Three men stood there. Hoyt stepped inside, follow by two men I didn’t recognize. They were large and broad and wore big jean jackets over dark denim pants.
“Hoyt,” Travis said.
“Good. You’re still here,” Hoyt said.
“Brought friends?”
Hoyt glanced at the two men. “Wait outside.”
The quickly filed out, and Travis shut the door behind them.
“I take it the news is good,” Travis said.
“What makes you think that?”
“Well, you wouldn’t be in this room alone if it weren’t.”
Hoyt grinned. “Yeah. You got me there.”
“Come on, sit.”
The two men sat down at the table and Travis gestured for me to join. I sat to his right, feeling a nervous knot in my stomach
Hoyt looked at the two of us. “You’re a real pain in my ass. You know that, Travis?”
“Sure I am,” he said slowly. “What do you have for me?”
“First, Hartley, I got to tell you how fucking lucky you are.” Hoyt stared at me seriously. “You know this guy is just about the only man in Knoxville who could possibly help you, right?”
“I’m lucky,” I said softly.
“You here to make the girl feel bad, or are you here to make a deal?” Travis asked, annoyed.
“A bit of both.” Hoyt leaned back in his chair. “You’re lucky as hell, too, Travis. If it were anyone else at that door last night, you’d be finished.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” Travis said. “I know a few things.”
“I bet you do. Well, I talked to my damn boss about you. He’s interested in a little exchange.”
“I’m listening.”
“How much do you know about the Caldwell family?”
“Saw Markus earlier. He told me a bit about them.”
Hoyt scowled. “That old nut job still around? Anyway, so you know that the Caldwells have been pushing onto our turf, taking our customers.”
“Heard something about that.”
“A week ago, we had a big shipment go missing, mostly weed, but also some guns and shit like that. My boss wants you to find this shipment and bring it back to us.”
“That’s it?” Travis asked. “Seems too easy.”
“We think the Caldwells have it, and that’s not going to be easy to prove, Travis. This is a lot of weed and a lot of guns.” Hoyt looked at me. “Enough to pay down your debt.”
“If I do this, the girl is free? And her family?”
“Safe and free,” Hoyt said.
“Okay then,” Travis said. “You got a deal.”
Hoyt held out his hand and Travis shook it.
“One more thing,” Hoyt said. “It’s your job to keep the girl here. We can’t have her running off on us. If this job doesn’t work out, we want the girl.”
Travis paused. “I’ll keep her here, but I won’t give her to you if things go south.”
They released each other’s hands.
“I figured you’d say that,” Hoyt replied. “I can’t say I blame you. She’s real fucking pretty.”
“Enough,” Travis said, and I heard a dark edge in his tone.
“Easy there,” Hoyt said, standing. “Wouldn’t want to fuck this up before it even started.”
“I agree to keep her here,” Travis said. “You can tell your boss he’ll get his shit back.”
“Fine, fine.”
“How long do we have?”
“Two weeks.”
Travis nodded. “Done.”
“Well then, good doing business with you both. You don’t have to show me out. I’ll find the door.” Hoyt turned and left the apartment, shutting the door behind him.
I stared at Travis once he was gone. “Are you serious?” I asked him.
“I’m always serious,” he answered. “I’m serious when I tell you I could make you moan my name here and now if you just let me slide those shorts off that perfect ass.”
“Travis, come on. How are you going to steal all this stuff from a big gang?”
He shrugged. “I have no clue.”
“And are you even okay with doing this? I mean, you’d be helping a pretty awful gang.”
“True. I’d also be saving your ass.”
“I can’t ask this of you.”
“You’re not,” he said. “I’m telling you I’m doing it.”
“I can’t ask this of you. I barely even know you, and you’re risking your life for me.”
He laughed, shaking his head. “You don’t get it, do you? I’m not risking my life here.”
“These guys aren’t joking around, Travis.”