Broken Promise (The Denton Family Legacy #1)(36)

“You got it?”

“It seems the attorney he went to has a gambling problem. I got the film before he reported it to his bosses, and his debt disappeared and a hundred grand was deposited into his account,” Maddox said, turning to Riley. “Your identity is secured.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Not only would they have had to deal with shit because of the fight, but because of Landon being a minor, it would have hit the family hard, then Riley would have also gone down. It would have been a royal shit-storm.

Lou wanted him to keep her brother safe. She asked him to promise. One promise and he had no intention of breaking it.

“I told you, Riley, I appreciate what you did. Landon’s been told to stay out of trouble until it all blows over,” Maddox said. Jacob placed a chair in front of the snitch, and watched his father take a seat. “Two wives, huh, Harold? I always said your dick would get you in trouble. You should have come to me.”

The snitch, now known as Harold, started sobbing.

“You know I have issues with leaving kids without a father. You’ve completely tied my fucking hands.” Maddox sighed. “I could kill you right here, right now, and that will be the end of it. Your two families will leave in peace, or I take a kid from each marriage, how about that? Trade you for two?”

Jacob was disgusted as he watched Harold think about it.

His father didn’t hesitate. He brought his gun up and fired a bullet. “No man puts his kids in his place. We’ll clean this up,” Maddox said, taking the file from Riley. “Go on to the red zone again. I want to make sure that house stays up and running.”

After they had found the young women and even the girls from the red zone being taken from the streets, they had used their cop informant to help them take the girls home. Maddox wanted the zone constantly checked to make sure no one else was going to try something stupid.

Climbing into the car, he waited for Riley to do his seatbelt before heading in the direction of the red zone.

“As a brother, I thought you’d be happy that I’m treating Lou like a princess.”

“I am, but I’m thinking she needs a little more,” Riley said. “All she does is ask about you. Is that your way of getting under her skin, to make it so she’s always thinking about you?”

His little scheme had been working. During his dates with her, he made a point of touching, stroking, getting to know what turned her on and what didn’t. Lou was a very receptive woman, and he’d made sure to tease her at every opportunity. When they stayed in, he picked highly erotic movies, and while the sex was playing, he made sure to caress her body.

She never outright begged for him to fuck her, but her body always looked ready. Her eyes spoke a great deal as well. He loved watching her fight her own need.

“Most brothers would do their hardest to keep their sister safe.”

“Pfft, I know that Lou is safest with you. I’ve seen the way you look at her, and the way you stop other men looking at her.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Okay, you want to go there. That first night at Frank’s, you nearly killed that businessman. A couple of months ago, one cowboy paying a visit to the city had touched her ass. You followed him into the bathroom, and when he came out, he was sporting broken fingers and a black eye.”

“He walked into the door and trapped his fingers.”

“Yet you didn’t hear a thing.”

“Lou didn’t want her ass touched.”

“You protect her. She wants something, and you give it to her. The only thing you’ve not given her is a puppy, and I know for a fact, you tried to sweet talk the owner of the apartment building, but it has something to do with health and safety as to why they can’t have pets or something. Believe me, Jacob, you’re the best damn guy around. Your brothers are the same. All of the Dentons are protective, and I doubt that’s ever going to change.”

“You’re giving me your brother seal of approval?”

“Yep, I am.”

Jacob parked up a few yards from the red zone entrance, and he was pleased to see a guard on the front door.

“Hello, Mr. Denton, Mr. Moore.”

They entered the building, and Jacob was more than impressed with what he saw.

“You can’t interfere with Lou and me,” he said.

“I’ve got no plans to. I’ve told you. It’s between you and Lou. I want her happy, and this time, I’m going to do what I think is best for my sister, and that’s you.”

****

Lou popped her gum and waited for Ben to finish up the tray. She was still working at Frank’s, and she had no intention of quitting the job. News had gotten to her parents that she’d been seen out with Jacob Denton, and so far she’d been able to avoid him.