Rialto (Unbreakable Bonds 8)

“What do you mean?”

Hollis looked down at his husband, his frown deepening. “It means that he’s violent. Brutal. He has no qualms about killing or torturing people. The fact that he’s allowed Max to run up a debt of five g’s makes me think that Max is usually good for the money or that Max is doing more than just solicitation. He’s probably selling or muling for CJ as well.”

“Do you think he plans to kill Max?”

“Eventually. The fact that he hasn’t already means that he either thinks he can get his money out of Max or Max has something he wants…maybe product. Once he gets what he wants, Max is dead.”

“But we’re still going to save him, right?” Ian turned to look at the other men watching him around the room.

Lucas cleared his throat. Dressed in jeans and a black sweater, he had his hands in his pockets. His handsome features were pulled tight in a fierce frown. “This Max is the one who hurt you? The one who’s been systematically trying to destroy Rialto?”

Ian nodded, knowing he’d need to explain his feelings. “He was one of Jagger’s boys. I kicked him out of his spot as the favorite, and he feels that it should have been him you guys met and saved at that party.”

“And you want us to save him?” Snow asked. He looked tired as he leaned against a table, as if he’d just gotten off a shift at the hospital. Like Lucas, he was in jeans and a sweater, his silver hair disheveled.

“He’s a victim, too,” Ian insisted. “He didn’t get the chance to get out like I did. Didn’t have a millionaire backing his first restaurant or protective friends to help him get back on his feet. I’ve been so damn lucky, and I just want to pass some of my good luck on. So, we’ll go get him and break him out of that place.”

“It wasn’t luck, Ian,” Lucas said. “We love you.”

“Oh, it damn sure was luck that you two happened to go to that party when I was there. That you loved something I’d cooked and sought me out in the kitchen. You may love me now, but all that was pure luck.”

Rowe scrubbed a hand over his face. “You want us to infiltrate a known drug den. Tonight. Take down Cincinnati’s main drug dealer with little to no reconnaissance?”

“It has to be tonight.” Ian threw his hands into the air. “Who knows what they’re doing to him!”

“He’s probably already dead, Ian.” Rowe shook his head. “These kinds of guys don’t play around.”

“We don’t know that. And I won’t be able to live with myself if I don’t try to help him.” Ian knew he sounded belligerent, but he could also tell they weren’t all totally with him on this. Not that he could blame him. He was demanding they risk their lives for a guy who had been trying to destroy Ian. “You’ve got some new toys you want to try out, right?”

Rowe perked up a little, but it was Dom who spoke first. “Ooooh…the new doorbuster and the lighter night-vision goggles. They need a field test.” Ian saw Dom and Garrett grin at each other like a pair of kids at Christmas.

“Maybe I’ll let you pick the code names,” Ian pressed when Rowe didn’t look totally sold. Dom and Garrett were a good start, but he knew he needed Rowe and Noah in on this mission. He’d be happy if Lucas and Snow returned home to their respective spouses.

Rowe twisted a little to look over at Noah. “You wanna go take down a drug lord?”

Noah shrugged nonchalantly, but Ian could see that he was barely holding back his grin. “It has been months since we blew up that building. Could be interesting. Also…code names.”

“I want a good one,” Ian interjected.

“You’re not going!” Rowe and Lucas said at the same time.

Ian narrowed his eyes and got ready to argue as fury erupted in his chest, but Hollis surprised him by speaking up.

“This is Ian’s mission. Hell yes, he’ll be there. And he should get to pick the code names.”

Dom spoke up. “He should get to come. You can put him in body armor.” The redhead was sitting in one of the chairs next to the conference table.

Garrett snorted and ran his hand over his short black hair. “We’re all gonna be in body armor if we’re going into a place like that. Those dudes will be armed to the teeth.”

“Then let’s do this.” Rowe rubbed his hands together. “I’ve got all kinds of goodies we can break out. Body armor, sniper rifles, and some new tranq guns.”

The others burst into questions.

The talk over just what would be needed nearly frightened Ian out of going, but he didn’t let it. He’d been left out of a lot of these missions over the years and this one was his, dammit. His restaurant had been set on fire, and he felt responsible for the situation Max was in, even though logically he understood he wasn’t. Not entirely.