The Originals (Ghosttown Riders #10)

Chapter Twenty-Five

The ride to Lawry had taken longer than expected. Between traffic and construction, he and Mick were running at least an hour and a half behind schedule. Jack was sure that was something Sal Caruso wouldn’t appreciate. By the time they rolled into the apartment complex, Jack was incredibly irritated. This was not how he should be going into a meeting.

A meeting he didn’t want to have. Jack knew exactly why he was being called in. He’d warned the club it was only a matter of time before Sal pushed for them to join forces. Had it been a fair partnership, Jack might have had a different outlook. But he knew aligning with the Underground would pull the club in a direction they hadn’t planned.

They parked in the rear of the building. Jack always found it odd that of all the places they could hold meetings, Sal opted for a low-level high-rise in the industrial section of the city. It was built years ago. Nothing extravagant. It was actually very low-key. And unsuspecting. Except for the fact that in a complex able to house one hundred units, there were only about twenty cars in the oversized lot.

Jack and Mick walked around the building and up the main walkway. It was a quiet area of the city with very few bystanders walking the streets.

“They got security everywhere, huh?” Mick said under his breath.

Jack didn’t bother looking up on the balconies. He knew they were being watched. Sal’s security detail was larger than most. It was fitting for a man who ran all the illegal entities statewide. It was just another reminder of the world they were walking into. The MC had done jobs for the Underground, but partnering up and working under them was an entirely different realm.

They were halfway up the walkway to the main entrance when the doors opened.

Four men, dressed in black suits, stopped them in the lobby.

“Carrying?”

A weapon? Always. They’d be fools to leave themselves unarmed for a meeting with the Underground. There was a level of trust, but Jack was always cautious. Jack and Mick might be armed, but that was information they wouldn’t share.

“No.”

The security looked over to the man next to him, who lifted his chin. “Mind if we check?”

Jack snorted and shared a look with Mick. “Yeah, we do fucking mind.”

There was no way they’d go into this meeting without some form of protection. They might be outnumbered, but they needed a fighting chance if something went wrong. The guard parted his lips but glanced over Jack’s shoulder and stilled. Jack didn’t look back but knew the man was getting instructions from another source. A higher one.

Seconds later, the foursome stepped aside, making a path for Jack and Mick.

“Last door on your right.”

Jack and Mick walked down the quiet and eerie hallway. Again, for a complex so large, it was as if there was no one else around. A front. It had to be. When they got to the door, Jack glanced back at security, noticing a fifth guy he hadn’t seen when they walked in. He was a lot younger than the rest of them, but Jack had the distinct feeling he held more power. Jack had never seen him before, but that didn’t mean too much. The Underground were notorious for keeping a low profile for most of their associates.

When they walked inside, Sal and Inez were already seated at the long rectangular table. Jack clocked a few members of their security lining the wall.

“Nothing more I hate than tardiness,” Sal said, smiling.

Jack pulled out his chair and sat with Mick next to him.

“Really? Out of everything in this fucking world to hate, you choose being late?”

Sal laughed, sharing a look with Inez, who sat two seats down. Unlike Sal, there wasn’t much that amused her. Her dark gaze hardened, looking over him and Mick. She squinted, taking a lingering look at his brother.

“You’re not the VP.” Inez pointed to Mick.

“No, he couldn’t make it, so I’m standing in,” Mick said.

Inez laughed, shaking her head as she drew a cigarette to her lips. “Good, gives me something better to look at.”

Jack muffled his laugh. Inez was a strange character, but she was smart, cunning, and dangerous. Some made the mistake of underestimating her. Jack wasn’t one of those people.

“You know why I called you in, Jack. We’ve got plans to increase transport. Got buyers waiting in line.”

I know.

Sal clasped his hands. “It would mean a lot of money for the club.”

“And risk.”

Sal shrugged. “No great reward comes without risk. You know that.”

It was true. Jack and the club had seen it tenfold with the smaller runs they’d worked for Sal. The jobs Sal was referring to would be a double, possibly triple, payout. Almost too good to resist. Almost.

“And what exactly would we be transporting?”

“Anything we tell you,” Inez snapped, and Sal held up his hand, silencing her. She was a loose cannon and hated to be challenged. Jack was aware they’d been working together for years. It’s how they’d both built such huge empires.

“When we come to an agreement, you’ll have full disclosure on all of the product. I can say we’ve got some buyers interested in mass quantities.”

Drugs.

“Others have more fiery tastes and are willing to pay top dollar.”

Guns.

“Anything else?” Jack asked, eyeing Sal and Inez.

Sal cocked his head. “We dabble in a lot of business ventures.”

“No skin.”

People. Even Jack had his limits. That was one he refused to cross.

Sal raised his brows, sharing a look with Inez. She snorted, shaking her head.

“Jack Reilly’s got a conscience?”

Jack ignored Inez, focusing on Sal.

“No. Skin.”

Sal slowly nodded. “I’m always open to negotiation.”

“It’s non-negotiable.” Jack would stand firm.

Sal smirked. “Well, you’re in luck because that’s not our forte either.”

There was a long stretch of silence.

“This is the way I see it. We’ve all got our talents. We combine them, we all win,” Sal said.

Jack drew in a breath. “And what do we get?”

“More cash than you’ve ever seen. Protection in not only your territory but the entire state. You can have the low state territory free and clear without any interference.”

Jack furrowed his brows. “That’s already our territory.”

“For now.” Sal paused. “We can guarantee it stays that way. A lot of people would love to run that piece of the state, Jack. Got a lot of clubs moving in trying to make a name for themselves. You built yours, and others will build theirs.”

The threat. Jack knew it was coming and even respected Sal for putting it all out there. Everything was laid out in front of them. All that was left was making the choice to align with the Underground.

“And if we don’t?”

Sal smiled and sat back in his chair. “Giving you and your club an opportunity not many get. You’re a smart man, Jack. You know if you don’t take it, someone else will.”

Yes, I do.

****

It was just past one in the morning, and Colleen was fighting against a yawn for the second hour straight. She probably should’ve gone to bed hours ago. At one point, she tried. But she was restless and found herself in Jack’s living room with the TV on low, watching a comedy rerun.

She started to drift and felt her head get heavy at the exact moment she heard the rumbling of his engine in the distance. It was all she needed to perk up and get up from the couch. She turned the TV off as she walked to the front door, peeking out the window. It was pitch black on the rural road, but she saw a flickering glow. Seconds later it got brighter until the motorcycle turned into the driveway. She quickly skittered away from the window.

Would he think it was strange she’d waited up for him? Colleen stood in the middle of the living room unsure of what to do. She had little time to think. A minute later, the lock turned, as did the knob, and Jack walked through the door. He tossed his keys on the side table and glanced up. He immediately stilled, looking directly at her.

“Still up?”

“I waited for you,” she blurted as the heat rushed to her cheeks. She immediately tried to cover up her statement by a change in subject. She waved her hand around the room. “I hope it’s okay. I did some light cleaning.”

Jack’s eyes darted around the room. Light might’ve been an understatement.

“You cleaned my house?” Jack raised his brows, but the corner of his mouth spiked.

“Yes, but just a little.” She brushed her hair from her face and pointed to the kitchen. “And there was a pile of clothes in the laundry room, so I did a few loads, wash, dried, and folded.”

“How many loads?”

Colleen cleared her throat. “Six.”

Jack stared back at her. It was impossible to read through his harsh mask. Was he upset with her?

“Didn’t bring you here to clean my house.”

She waved her hand. “It was nothing.”

Jack’s jaw squared, and his scowl deepened. “It was something.”

She was having a hard time gauging his mood.

“Are you hungry?”

Jack snorted. “You made dinner?”

She slowly nodded, and he broke out in a grin. He swung the door closed and walked to her in the center of the room. He stopped only inches away and lowered his voice. “Spoiling me, darlin’. Thank you.”

Jack walked toward the stairs. “Gonna get cleaned up.”

Colleen watched as he walked up the stairs, then rushed to the kitchen and set his place at the table with his dinner.

Jack came down a few minutes later. Colleen remained silent while he ate but enjoyed watching how he barely came up for breath during his meal.

“You’re not eating?” Jack grabbed his beer and took a swig.

“I ate earlier.” She folded her arms, resting her elbows on the table. “How was your day?”

Jack’s hand stilled, and his face hardened. What did she say? Maybe she was being too intrusive?

She offered a shaky smile. “I’m not trying to pry, Jack. I just…” She clamped her lips.

In a move she didn’t see coming, he reached out and grasped her hand. “Appreciate you asking. My day was alright.”

It was a brief yet sweet moment. Jack continued to eat, praising the meal. It wasn’t anything special, but she gathered it had been a while since anyone cooked a meal for Jack.

After he finished, she tried to clear his plate, but he waved her hand away. “I got this. You’ve done enough.”

Jack glanced down at the table, seemingly noticing for the first time the cash tucked under the napkin holder. He bent over, grabbed it, and looked up at her.

“What’s this?”

She hooked her hair over her ear, ducking her head slightly. She should have asked for permission beforehand. “I called my brother. I hope you don’t mind. He worries when I don’t check in every few weeks, and I was overdue.” Colleen pointed to the cash. “It was a thirty-minute call, and that’s what Dunn says it costs. But if you think it might be more, I can run upstairs and get more money.”

Jack’s face softened, and he started toward her. “Dunn makes you pay to call your family?”

Colleen nodded, watching him approach. Jack stopped a few inches away. He held up the cash.

“Yeah, well, I don’t.”

She immediately held up her hands. “No, please, take it. You’re already giving me so much, I can’t take anymore.”

The corner of Jack’s mouth curled in a sexy smirk. He reached out, and her heart started to race. Up until now, Jack had been the perfect gentlemen. Too perfect, in fact, making it known there’d be nothing but friendship between them. However, his hand was heading in the direction of her breast. Her short crop top had a small pocket over her right breast. His fingers skimmed over the cotton, and her nipple immediately beaded into a tight peak. His finger slipped into the pocket, making it almost unbearable not to moan when it came in contact with her nipple. He lifted his other hand and without thinking she arched her back slightly, wanting to feel his hands all over her body.

Jack took the folded dollar bills and tucked them in the tiny pocket. She tried to hide the heated rush flaming her face. She bowed her head, but Jack slid his hand under her chin, forcing her to meet his stare.

Every indecent, naughty, and dirty thought was running through her head. Had it been any other man, she’d know how to approach him. But Jack was on another level. And he’d made it clear he wasn’t interested.

Right? Was it possible things had changed? She inched closer, but he made no move to kiss her, and she didn’t have the guts to make the first move. She swallowed the knot in her throat, and he dropped his hand to his side. The moment was officially over, and she felt the loss to her core.

“You up for a fire?”

Colleen jerked her gaze. She was sure he’d be off to bed. Alone.

“Yeah,” she blurted.

Jack smiled and lifted his chin. “Go grab a sweatshirt. It’s getting cool outside.”

“I don’t have one.”

Jack walked past her into the living room closet. He opened it and dug around before pulling out a sweatshirt that looked two sizes too big for her. He handed it to Colleen, and she immediately smelled his scent on it.

“Come on, darlin’.”