21. Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty
Levi
I lean back in my chair, rubbing my temples as I stare at the stack of invoices cluttering my desk. The sound of metal clicking against metal draws my attention to where Zane sits methodically cleaning his guns. His long dark hair is pulled back in a neat knot, his movements precise and focused.
"Man, those girls last night..." Colt's voice drifts over from the leather couch where he's sprawled out, still wearing his clothes from yesterday. "They were something else. You shoulda come with me, Z."
Zane doesn't look up from his work. "I don't want to hear about your conquests."
"Come on, man. When's the last time you actually went out and had some fun?" Colt props himself up on an elbow, his blonde hair sticking up in every direction. "You know what they say about all work and no play."
I catch the slight twitch at the corner of Zane's mouth as he tries to maintain his stoic expression. "Some of us have standards, Colt."
"Standards? Is that what we're calling it now?" Colt grins. "Because from where I'm sitting, that sounds an awful lot like a fancy way to say 'I've given up on all the things that make life worth living'."
"Unlike you, I don't need to chase everything in a skirt to validate my existence." Zane methodically reassembles the pistol in his hands.
I can't help but smirk. "He's got you there, Colt."
"Et tu, Levi?" Colt clutches his chest dramatically. "It’s not exactly my existence I need validated, thank you very much. And, I’ll have you know the ladies I spent last night were excellent conversationalists. Very mentally stimulating."
"Really?" Zane arches an eyebrow. "So you spent the entire night enjoying their… conversation, hm? What did you talk about? "
“Um, well." Colt pauses, his brows furrowing. "I don't remember. But to be fair, there were two of them and they just loved to… talk. And talk, and talk and talk. You know me. I’m easily distracted." Colt waggles his eyebrows.
"I'm sure," I deadpan, shuffling through more paperwork.
Colt rolls onto his back, staring at the ceiling. "Seriously though, Z. You need to get out more. I'm sure they'd be up for making it a double—"
"No." Zane's voice is firm but there's amusement in his eyes.
"Oh! A little too advanced for you huh? Well, let's see. I'm sure they have a friend that'd be more your speed. A Sunday school teacher maybe, or…"
I watch as Zane's composure finally cracks, a deep chuckle escaping as he shakes his head. "You're ridiculous."
"That's why you love me." Colt beams. "Come on, seriously though. When's the last time you actually went on a date?"
"Some of us actually work." Zane picks up another gun to clean. "You know that thing that keeps us all fed."
"Hey! Networking is a very valuable skill," Colt protests. "It takes practice."
I snort. "Anything for the business, huh?"
"You're both just jealous of my… skills." Colt stretches out on the couch. "It'd be wrong to keep all this charm to myself. I'm just sharing my gifts with the world."
"Such a generous guy you are." Zane mutters, but there's no heat in his words.
The banter continues as I try to focus on the numbers in front of me. It's comfortable, this dynamic between us. Even in my darkest moods, Colt manages to make me laugh. And Zane, for all his seriousness, has a dry wit that perfectly complements Colt's… whatever it is.
"Seriously though," Colt sits up, his expression suddenly earnest. "You should come out with me sometime, Z. Just... you know, live a little."
Zane pauses in his cleaning, looking at Colt with an unreadable expression. "I live plenty."
"Playing with your gun all day isn't living, it's existing." Colt's voice carries a note of concern beneath the teasing. "Even Levi gets outta here sometimes."
"For work," I interject, not looking up from my papers.
"Details." Colt waves his hand dismissively. "The point is, you're young, you're hot— in a terrifying is-he-a-serial-killer? sort of way—but still. You deserve some fun."
Zane sets down his cleaning cloth, his blue eyes intense. "I don't do that."
Colt stands up, stretching. "But you could."
Zane sighs heavily, but I can see him wavering. "If I say yes, will you shut the fuck up and let me finish this?"
"Absolutely not," Colt grins. "But I'll buy the first round."
I clear my throat, interrupting. "As entertaining as this is, we need to focus. We need to make a decision on Oak Valley. It's becoming an issue."
Colt's playful demeanor shifts instantly, his blue eyes sharpening behind his glasses. "What kind of issue?"
"The kind that requires our attention." I pull out a manila folder from my desk drawer. "Remember that safe house on Cherry Street?"
Zane sets down the gun he's cleaning. "Your father's old place?"
"That's the one." I spread out several photos across my desk. "It's been sitting empty since he died. But I think it's time we got it operational again."
"Operational for what exactly?" Colt moves closer, studying the pictures of the dilapidated but sprawling ranch style house.
"If we don't make some moves to re-establish our presence there, we're going to lose it. It's been neglected for a long time." I tap my finger on a photo showing broken windows and overgrown landscaping. "Oak Valley used to be central to everything when my father ran things. We've let it slip."
"And now you want it back." Zane's voice is neutral, but I catch the slight tension in his shoulders.
"We need it back," I correct him. "The competition's getting bold. They think because we've been focused elsewhere, they can move in on what was always ours. It's fine for now, but it'll hurt our business, especially the guns, in the long run. Makes us look careless, weak."
Colt picks up another one of the photos. "This place looks rough, man. How long are we talking to get it ready?"
"A week, maybe two." I lean back in my chair. "We need to install new security systems, reinforce entry points, the works. It needs to start looking lived in. Neighbors need to get used to having company again."
"Neighbors." Zane's lip curls slightly. "That was always the problem with that house. Too many eyes."
"Which is exactly why it's perfect for us." I stand up, pacing behind my desk. "It's quiet. Unexpected. My father understood that. It's why he chose it in the first place."
"Speaking of your father..." Colt hesitates, glancing at Zane before continuing. "You sure going back there is smart? There's a lot of history back there. He may be gone, but there's a lot of people who remember him and remember what happened."
"That history is exactly why we need to do this." My voice hardens. "People there need to be reminded that things changed. They need to remember who we are."
Zane sets aside his cleaning supplies completely, his full attention on me now. "Why now? Last time I checked, you wanted nothing to do with any part of the business that was your father's."
I keep my expression neutral, even though I'm irritated by the lack of vision I'm surrounded by. "I don't. But, I also don't want to take any hits on anything we've built for ourselves."
"You sure that's all it is?" Zane stands, his height making the office feel smaller. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks an awful lot like you're trying to prove something to people who don't matter anymore."
"Z..." Colt warns softly.
"No." I hold up my hand. "Let him speak."
"Going backwards like this is never a good idea," Zane continues, his blue eyes intense. "Who gives a fuck about Oak Valley. We've got plenty of other things to worry about besides stirring up all that old business."
"Concern noted." I say, my tone icy.
Colt moves between us, his usual lighthearted demeanor replaced with something more serious. "Maybe we should focus on the logistics first. Give me a day to get together with Wolf. We'll draw up some plans."
I force myself to take a deep breath, reining in the anger that threatens to spill over. “Fine. But I want preliminary designs by tomorrow. Z, I need you to make some calls and figure out what we're up against. Get all the details on who's who and what they're moving."
"And you?" Zane asks, still watching me carefully.
"I'm going to make some calls of my own." I sit back down at my desk. "There's a lot of bad blood there, but there are also a few people in Oak Valley who owe my family favors. Time to collect."
"Your father's old contacts?" Colt asks hesitantly.
"My contacts now." I pull out my phone. "Whether they like it or not."
Zane and Colt exchange a look I pretend not to notice. There's that worry again.
"Let's plan on two weeks. Three at most," I say to them. "I want that house ready to move some guys into. A full team. Whatever it takes."
"Whatever it takes," they echo, but I hear the reservation in their voices.
I understand their concerns. Oak Valley represents everything I've tried to leave behind about my father's legacy. It's where he got his start—working as a middle man, storing and moving goods—anything there’s a market for—for the guys at the top. He clawed and scratched and fought his way up until he was the guy at the top. The last man standing. Until me. I know how risky a move like this is, but I won't take a chance on losing any more in this life than I already have.
"I want to get out of here first thing in the morning. So let's get everything finished up and secured," I order, already scrolling through my contacts.
They leave without another word, with Zane's disapproval hanging heavy in the air. Once they're gone, I allow myself a moment of weakness and pull out the phone that contains Sunny's last voicemail. I pause for only a moment before hitting play. I listen to it once and remind myself that the next couple weeks are all about making sure no one ever threatens what's mine again.