42. Gray
Gray
It takes everything I have not to kill Monroe immediately.
Jax is on the floor in front of me, Nick’s body straddling her like she’s his personal property. He likes this kind of thing. I’ve seen it before. Owning women is a kink of his because he could never get one legitimately.
Flynn stands beside me, a coiled spring. One false move and this will all be over very quickly.
“Do nothing,” I whisper at him as the guards stop ahead of us.
He stays where he is, his eyes glued on Jax, and I force myself to look at Nick and smile.
“Hey there, Nick,” I say, injecting a note of cheerfulness into my voice. “It’s been a while.”
Nick doesn’t get up until I speak, and when he does, his hands run over Jax’s body, fisting in the hoodie she’s wearing. As he rises to standing, he yanks her up with him as the chair wobbles unsteadily.
“Fuck,” Nick says, laughing. “Gray Jones.”
I step forward. Nick comes to greet me, hand outstretched, and some of the nerves that I’ve been fighting flutter away.
He’s pleased to see me at least. That’s a good start.
“I haven’t seen you in a long time,” he says, his handshake limp and weak just as I remember it. “Quite the bigshot these days, huh?” he mutters, his beady eyes flicking to Flynn and back to me.
“You too,” I say congenially as Flynn’s shoulders tense in my periphery.
Nick lets go of my hand, a smirk on his lips as he places his own hands in his pockets.
He’s the type of man who loves power but had very little of it growing up.
He’s not an impressive specimen, always having been smaller and weaker than average.
That’s why he surrounds himself with muscle and money.
“You’re looking good,” he says with an amused little smile. “What are you doing with this waste of space?”
Flynn has the good sense to say nothing in response to that as I hesitate. I had hoped there might be a few more pleasantries before we got down to business. Nick has the upper hand, and he knows it. I just have to pray that what I’ve brought with us is enough to get us out of here alive.
“I hate to say it,” I say quietly. “But our paths have crossed at a most inopportune time.”
“Oh, yeah?”
The guards around the room are moving in on us. There must be eight of them in total on this floor, and a gallery above where I’m sure more men lurk. Nick was never one to do anything half-assed.
“Mr. Jenson here tells me his brother has done something rather foolish and taken advantage of your generosity.”
The same little smile I remember from my past spreads across Nick’s face. He loves to think he’s doing right by people, and that they are the cause of all his problems.
“He has,” he says grimly. “A legitimate bet he can’t honor.”
“Is he still alive?” I ask.
Jax’s eyes are on the floor, but as soon as I ask that question, they rise to Monroe’s back. If looks could kill, the man would be dead already.
“Why do you care?” Monroe asks, rocking back onto his heels.
I glance at Flynn, who is watching his sister, his jaw clenched.
“It’s a problem for me,” I say smoothly. “We were in the midst of a rather lucrative deal, and this has made things difficult.”
“You were doing a deal with the Jensons?” Nick asks. “That’s disappointing, Gray. I thought you had more discerning taste than that.”
“It isn’t about them. It’s about their new club. I’m about to own eighty percent of their business in exchange for this little intervention.”
Right on cue, Flynn takes in a short, sharp breath, tension rolling off him in waves as I stand my ground.
“Don’t you own half of New York already?” Monroe quips.
“The good half,” I concede blandly. “But I’ve always wanted a spot on the water.
The Jensons have an established, loyal following, and they’re building another site in the Ferry district.
I get a ready-made cash cow for very little effort, and it was all going smoothly until Scott fucked up part of the deal.
” I say, adding a note of exhaustion to my voice.
Nick glances at Flynn. “Surely you don’t need these idiots to help you? Hire new staff.”
I shrug one shoulder. “I could, but it would attract attention.”
Flynn shifts forward a fraction, and I can feel the guards stiffen all around us.
Might as well get to the meat of this thing and see if he plays along.
“I’m here to settle Scott’s debt. They’ll be paying me back, with interest in the future, believe me.”
“You’ll settle his debt?” Nick asks skeptically. “Why the hell would you do that?”
“Collateral. Flynn and his whole family will be in my pocket, just as they are in yours now, but I can’t have my new club associated with you, Monroe. I got out of this life. I’m willing to pay to ensure it stays that way.”
I can see the gleam returning to Nick’s eyes now. He loves money, and that’s what he’ll want ultimately, but I know the biggest gamble is yet to come.
“That’s awfully generous.”
“Generosity has nothing to do with it. I’m guaranteeing my investment. I will own the Jensons for as long as it takes them to pay me back.”
Nick smirks, turning to Flynn. “And they say I’m cutthroat.”
“People make their choices,” I add, and Nick nods as if I’ve said something deeply profound. I wait, nerves jangling.
“Scott’s little stunt injured a couple of my men,” Monroe says, his eyes narrowing. “Not fatally, but it’s not something I’m willing to overlook. Plus, their sister broke a few bones of her own.”
I glance over at Jax. The man behind her is covered in blood.
Good girl.
“Alright. So how much?” I ask.
Monroe glances at the black duffel bag Flynn holds in his right hand.
“How much is in there?” Nick asks.
“Three hundred grand,” I say, as Flynn fidgets.
“Hm,” Nick replies, running his teeth over his lower lip and grinning at me like an idiot. Jax’s eyes are on me now. I can feel them burning against my skin.
“You take the money, release his brothers, and leave the Jenson’s alone from now on,” I say.
“Of course,” Nick replies smoothly. I have no reason to believe he’ll stand by his word, but right now the most important thing is I get Jax out of here.
I gesture at Flynn, who throws the bag at Nick’s feet.
One of Nick’s minions comes forward and unzips it, revealing the stacks of 100-dollar bills inside. I knew he would never go for less than a nice round number, and it isn’t over yet.
“Excellent,” Monroe croons. “It’s a pleasure doing business with you again.”
My gaze falls on Jax, her sharp hazel eyes as cold as ice, as I feel my throat tighten.
“And the girl?” I ask, trying desperately to keep my voice neutral.
Nick twists around, raising his eyebrows at her as he chuckles.
“I think I’ll hold on to her for a bit. I'm not done with her. You’re welcome to stay and take a turn on her if you like. I know how you love a redhead.”
Flynn takes a menacing step forward.
“Let my sister go,” he bites out.
“No one asked for your opinion,” Nick says as two of the guards pull out their guns, piercing gazes moving to Flynn.
Shit.
“Keep the girl,” I say quickly, deliberately raising my voice so Jax can hear me. “She’s not important.”
“You fucker!” Flynn screams, leaping at me as two of Nick’s goons grab him and shove him to the floor with a painful cracking sound. His arms are pinned behind his back, but I can hear him breathing hard as I glance at Nick.
Jax doesn’t move, her expression impossible to read as her eyes meet mine.
“I wish you all the best then,” I say.
“You asshole! You fucking let Jax go!” Flynn hollers, straining against the guards who both laugh at him.
I turn on my heel, walking toward the door. “Flynn, would you cut that out?” I say casually. “You’re embarrassing yourself.”
“You get nothing unless she’s freed too,” Flynn spits out at me, face beet red. “I’ll torch both clubs if I have to, and this place.”
I turn to him, contemplating him as though I’ve never seen him before, counting slowly to ten, making sure I keep my expression devoid of emotion.
I sigh, glancing at Monroe, who is looking down at him with a wide grin on his face.
“It seems we’re at an impasse,” I turn back, blood thrumming, head pounding. “It appears I need the girl as well.”
That’s the only time I hear a sound from Jax as my insides shrivel to nothing. Her mouth parts, a hiss slipping through her teeth as she strains at her bonds, ready to kill me.
“You sure?” Nick asks me. “She’s kind of a handful.”
“I’ll take my chances,” I mutter.
Nick looks down at Flynn, then at the money. “Bring the girl,” he says calmly as two guards grip Jax by her upper arms, cutting her free from the chair and dragging her across the space between us.
When she’s close enough to touch, Nick brushes a hand against her cheek as Jax winces, pulling away from him.
Nick's eyes find mine, and they’re shrewd and calculating all of a sudden. “She must be one hell of a fuck,” he murmurs. “Why would I give up the chance to experience it for myself?”
Flynn writhes against the guards, but they’re holding him down tight. I can sense Nick’s hesitation, knowing I won’t be able to persuade him without a bit of risk involved.
“How about we flip for it?” I say grimly. “Winner gets the girl.”
Nick really laughs then. “Oh, sweetheart,” he says, turning to Jax. “Even I would value you more than a coin toss.”
“Plus another hundred grand,” I say as Nick turns back to me quickly, his eyes flicking to the money again.
“Well then. That might be worth a bet. Not even this piece of ass is worth that,” he says, slapping her on the aforementioned ass as Jax lunges at him with a scream that chills my blood. The guard behind her grips her tight, as the other pulls out a gun, aiming it at her to keep her quiet.
Keeping one hand raised, I put my hand slowly into my inner jacket pocket, pulling out the well-worn dime, the weight of it familiar and warm in my fingers.
“Heads she goes free,” I say.
Nick nods. “Let’s make it best of three. It’s more fun that way.”
I glance at Jax, a long unblinking stare, and then I flip the coin.