Gabe (Blue-Collar Billionaires 3)

I’m pulling up to the shop after meeting with a vendor when my phone rings. It's Luke. When I see his name on the screen I immediately take the call. He and Tank have been working together to get information on Blade. He’s not the type for chitchat so if he's calling now, it means he has answers.

“Luke? What’s up?”

"Gabe, I have you on a conference call with Tank. His boss was able to use his contacts within the FBI to get access to Interpol."

"Hey Tank. What have you guys found?"

Tank’s deep voice rumbles across the line. “Eli was able to get some info on the names you guys sent. They’re aliases for members of the Irish Mafia. Every single one of them."

"Fucking hell. If Max is on their shit list, then we're all in for it. I knew he wasn't telling me the truth."

"You asked him about it? What did he say?"

It seems so long ago now, that day when I barged in on Max demanding answers. Afterward, I was so hell-bent on getting to Sasha and making sure she was safe that I hadn’t taken time to analyze our father’s strange behavior. But now looking back, I can see that I should have put the pieces together. Max had been deeply shocked when I described Blade. He’d looked terrified.

"The only thing Max told me was to keep my loved ones close. Because men like that don't care who they hurt to get what they want. At the time I didn’t pay much attention to his reaction but he was scared. Shitless.”

Luke speaks up again. “Which means he knows why they’re after him. He must have been in a lot of trouble back in the day for them to be coming after him now. I mean, dude is like a million years old and has a bad heart. He’s not exactly a threat to anybody now, right?”

His comment, ridiculous as it is, makes me wonder. Luke has a point. Max has been living a life not unlike most wealthy older Americans. He stays at his luxury hotels drinking high-caliber scotch surrounded by a bevy of pretty assistants. How the hell did he run afoul of the Irish Mafia?

“Maybe he’s got gambling debts or something. That’s the only thing I can think of. Unless this really is some old vendetta coming back to bite him in the ass years later.”

Tank snorts. “Whatever the case, his shit isn’t our problem. Or it shouldn’t be. I’m only concerned with making sure this doesn’t affect us or our families. We need to take action.”

“You mean go after him?” Luke sounds a little too excited by the idea.

“Hell no. I’m just saying we need to take precautions.” Tank pauses. “Gabe, have you told Sasha about any of this?”

“Are you going to warn me away from her, too? Because Finn and Eli have already threatened to cut off all my appendages. You’ll have to get in line.”

They both laugh.

“No, I’m just saying that we need to keep our women safe. I’m thinking they all need protection. Emma has resisted so far but she’s getting a bodyguard whether she wants one or not. I’m suggesting that you guys might want to do the same. Luke, I’m not sure if your mom will let you but if you need me to, I can recommend some older guys that could blend into the crowd at the bakery and she won’t suspect a thing.”

“Yeah, I appreciate it man.”

It feels like things are escalating faster than I can keep up. Bodyguards and mafia members aside, I’m not sure how I’m going to keep Sasha away from all this but I know I have to try. I think of all the times when she’s been working at her club. Alone.

Something dark and twisted awakens at the thought of her alone and vulnerable. No doubt she won’t thank me for it but I’m willing to do whatever’s necessary to keep her safe.

Even if it’s not what she wants.

* * * * *

Over the next week things are quiet. I don't hear any more until Tank calls to tell me that Blade left town. Max seemed pretty sure that he could handle things so maybe Blade got what he wanted from him. Or maybe not. Either way, I'm just glad he's not our problem anymore.

I'm talking to a customer on a Friday morning when Sasha storms into the shop. The door slams shut behind her, the bell overhead ringing like crazy. By the look on her face, I don't have time to get her in private before she blows up.

"Gabe Marshall, I can't believe you!"

Arthur Winston looks up from the forms he's filling out and then takes a step to the side. "I've been married long enough to recognize the look of a woman on a mission. I'm getting out of the way."

We've been handling Arthur's vehicles for years now so I know he's familiar with our paperwork. "Just leave the form when you're done, Art. Zack will call you when it's ready."

I come around the counter and motion for Sasha to follow me to the back. She looks like she wants to say something but she follows me until we get in the office. As soon as the door closes behind us, she whirls around.

"You hired a construction crew to finish the renovations at my club. Did you think I wouldn't find out?"