Broken Promise (The Denton Family Legacy #1)(28)

“You taught her how to shoot, and that came in handy.”

“Yeah, she comes across as this hard ass, but she’s really not. I wanted her to be able to protect herself.”

Jacob liked Riley, he really did, which was a change for him. Usually he could only stomach his brothers, which was why his guards that his father put on his ass stayed far away. Jacob wasn’t known for playing friendly, and he doubted that he would ever be.

They were silent for several minutes, and Jacob took a drink of the coffee.

“So, what happens with the red zone? David is no more, and I heard the brothels have been closed since Wednesday. That’s got to be a shitload of dough wasted,” Riley said.

“It’s not. Maddox is interviewing potential candidates. If he could, he’d put Bruce inside them, and be done with it.”

“Bruce? He the guy guarding your mother?”

“Yep, and Dad’s not about to let him leave my mother. He loves her too damn much.”

“Speaking of love, how does this whole, ‘Lou is mine’ thing work? Do you just know? Is it a feeling? I don’t want you to fuck her over.”

Jacob glanced over, not understanding why he was suddenly so chatty. “What the hell is going on with you?”

“I’m bored, and I figured I may as well check out the guy who wants to be with my baby sister. In case you didn’t know, she’s only a couple of minutes younger than me.” Riley grabbed his coffee, taking a sip. “Lou, she loves with her whole heart.”

“How do you know that?” he asked.

“I’ve known my sister since birth. You’ve known her just over a week. Give me a break, I know my fucking sister okay? She talks the talk, but it’s all a cover. She’s sweet, and I tell you what, she’d make one heck of a mom. We were out shopping about a year ago. I wanted to buy something for the woman I was seeing, and I didn’t have a clue what to get her. We’re in the mall, and it’s busy, I mean fucking no space kind of busy. It was insane, and I just wanted to leave. On the way out of the store, there’s this little kid. A girl, and she stood there at the door with her thumb in her mouth, couldn’t be more than three. I don’t remember what she was wearing, or even what she looked like other than the fact she was young. Lou, she crouched down so the girl wasn’t afraid, and started talking to her.” Riley chuckled, but it was more of a disgusted sound than anything else. “People were coming and going, and even though I was moaning, Lou wouldn’t be rushed. She waited until the girl took her hand, and together, they started to hunt every single store to find her mother. For over an hour, Lou was searching for the kid’s mother. Finally, the mother came rushing toward us, sobbing, and hugging her kid. Lou could have simply handed the brat over to security. She didn’t. Once you have Lou’s love, there’s no backing out. She’s all in, and that is never going to change.”

Jacob liked that. She had a sweet heart.

“I won’t hurt her.”

“You better not, otherwise I’m going to kick your ass.”

For the rest of the night they made their way around three strip clubs, checking over the books, and making sure the business was running smoothly. Maddox had his own reasons for doing things the way he did it. He could just hire a bunch of men to report the business dealings within each venture, but Maddox didn’t trust anyone but his sons. It’s what made the Dentons so damn powerful. No one could predict their next move. They were all over the place, and Jacob was damn thankful for that. He’d never survive in a nine-to-five job, nor could he ever stomach being kept in a box with a computer.

Once they were done, Jacob headed toward Frank’s strip club. He’d have gladly gone straight to the club, but he needed to deal with his responsibilities first.

“You just can’t go a long time without seeing her, can you?” Riley asked, chuckling. “I like you.”

“Riley, we work together, and you’re Lou’s brother, but I will put a bullet in you if you even think to start with all that shit, do you get me?”

“Get you? I get you. Can’t help but laugh. It’s so fucking funny.”

Jacob parked the car, and together they headed into the busy strip club. It was the only club in the ten mile radius that was actually doing really well. He knew his father was considering cutting several of the clubs to recoup some money, putting the women in other places.

Buttoning his jacket, he took a seat at the bar, while Riley collapsed into another one beside him.

Jacob had already seen Lou. She was near the stage, watching one of the strippers perform.