I’ve invited you here to offer my protective services in exchange for you tutoring my daughter.”
No way in hell was I tutoring his daughter. Not that I couldn’t. Hell, I had a high IQ. I could’ve tested out of my senior year. But my old man wanted to see me graduate, and my brothers and I always talked about graduating together. Besides, Hunt and my brothers could help protect Lacey.
“A few minutes ago you were offering me a job as a babysitter at some club. Now you want me to babysit your daughter?” No damn way was I getting near that chick. If I tutored her, then Kelton would be sniffing around, and I didn’t want her near Kelton. “It doesn’t matter, I can protect my girl. I don’t need your muscle. I saw how careless they were last night.”
Hunt swore. “We protect our own.”
I let out a quiet breath. I was confident Hunt would have my back, but hearing him say it out loud to Pitt made me stand up a little taller.
“It was an accident caused by your brother,” Pitt said. “If he hadn’t fallen into my guy, then the gun wouldn’t have gone off. What are you complaining about? Didn’t we do you a favor shooting your enemy? I’d say you should thank me. After all, I literally scared the living piss out of them. Or at least that Seever boy.” He harrumphed.
Hunt laughed. “Seever did piss his pants.”
I didn’t give a shit about Sullivan or Seever, and I despised the fact that Pitt knew more about me and Lacey than I cared to imagine. I wasn’t sure why I was surprised. If he was connected to the Russian mob, he probably knew how to get information on anyone. “Do you know who killed the Robinsons?” Something wasn’t adding up. Why not just pay me to tutor his daughter?
He studied me for the longest time. I stared right back.
“He’s not going to tell you,” Hunt said. “If he did, that would make him guilty or some shit like that for not going to the cops. Nah, the mob takes care of their own problems.”
Pitt flicked his head at Hunt while keeping his eyes on me. “Listen to your friend.”
I heaved to my feet from the fancy leather chair. “We’re done here.” Hunt was right. Pitt wasn’t going to say a word. “I can handle my own shit. I don’t need you or your thugs to get anywhere near Lacey.”
“Are you going to protect her twenty-four, seven? Is her father going to let you sleep at the house? And what about when you’re not together? I can take that worry away from you.” He sounded desperate.
I threw my hands on his desk and got in his face. “Why should I trust you?”
“You shouldn’t. Although if I’m willing to trust you with someone precious to me, do you think I’d blow smoke up your ass? Don’t you think I’ve done my research on you, Kade Maxwell? I know you’re fiercely protective of your brothers and your family. I know you are an excellent shot with a gun. Honestly, I wouldn’t trust anyone other than myself or my wife when it came to my daughter. But you… I know my gut is right. I know you wouldn’t touch her, harm her, or let anyone get near her. I also know you have a way of getting people to listen to you.” He sat back in his chair.
I didn’t want to know what he meant by his last statement. Or how any of what he said related to tutoring. My head was throbbing to the point where my vision was blurring. I blinked twice before the panoramic view of the Boston skyline became crystal clear. Snow was falling, blanketing the rooftops of the buildings around us. I needed to get out of there and release some tension and think. I tapped Hunt on the arm as I started for the door.
“You’ll be back,” Pitt called after us.
Like hell I will.
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T wo and half hours later I was standing in the reception area of Whitaker Manor. After Pitt brought up my mom, I had to see her. Not that I thought he would do something to her, I just hadn’t seen her in two weeks. And seeing her always helped me put life in perspective and