Roman-1(Lane Brothers, Book 5)(9)

I need a handful of things now. The name of the secret council member. Lynn’s missile codes.

And the ability to muzzle Cleo when the time comes.

For that I need Jim Dobson on the scene, but no matter how much intel I get I still can’t get him to move in. I have the SEAL mole and Williams, so I’m clear on that end at least.

Now I just have to get this wrapped up before someone really gets hurt. I have a bad feeling, and while I try to stay positive, I’ve learned to rely on my gut and I know what the feeling means.

Something is going to go wrong.

“Jerry, Lynn is coming back. She’s just trying to shake the tail the Lanes have on her is all.”

That makes me smile because I can well imagine poor Jerry’s face right now. The man is terrified of his wife, and who can blame him? She shot him and left him for dead in her bid to kill Ellie, Wyatt’s wife.

After that little fiasco, it was almost impossible for me to convince Jerry not to take his new family and run. I say almost because I did eventually manage to get his help, but the man is not happy about being back in the fold.

Especially not with his psycho wife on the loose.

“Fine, but if that idiot leads them straight to us all, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Oh and do me a favor. Muzzle that dog of yours. What Dyson did to Huley and his lover is just plain wrong and you know it.”

That sends a shiver straight down my spine and I shudder. I’ve seen a lot of gruesome acts in this world, and you’d think I was immune to horror by now, but even I lost my lunch after seeing the results of that torture session.

Dyson really is an animal, and it horrifies me to think of what the man is capable of.

“They were stealing from us. They knew the risks.”

Jesus, this woman is one cold-hearted old crone. I can’t imagine what poor Paulie must have felt for years being under her thumb. Even Ronny, a cousin by marriage and someone we all thought was involved in this mess, is terrified of her. She and her boyfriend, Bronx, are hidden at the Lane estate and refusing to leave.

I can’t blame the woman, not after some of the information I’ve collected and the things Dyson bragged about doing. If I had the choice right now, I’d grab my own woman and run as far and fast as I could to protect her.

“Cleo, just…tone it down is all I’m saying, girl. We’re so close now. We can’t afford to be caught because you’re on some vendetta path here. Talk to Dyson, and for God’s sake, get Lynn’s missile odes. What you do to the woman after isn’t my concern, but we need those codes.”

I hear a huff and grimace at Cleo’s shrill laugh.

“You’re still scared of Lynnie? Look at the way you’re shaking, Jerry. Are you still upset she tried to shoot you, brother? Relax, we’ve spoken and she’s willing to forgive you for the shit you pulled with Ellie.”

“Forgive me? The woman almost cost us everything when she went off the rails, Cleo. I had to work fast and convince them all that I’m innocent before they started piecing it all together. She’s a Goddamned liability and you know it. And if you keep going after Paulette so recklessly—”

“I am in charge here. Me! And don’t you forget it, brother of mine. If I want Paulette Hayes’s head on a platter, that is exactly what I’ll get. Now stop whining and tell me where we are with the Dobson girl.”

Mel.

I feel my blood start boiling at just the mention of my baby, and I have to keep reminding myself that Jerry would never let them know about the cabin in the woods where my girl is currently hiding.

She’s safe from these vultures and I can’t begin to think about her being alone out there while Cleo is looking for her or I’ll go crazy.

“She’s disappeared, Cleo. I told you that. We’ve searched everywhere for Mel Dobson. The chief must have gotten her out from under Roman and hidden her before we killed him.”

“You sure we can trust the little shit? He’s one of them—”

“He’s been involved in this with me since almost the beginning. How do you think I got those AI assholes off our asses in the first place? Roman took care of that for us.”

I resist the urge to snort and listen as Jerry starts playing his part to perfection. I gain respect for the man as I hear him tell her about my gambling problem and how I squandered my trust fund.

According to what I put on paper, I’m penniless and on the verge of being disowned by George if I don’t clean my act up. It’s all bullshit, of course, but I’ll sing that tune as loud and long as necessary if it keeps my head intact.

Just a little longer, I keep reminding myself as the conversation turns to Ronny and her disappearance while Cleo bemoans the fact that Lane security has tripled and the women are all untouchable at this point.