would associate with? You mean by spending years grieving the loss of every single member of my family? You mean by visiting my only living relative in a guarded room with glass between us twice a month for seven years, and working day and night to figure out a way to get him out? Is that what you mean?”
Nash takes a step toward me. I see Gavin fli
nch like he’s ready to step in again; he didn’t move far away to begin with. But Nash stops.
“That sounds a hell of a lot better than spending the last seven years on the run. In hiding. I gave up everything—who I was, what I wanted, all I ever had—to honor my father’s wishes. To keep him safe, to keep you safe. I got to sneak into town a few times a year to see my brother living my life. Free. Happy. Alive. While I had to stay dead. Running guns with smugglers. Stuck on a ship. Every day, for months at a time. I’d trade lives with you any day of the week.”
“You can have your life! I never wanted it. Everything I’ve done, I’ve done for him. Don’t think you’re the only one who’s suffered, Nash.”
We stare each other down. We’re at an impasse. I’d never admit it, but now I can see why he’d be angry. We’ve both suffered, both paid for mistakes that weren’t ours. But maybe the end is in sight. Maybe it’s finally time to be free of the past. Finally.
“I know you boys have a lot to talk about, but it has to wait. We’ve only got a few hours to get a plan together. What do you say we put the bullshit aside and get down to business?”
I look to Gavin. His expression hasn’t changed from the pleasant one that he always wears. Sometimes it’s hard to believe he’s deadly. But he is. He just hides it well. That probably makes him even more dangerous.
“You’re right. We don’t have time for this.” I glance at the clock on the wall. “It’ll be time to close soon. I’ll have to bring Olivia back and fill her in on some of what’s going on.”
“Do you think that’s really the smart thing to do?” Nash snaps.
“Yes, as a matter of fact I do. She needs to know. She has a right to know. Her life is in danger because of me. Because of us. Hell yeah, I think it’s the smart thing. The more cooperative she is, the better.”
Nash rolls his eyes and shakes his head. Obviously he disagrees. But, again, I couldn’t care less. He doesn’t have to agree with me; he just has to give me what I need to make sure Olivia’s safe. Permanently. Then I don’t give a rat’s ass what he does.