Chapter 47 Only One of Them Lives
The cameraman went white.
The other men were ordinary thugs. Wade Mercer was not.
Quickblade, as people called him, was one of their three best enforcers. He’d grown up in a martial arts family and trained with a sword since childhood. The stories about his speed were extravagant, but the results weren’t imaginary.
And now he lay motionless after two blows from a steel pipe.
The cameraman dropped to his knees.
“Please. I was following orders. I’ll tell you anything.”
“You learn quickly. Start talking.”
“Kyle Lawson. I work for a labor contractor. Construction crews on paper. We also lend money, collect debts, and take private jobs.”
He spoke quickly but clearly.
“Vince Lawson runs it. I’m his assistant. He gave me the assignment yesterday and told me to record everything. The client wanted to watch. Said you weren’t to die quickly.”
Kyle swallowed.
“I don’t know the client. Vince handles that.”
Ryan indicated the fallen swordsman.
“And him?”
“Wade Mercer. Quickblade. The other two are Grant Miller, Iron Fist, and Travis Cole. People call Travis the Ghoul. Vince sent Wade because he knew you could fight. I was here to supervise and film.”
Ryan looked at the camera.
Kyle immediately removed the memory card and snapped it.
“We never saw you. They got drunk and fought each other. Nothing to do with you.”
He held out his arm.
“If you want to break mine, too, I understand. I can’t do it myself, but I won’t resist.”
Ryan laughed despite himself.
The man had surrendered instantly, yet he’d kept his composure through the explanation. Now he was offering an arm as though negotiating an expense.
Cowardice or nerve? A peculiar combination of both.
Ryan dropped the pipe.
“You’ve cooperated. I’ll let you go. Take a message to Vince.”
Kyle looked up eagerly.
“Anything.”
“He accepted money to kill me. Normally, I’d deal with him tonight. Instead, he gets three days.”
Ryan’s tone remained almost casual.
“He kills the client, or I kill him. If the person who hired him is still alive in three days, he’s the one who pays.”
Kyle’s expression tightened.
“Only one of them gets to live?”
“You understand. Go.”
Kyle thanked him shakily.
Ryan left them where they were, got into his SUV, and drove home.
Grace had showered and was reading in a chair. Her loose pajamas did little to hide her figure.
Ryan went straight to the bathroom. Sharing her room had given him a new habit: he made sure he was clean before using her bed.
When he returned, he asked, “Did Preston Whitaker object to my promotion?”
The vice president was Grace’s chief rival. His family, the second-largest shareholder, had been challenging the Morgans’ control for years.
“The evidence was conclusive. He couldn’t defend Brian.” She kept her eyes on the book. “Reed is still one of his people, though. Finish the hospital contract quickly. Don’t give them an opening.”
“I saw Parker tonight. He has the paperwork. It should be finalized tomorrow.”
Some of the tension left her face.
“Good. What are your plans after that?”
“Keep myself occupied for three months.” He smiled. “The acting appointment works nicely. When our agreement ends, I leave.”
She was quiet for a moment.
“Then stay out of trouble until that happens.”
“I hear Whitaker’s making things difficult for you.”
Her lips tightened.
“That isn’t your concern.”
“All right.”
Her phone rang. She turned slightly away to answer.
“Chloe? Yes, I’ll be at work tomorrow. Around noon? Fine. Call when you arrive.”