Chapter 1
Ryker Sterling leaned against the bookcase and kept his mouth shut. This was Archer’s show. He wasn’t sure what he was doing here yet and he wasn’t going to ask questions with other people in the room. He didn’t understand what exactly was going on but that was standard operating procedure when it came to being a Security Division employee with the Lock and Key Society.
Archer Gray only ever told people what they needed to know, not a word more. Or that used to be the way it was. In the last few months, something had changed. A paralytic tension filled the air, a unique awareness Ryker had never experienced before. And it wasn’t just him. It was all his teammates. No one would ever say that Archer was relaxed, but his normal status quo attitude was less intense, more measured. Now he was off the intensity scale and trying to hide it. He’d actually asked—something in and of itself shocking, Archer never asked—Ryker and the rest of the team to keep their ear to the ground for any unusual gossip. Maybe today would be the day that Archer would provide some more details as to what the hell was going on.
“Ryker Sterling, I believe you’ve met Remington Tanger and Thane Hawkins before. Remy is the granddaughter of Remington Sr., whom you knew. Hawk is her husband.”
Ryker nodded to the two people sitting on the chairs in front of Archer’s desk. He’d met them in passing but knew little about them. Rush and Cat socialized with them but since Ryker wasn’t part of a couple, they didn’t move in the same circles.
They were all in Archer’s office in the Hamptons location of the Lock and Key Society. The estate overlooked the ocean, and sunshine reflected off the water, making it appear to be a beautiful warm day but like most things in life, looks could be deceiving. The wind had enough of a bite to warn a storm was coming. Probably in more ways than one, considering Archer’s expression.
“Remington, Hawk, thanks for meeting me here. I wanted a chance to speak with you in private.”
Remy’s brows drew together.“Are you saying the Lock and Key locations in New York aren’t private?”
Archer grimaced.“That’s part of what I want to discuss. They should be highly secure but lately, there have been some leaks. Things said in private spaces that are suddenly known in the outside world.”Archer’s jaw pulsed and his green eyes glittered.
Ryker didn’t let the surprise show on his face but if what Archer said was true, then the issue was much bigger and further along than he’d anticipated. No wonder the undertone had changed. He knew the look in Archer’s eye meant if he found the person responsible, Archer would take great pleasure in relocating them six feet under.
Archer leaned back in his chair and caught Ryker’s gaze.“Hawk is a former Navy SEAL and he’s also one of the best lawyers in New York.”He turned to Hawk.“Ryker is a former Army Ranger along with being one of the best of my security team. I need you both now.”
He folded his hands on his desk.“Someone has breached the security of the Lock and Key. I can’t have that. It jeopardizes everything the society has accomplished. Everything it stands for. I don’t know how it happened, but I am investigating and I’m not sure why but I’m quite certain of who.”
“Who?” Remy asked.
“Austin Davis.”
Remy actually snarled. Ryker shifted his nonchalant pose against the bookcase, every instinct on alert. She certainly looked pissed off.
When she spoke, her voice was icy.“He wanted my spot on the board. He had my grandfather killed for it. Paid one of your men to do the deed. The bald guy with the scar?”
Archer paused.“Arthur is no longer part of the Society. He’s been repurposed as compost. We believe in giving back.”A ghost of a smile played at the corner of Archer’s lips.
“You killed him?”Remy paled in the sunlight.
“He broke the rules. People who break the rules do not live long lives.”Archer didn’t pull any punches which was one of the reasons Ryker liked him so much. They were peas in a pod, so to speak. Stone-cold killers who spoke the truth.
Ryker also wasn’t surprised about Davis. Archer had confided in the team a few weeks ago that Davis was making trouble for the Society, but leaking information was a new low. Davis was risking his life. What was worth that kind of risk to a man like the Senator from Texas?
Archer sipped his coffee, then lowered the mug. “Your grandfather was the moral backbone of the society. His vote on issues outweighed everyone else as he was the closest one to being a founding member as the son of one of the founders. He kept things as he thought they should be. As the oldest member, he was also the living history of the society. He could speak about what the Society’s original partners had in mind according to his father and everyone else had to listen.
“Unfortunately, Austin Davis has other ideas. He went up against your grandfather on quite a few issues and lost. I believe he had your grandfather murdered so he could begin swinging votes his way.”
Remy’s bottom lip quivered, causing Hawk to reach out and take her hand. Ryker admired the connection the two had. It was obvious they loved one another but love had never been anything but a liability in his world.
Archer continued. “Davis thought that Asad Najeddine would end up with your seat, so it was fine. They are of a similar mindset. When you stepped up for the seat, it put a crimp in his plans. Then he lost once again when you and I helped elect Tatum Wellington to the board instead of Eli Fisher. Davis was very upset about that, and the man holds a grudge.
“To be blunt, I do think you are in danger, Remington,”Archer said.“Davis can’t do anything yet in terms of challenging you. It’s too soon and the others on the board would balk but in six months, who knows? He might try for your seat again. Your key holds the most power. Outside of mine that is.”
“What do you plan on doing about this? If you know Davis is responsible for Remy’s grandfather’s death, why is he walking around unscathed? I thought the board was protected?”Hawk demanded.
“They are, and you’re right. I failed when it came to Remington’s grandfather. I have no proof he was murdered by Davis. Arthur admitted to the killing but would not say who put him up to it. I doubt I will ever have the proof needed to link Davis to your grandfather’s death but, no disrespect, Remington, that is the least of my worries.”Archer heaved a breath.“Davis is somehow privy to things that are happening within the Society, things he should know nothing about. He is using that information to amass more power, both within the society and outside of it.”
“What do you want from us?”Hawk asked.
“As much as it pains me to admit, I need help figuring out what exactly Davis is up to and how he’s getting the information he seems to have. I have asked my staff,”he nodded towards Ryker,“to keep their eyes and ears open and collect any information about what Davis is doing. But you recently joined the society. People will be tolerant if you ask questions. They won’t be so tolerant if I have others do it. If I do it, then…”
“Then you’re admitting there’s a problem,”Hawk supplied.
“Exactly.”
Remy tucked a hair behind her ear.“I’m flattered that you are trusting us with this, Archer.”
“He’s trusting us because we’re new and couldn’t possibly be mixed up in anything yet,”Hawk pointed out.“If we’d been here a while, I doubt he’d be so forthcoming.”
Archer’s smile was frosty.“Indeed.”
No flies on Hawk. Ryker liked him, even though he was a former SEAL. The man understood the game. Always good to have someone on board who got how things worked without having to be told.“Do you know Davis’s end game?”
All eyes turned to him.
“No,”Archer responded,“and what his plan might be is a significant worry. One person has already decided to leave the board. They refused to say what happened, just that Davis was involved. They would rather take themselves out of the equation than acquiesce to him.”
Remy frowned.“That doesn’t sound good. What could he possibly have asked them to do?”
“Unclear. But the fact it happened is disturbing.”Archer leaned forward.“You need to understand, your key makes you the strongest vote on the board, but you can be outvoted. If everyone votes against you… what they want stands.”
Hawk asked“What’s the split? How many votes does Remy’s key get her?”
Archer shrugged.“No one really knows. The question has never come up before. The votes tend to be unanimous. I have someone researching the question. I also have a vote that overrides all others, even yours, but again I’m not sure it would hold if challenged. It’s a gray area. There aren’t many in the society, but this is one of them. People have been quite reasonable up to this point. Your grandfather was very good at getting people to see his point of view. I’ve never had to vote until Davis tried to put Fisher on the board. Sadly, I think it won’t be the last time I’ll have to do it. Davis is ambitious and he’s building a challenge to my authority. It’s not going to end well.”
Archer continued“I believe his ultimate goal is to have my position but I’m not sure what that gets him. He doesn’t want to run the society at least the way it is now. I think for all intents and purposes, he wants to be King and profit off what happens inside the society.”
“So, this is what? A power play?”Hawk asked.
“Not just a power grab,”Archer said.“He’s trying to establish himself as a major player on the world stage and he doesn’t care who or what he destroys to do it.”
“So this isn’t just about you losing your job?”Remy asked.
Ryker had to stifle a laugh. If she only knew. As a newish member, even a new board member, she had no clue what Archer did. She also didn’t know that Archer couldn’t just retire. When he was replaced, it would be because he was dead. His was a job for life. It was part of Ryker’s job to make sure Archer survived even if it cost him his own life. He hadn’t ever thought that was a likely scenario before, but he was beginning to think that maybe just maybe his days were numbered.