Page 52 of Poisoned Pawn
“When don’t we have a fucking problem,” I grumble.
I give him just enough to keep him calm, and I sure as hell don’t mention that we have a possible location. Firstly, because I need him here working the Bratva angle and not halfway across the country. And secondly, I have a strong suspicion that there is something more to this Carter or Jack guy than we know about. And I hate to admit it, but I think he’s going to be more valuable to us alive than dead. Aidan will shoot him on sight, not to say that I won’t be tempted, but I can at least shoot him without killing him.
“You managed to dig up anything useful on this Orlov guy?” I ask, pacing the path outside.
“He’s not fucking Laskin. And that makes him a pain in my fucking arse.” He sighs, and I picture him running a hand over the scruff on his face. “He’s in deep with racketeering and got himself a nice little patch of Manchester. Only someone has started taking out his businesses.”
“A rival?”
“Seems that way. One possibility is the 51 Squad. They own the adjacent patch to Orlov’s and rumour has that Orlov took a big chunk of their patch recently. 51 Squad aren’t big, and even less since Orlov took out a large number of their members during the takeover.”
“Begs the question of who’s backing them, huh?”
“Aye, it fucking does. Call me when you have more,” he says, then ends the call.
I’m still pacing when Zak comes out five minutes later.
“Hey, you good?” he asks, stepping up to me and halting my pacing.
“Yeah, just thinking.”
He grips my chin, raising my head. “She’ll be okay, Rox.”
“I know.” He leans down and kisses me, and for a moment, I allow myself to get lost in it. Then I break the kiss, pulling back to look at him. “What are you not telling me, Zak?” He holds my stare, and I watch closely for any reaction, anything to give him away.
He drops another kiss to my lips. “When I watched the playback of the security feed from the break in at Star’s, I saw something between her and this Carter guy. A familiarity.”
“Are you saying she knows him?”
He nods. “But I could be wrong, and I don’t know how well they know each other.”
“You ask her about him?”
“Yeah, but she was evasive.”
His face is blank, no expression, no twitch to say he’s lying, but I know Zak. I know he knows more or has an idea about Star and Carter. Before I get the chance to press him, Maddox comes out.
“No joy. Koda claims the only people that can get in touch with Lennox Fortune are his Shadows. And the only way you can get a meet with him is if he wants to talk to you.”
“Fuck!”
“But”—Maddox waves a piece of paper around—“I do have an address for a club he frequents.”
“Let’s fucking get going then. We aren’t going to get anymore from Koda, and Jay will call when they have a name.”
Maddox and I begin walking down the path toward our car, but Zak hangs back.
“You coming?” I ask, walking a couple of steps back to him.
“We sure this is the best move?” I tilt my head at him, not quite sure I’m hearing him right. “I get you want to go after Lennox, but I think we should find Star first. You go to Lennox now and you’ll tip him off we are on to him. I think we should wait until we know for certain the Shadows are involved.”
“You said he’s one of them, so of course they’re fucking involved.”
“Yeah, but think about it, Rox. He hasn’t killed her.” He raises his brows. “We need to know why. If we go after Lennox before we know the full story, we could be walking into a trap.”
“Or put Star in more danger,” I concede, knowing he’s right. Placing my hands on my hips, I look to Zak, then Maddox. “Okay, let’s find Star first. I’ll let Rick know to send the blueprints to me while we’re on route.” I head back inside and catch Rick as he’s finishing up a call.
“We’re heading out but send us any info when you get it.”