“What?” I grimace in confusion, stepping closer to him. “Are you serious?”
“Deadly. They’re following her. Threatening. She’s not allowed near you.”
He launches into what his wife told him. I drown in it, asking questions, demanding answers. He tells me everything he knows until l’m pacing and wondering what the hell to do.
“How did you let me spend all night shooting when you knew this was going on?”
“Natalie insisted we didn’t break up your schedule. She said you put your life’s savings into this.”
“That’s just money! This is a person we’re talking about! This is Natalie! Where is she?”
“Max?” Natalie’s voice spins me toward the door as it clicks shut. Vulnerable and filled with regret, she’s standing with Mary, who I’ve only seen in photographs until now.
I rush to her and cup her face in my hands. “This is why you didn’t show up?” She nods and I envelope her in my arms, kissing her and rasping against her shaking lips. “I’m going to help you. Don’t be scared.”
“I don’t know what to do. I’m scared,” she whispers.
“It’s okay. It’s going to be okay.” Turning to her friends I nod to Mary. “I’m Max Cocker.”
“I know who you are,” she says. “And I know the connections your family has. Help my friend.”
“I’ve gotta make a call.”
CHAPTER 32
N ATALIE
A t the knock on the door, Mary, Max, and I stand up as Alan walks over to ask, “Who is it?”
“Jason and Justin Cocker.”
He opens it immediately, letting in the identical twin brothers. Justin, the one we all know well, is dressed in a suit like every photograph or broadcast I’ve ever seen him in. That’s how I can tell which is Max’s father. Jason dresses more hip like the successful music producer he is.
Meeting his son halfway he locks onto me. “Are you Natalie?”
“Yes.”
He scans the faces of my friend and her husband. “And you are?”
They introduce themselves. Nobody shakes hands.
Max explains my situation. “You see why I couldn’t say it over the phone.”
His father and uncle nod at the same time, blonde and silver-haired reflections as they face one another. The retired Senator grumbles, “This is that situation I told you about. With my son.”
Max’s dad nods. “When you stepped in and helped Paige.”
“It was her brother, but yes, she was there.”
“Because he was her brother.”
“You don’t have to emphasize that, Jason. I know how important family is.”
“Yeah but you always had a problem with her brother.”
“Have. I have a problem with him. I tolerate him.” Justin turns to his nephew. “Max, ‘the gambler’ as you call him, is a seedy bottom feeder. Name is Franklin. But he’s old South, walks with a Tennessee Williams cane and wants nothing more than to keep going about his business behind closed doors. I gave him a pass in exchange for a favor. He’s not doing the world any real harm because the people who sidle up to his tables are there by choice, and usually have huge cash. But they’re dark people. So let me think about what to do with this particular situation.”
The famous face walks away, head low.
Max reaches for me and I walk to slide my hand in his as we stare at each other. “I’m so sorry.”
“Stop.” He frowns but then those green eyes I’ve missed so much light up. “Uncle Justin, what if you offered him an exchange again?”
“What are you thinking?”
“Look, he wants to stay underground, right? But this guy Paul, he’s the one threatening Natalie. He’s got a real power trip going on, but the real power is this Franklin guy, right? What about giving Paul up in exchange for Natalie’s freedom and silence?”
I hurry to object, “Max!”
“I’m not saying offer up Paul to get slaughtered. I mean, have Paul take the legal hit. Put him in jail, fully exonerating the gambler. I mean…Franklin.”
Jason Cocker says, “It doesn’t work like that, son. If Paul goes to jail, he won’t last long.”
Justin agrees, “Franklin will have a hit on him in no time.”
“Then what do we do?” Max demands, losing patience. “I don’t want to set someone up to be murdered, but we have to make sure Natalie’s safe!”
The twins nod, chewing their lips like I’ve seen Max do so many times.
“What about,” I begin, “We just tell Paul I won’t ever say anything?”
They shake their heads like that would never work, and go back to thinking. Justin finally raises his eyes with an idea glinting. “Maybe I make that part of the deal. That he can’t kill this asshole.”
Jason asks him, “You think he’ll go for it, Justin? You met the guy.”
“I’ll make sure he knows he’s next in jail if that happens. Paul stays alive for as long as his jail sentence, and Franklin and the people who work for him will remain free. For now.”
Everyone exchanges glances, because it sounds good. I hold Mary’s eyes, silently thanking her. She gives me an I’m-here-for-you-look and asks Max, “What now?”
Justin answers her, “Leave this to us.”
Max cups my chin and kisses my forehead out of respect to me, our company, and the severity of the circumstances. “I’ll come back here for you.” He glances to Mary and Alan. “You’ll watch over her while we take care of this?”
“Yes.” “Of course.”
Max follows his father and uncle to the door. Before they disappear, the three of them nod to the three of us. Alan locks it and exhales, “Must be hard to be superhuman.”
Rolling her eyes, Mary heads for the liquor cabinet. “I need some wine. That was too intense for me.”
CHAPTER 33
M AX
F rom the passenger seat of Uncle Justin’s Audi, Dad watches his brother hang up and says, “I forget how important you used to be.”
“Used to be?”
“Yeah, you’re old now.”
“You’re no spring chicken.”
“My whole life you’ve reminded me you’re two minutes older, so now I get to hold that over your head, Grandpa.”
Justin laughs, “Fuck off,” and locks eyes with me through his rearview mirror. “Do me a favor and never let your dad forget this favor I’m doing for you!”
“I won’t.”
“Where do you hide when you don’t want to be found?” Justin asks, driving toward an industrial part of town. “Where they already found you once before.”
My dad says, “That’s what your friend said? The game is in the same place again?”
“Yep. Genius really. Let a couple years go by and hideout until the search goes cold. Not that I sent anyone looking for him, but I’m sure he disappeared for a while. Found another place to set up the tables.”
As we drive over, Dad bends to lock eyes with me in the backseat. “Natalie seems like a nice girl.”
My eyebrows twitch. “You expect heavy makeup and no clothes.”
Uncle Justin mutters with humor, “Reminds me of the old days.”
Not paying attention, my father tells me, “I didn’t know what to expect. Men have done some pretty stupid shit for women.”
Since I’ve been neck deep in the story of his terrible love affair I nod, and don’t rub it in.
After awhile of silent driving I confess, volume low, “Dad, I never realized how much the support of a good woman adds to a man’s life.”
He and his brother exchange a knowing look, but don’t say anything as the Audi slows in front of an old warehouse that appears abandoned.
Justin warns us, “Don’t let this fool you. If my detective friend at the precinct says they’re here, then they’re here.”
“If Detectives know where they are, why not bust them?”
“They’ll just move. Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.” To D
ad he says, “Jason, let me lead on this.”
“Are you kidding? You think I’d try to do the talking? What would I say, You guys want me to play you some music?”
Justin chuckles, “Only you could make me laugh at a time like this.”
We get out of the car. If I were still Hunter’s size, they wouldn’t let me come along. But I’m a big guy, just like they are. We’re not as naturally bulked up as Uncle Jake, Jeremy or Jaxson. And nobody is as ripped as Uncle Jett, but he trains every day to be that strong. Still, my dad and his twin brother can throw a punch. I’ve seen ‘em do it. I’m no slouch, myself.
Confident as a unit, we head for the heavy metal door.
My uncle opens it without a problem. Whoever’s inside wants paying customers. But by the looks on the eight faces around the long oval poker table, they don’t want us here.
“We meet again, Franklin,” Justin smiles with a warning in his eyes. Three bouncers step out from the shadows, and the biggest one I recognize from the strip club, the gatekeeper there. He locks onto me, and I can tell he remembers who I am. My uncle knows him, too. “Is there a problem gentlemen? Boone, wasn’t that your name?”
The bodyguard snarls with that look people get when they’re looking at twins, confusion, and in this beast’s case—annoyance. The old man with a yellow linen suit drawls, “Down boys. We’re havin’ a party. Let’s hear what our ex-Congressman has to say.”
His title was demoted on purpose to get him angry. But Uncle Justin doesn’t take the bait. “Perhaps we can have a private moment of your time.”
Bushy white eyebrows stay put as Franklin leans back in his chair. “I seem to remember a bargain made over one Robert Miller. And yet do my eyes deceive me because here you are again, causin’ drama. Which I do not like. Didn’t you make a vow that you’d let me and my friends be?”
“It wasn’t in perpetuity.”
“Your promise came with an expiration date?”
My dad surprises me by speaking up, and his voice is different than I’ve ever heard it. “The promise was kept on both sides. This is a new situation, not related.”
“Related,” the old man says, eyeing the twins. “What an interesting word at such a time when I see you both standing before me lookin’ like you do.”
Dad takes a step forward, face rigid but displaying no fear. He’s protecting his brother, something I’ve never been around to see him do. I bet before I was born he had many a chance.
Uncle Justin says, “Let’s talk privately. I’m sure your friends won’t mind winning a hand for once.”
The old man stiffens at the suggestion that his game might be rigged.
Eyeballs flick around from guarded faces, suspicion now in everyone’s minds.
There are six people playing—four men, two women, none of them trusting or trustworthy, if appearances mean anything. Then the dealer. Then Franklin.
“Now don’t let this smart devil plant ideas in your head. That’s what he wants. You’re all intelligent people who know better.”
One of the women sets her cards down, tapping her nail on them as she says, “Why don’t you take care of business so we can get back to the game?” I notice she has few chips.
Franklin’s eyes sharpen despite his frozen smile. He takes his metal cane, stands up and tells her, “I think your invitation has been revoked.”
Her lips part and she glances around as each of the bodyguards takes a step toward the table. Exhaling through her nose with contained outrage, she gathers her chips, and throws him a silent question—are you going to take my money now, too?
“Let her cash out,” Franklin orders the man guarding the bank. They’ve set up an elegant table by the side wall to serve as one. Looks good, but is easily portable like everything else. Franklin makes sure everyone hears him as he adds, “I’m a fair man,” and uses his cane to help him walk to a door I hadn’t noticed before.
Boone crosses the room to watch over his boss. Uncle Justin stays back to enter the small room last.
“After you.”
Boone glares at Justin.
Doesn’t move.
“Boone,” the old man calls to him. “You want to leave me in here with these two? Think man, think!”
The bodyguard snarls but he comes into the room with my uncle shaking his head, purposefully smiling, cool and collected. This is all a dance. The players know their part. Anyone acts weak or anxious, they lose.
Never met a weak Cocker in my life, when the shit hit the fan and family was on the line. Natalie might not be family, but I am. And Dad knows now how much I need to protect and help this woman I care about, no matter what becomes of us.
Justin negotiates like an Archangel dealing with one of Lucifer’s right hand demons. My father adds emphasis to certain points when needed, garnering a steady glance from the old man.
“I don’t like messy things.”
“He’s not a thing. He is a human being and doing away with this ‘messy thing’ means murder. That happens, and I’ll know about it.”
Dad acts bored. “How many times do we have to go over this tiny detail? Don’t you have a game waiting for you?”
I speak up for the first time. “Doesn’t look good out there as the clock keeps ticking. Might not think they need you anymore.”
That does it. The threat gets him clicking his cane to the door. “Consider it done.” He pauses over his shoulder, eyeing Justin, “I hope to never see you again. And I mean that with the greatest lack of respect.”
Pale green eyes glitter as my uncle bows his head slightly. “Same.”
Grumbling under his breath Franklin loses his cool, barks, “Boone, open the door!” As we return to the table his composure miraculously returns on a self-assured smile. “Where were we?”
“Are your friends staying?” A man in a pinstriped suit asks.
“My friends were just saying how they’ll be leaving us alone.” He locks eyes with Justin, then my Dad and finally me. “For good.”
“If our agreement sticks,” Justin reminds him. “But I’m sure your friends will like to know that I hope you’ll carry out your end.”
Guarded eyes dart around again, and the old man takes the chance to save face. “I am a man who keeps his word.”
He dips his chin, “That’s why I came to you in the first place. Gentlemen. Last lady here. Have a good evening.”
We walk to the door, darkness growing as the lamplight fades. I don’t breathe again until we get outside and my fists release.
Sliding into the car, the doors quietly shut.
As we drive away, my dad asks, “You alright, Max?”
“Part of me expected they were going to jump us on the way out. The way he was looking at you guys was like, if he took out two famous brothers it would be a statement of power to his community.”
Justin’s voice is heavy as he reveals, “I saw the same thing. That’s why I pitted those vipers against their snake charmer. Make them suspicious of each other and bonds vanish.”
My throat is dry as I clarify for my own sanity, “That’s why you did that? I thought it was to make him talk to you.”
“That was almost guaranteed. I realized as we walked in, leaving wasn’t.” Glancing to my father his voice lowers, “I’m not taking you on these kinds of things again. You see his face?”
Dad runs a hand through his hair, staring out the windshield. “Yes. But you handled it well.”
“We both did.” Justin glances to me through the rearview. “If he ordered his bodyguards to jump us, he’d have lost everyone’s trust completely. Total mutiny. Max, you did good, too, when you spoke up.”
I take a deep breath, and sit back as rain starts to fall, the sound soothing as we ride back into the heart of Atlanta.
CHAPTER 34
N ATALIE
M ary’s a little buzzed on wine.
Alan’s got a gun on the table.
I’m staring at my phone.
We’ve run out of terrib
le scenarios to worry over.
My phone rings, Max’s name glowing from the screen. “Finally!” I jump off the couch to answer it. “Max? You okay? What’s going on?”
“Are you at Mary’s? They’re dropping me off. My Jeep is still there.”
“Yes, I’m here,” I exhale, smoothing my bangs with shaking fingers. “I’m so glad you’re okay. Did you find Franklin?”
“Yes, it’s done. See you soon.”
“Can’t wait! Thank you!”
We hang up and I lock eyes with Mary. “He sounds stressed. Whatever happened wasn’t easy.”
“Would Max have told you if anyone got hurt?”
Thinking about it I nod, “Yes, I think that would have been the first thing he’d have said.” Collapsing onto the couch I look at them and say, “I know I thanked you a million times, but—”
“If I was in trouble, what would you do?” Mary raises her eyebrows.
“Right.”
“Stop thanking me.”
Alan picks up his gun. “I guess I can put this away now.” He disappears into his bedroom and Mary hands me her half-full glass of Pinot Noir.
“Now do you want a sip?”
“Max is sober tonight.”
She retracts her hand and drinks it herself. “You watch TV and think how exciting those mafia things are, but when it’s in your face? I’m not entertained.”
“I just want a nice, simple existence for a while.” Grabbing one of her throw pillows I hug it. “Read a few great novels. Eat some chocolate. Get a massage somewhere if I feel like splurging.”
Alan rejoins us, and his shoes are back on. Guess he doesn’t want to greet the famous Cockers in socks. But Mary and I don’t mention the change. Let him do whatever makes him feel good as a man.
Pouring more red into her glass, Mary meets my eyes. “I think I know someone who might want to give you that massage.”
Understanding her meaning I frown, “He really went out of his way here, didn’t he?”
“Sure did,” Alan agrees, picking lint off his slacks. “I’ve never met one of these people personally before but I’m impressed. He was very upset when he realized he’d been shooting tonight when we knew you were in trouble. Genuinely hated that. Good guy, I like him.”
Max Cocker (Cocker Brothers Book 15) Page 14
