Cramps churned his gut. One of them kicked his bare ass, and his head hit the concrete wall.

Blessed blackness, where no pain existed. No masked men. No flaming bird.

Just nothing.

Nothing was good.

 

I quickly keyed in the number Haley had given me.

“Yeah?”

“Hey, Toby. Talon Steel.”

“Steel, what’s up? I’m not sure you’ve ever called me before.”

“I got your cell from Haley at the shop. I need to talk to you. In person.”

“Yeah? What about?”

God, my heart was going to fly out of my chest any minute. “A tattoo in one of your books. It’s a phoenix on someone’s forearm. I want to find out who you tattooed it on.”

“I respect my clientele’s privacy, Steel.”

“I’ll make it worth your while to give me the information I want. Can you meet me over at Rita’s?”

 

“I honestly wish I could help you,” Toby said, his blond hair falling into his eyes. He sat across from me at Rita’s, sipping on some coffee. “But that’s not one of mine. I bought the place fifteen or so years ago, and that tat was done by one of the previous guys.”

“Do you know when it was done?”

Toby shook his head. “Sure don’t. But I can tell you who I bought the shop from. That might help you.”

I racked my brain, trying to remember the name of the tattoo shop fifteen years ago. I’d been twenty, spending most of my time in the city drinking and fucking. Shit. “I’ll take whatever information you have.”

Toby grinned, a gold tooth glinting on the edge of his smile. “So how worth my while are you making this?”

I slid a hundred across the table. “How’s this for a start?”

Toby nodded, pocketing the Benji. “I’d say that’s a great start, Steel. Here’s to the beginning of a beautiful business relationship.” He chuckled.

Money. Never stopped surprising me how cooperative people got when money was involved. So often I had been willing to give up my entire fortune just to have a normal life, to erase the horrors of my past, but at times like these, I was grateful I had a boatload of the green. “When can I get this information?”

“I’ve got all the records at the shop. Come on over now, and I’ll show you what I have.”

Perfect. Absolutely perfect.

Chapter Fourteen

Jade

My pulse raced as I stood on the front porch of the address where Wendy Madigan lived. Get a grip, Jade. This is work, nothing more.

I drew in a deep breath, let it out, and then rapped on the door.

A few seconds later the door opened, and Wendy Madigan herself answered.

“Yes?”

“Ms. Madigan, hi. I’m Jade Roberts from Snow Creek.”

She arched her eyebrows, but other than that, didn’t look overly surprised. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You came all this way?”

“It’s business, ma’am. You have information I need.”

“I’m not sure I do. I’d really rather not discuss the Steels with you.”

“Look, you can discuss it with me, or I can subpoena you to a deposition and force the information out of you under oath. I really don’t want to have to do that, Ms. Madigan.”

I was bluffing. Without a suit filed, I had no right to depose her. I still had no idea why Larry was pursuing this. At this point, I had my own agenda.

She let out a sigh, the laugh wrinkles around her eyes becoming more apparent. She looked old. Old and tired. “I guess I should’ve expected this sooner or later. Come on in. And call me Wendy, while you’re at it.”

I smiled, my panic finally easing. “I appreciate it. I really do. And please, call me Jade.” I stepped into the modest household.

“This is my mother’s home,” Wendy said. “I moved in a couple years ago when I retired. Her health is still good, but she needs a lot of help with things, considering her age.”

“I really don’t mean to intrude,” I said. “But I need to get this information.”

She nodded again. “Would you like anything? A cup of tea? Coffee? Bottle of water?” She paused for a few seconds. “Scotch?”

I let out a laugh. “Actually, a bottle of water would be perfect. Flying always dries me out.”

“Good enough. I’m going to have a stiff Scotch. If I’m going to talk about the Steels, I need it.”

“I assume that means this might be uncomfortable for you. I’m sorry about that.”

“Uncomfortable? I’m not sure that’s the right word.”

“What would be the right word?” I asked.

“Hell if I know. The Steels… They do carry their share of secrets.”

She was standing with her back to me, opening the fridge, so I couldn’t see the expression on her face. Her voice, though, indicated exhaustion. Exhaustion because she was fatigued or at the thought of discussing the Steels?

I had a hunch it was the latter.

Wendy moved to the counter, opened the cupboard, and pulled out a bottle. She poured herself a generous portion of the amber liquid. “Have a seat.” She gestured to the kitchen table.

I sat, and she joined me, placing a bottle of water in front of me.

She took a swig of her Scotch. “So what’s going on with the Steels?”

“Unfortunately, most of this is classified at this point, so I can’t tell you why they’re under investigation.” Especially since I didn’t know. The Steels were not involved in organized crime, as Larry claimed. I’d stake my life on it. “I can only ask questions.”

“I hope you understand that I can’t divulge certain stuff. A lot of it is confidential between the Steels and me.”

“Understood. But the more you can tell me today, the better off it will be for you and the Steels in the future.”

She nodded. “Understood as well. What you need to know?”

“Right now, my biggest question is why Talon Steel’s heroics overseas were covered up.”

“Ms. Roberts…err…Jade, let me be honest with you first off. Talon’s heroics being covered up is really a small part of what you’re dealing with here.”