“You mean you?” Stark snorts out a short laugh.
“I mean people loyal to you. The Orso family remains neutral, as we always have, but the Ramsays? They need a new home. It’s really only the two of them left—Janna and Jay. They’re floundering without direction, and I want them out. They need to understand that they can’t maintain their businesses near our territory, and that will only happen if they have a better offer.”
“You want me to take your rivals off your hands by relocating them to Seattle.”
“Yes. You can control the drug trade through Ohio remotely or set up your own people in a more central location—Columbus or Cincinnati. We stay out of each other’s way, and the Ramsays never set foot in Cascade Falls again.”
“Why would they agree to this arrangement?”
“Because Janna likes power, and she’ll see it as a step up from her current position. She can leave to pursue this ‘promotion,’ if you will, and save face at the same time. Everyone gets what they want.”
“Why would I want them?” Stark narrows his eyes, but I’m positive he’s considering the idea. “I can hire drug runners from anywhere.”
“You need loyalty beyond all else, and they’ll be more loyal to you.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because they need a father figure, and you need to replace the son you’ve clearly lost.” I see Stark’s jaw tighten at the mention of his son. He raises an eyebrow at me. I tense and then speak a little faster. “He wouldn’t be getting documents in your name if you weren’t on the outs. Jay is a bruiser—definitely more brawn than brains—and could be trained for the tournaments to replace your ‘retired’ champion.”
Stark looks out the window again. I’m right—I know I am—and he’s seriously considering my suggestion.
“Of course, we’ll throw in all the necessary documents as part of the plan.”
“Yes, you will, but this arrangement still benefits you more than it does me. I have people loyal to me already located on the West Coast.”
“And in these times, the more people you have, the better.” I swallow hard as he looks at me skeptically, and then I realize I have another ace up my sleeve. “I’ll even offer you better technical assistance to help with your temporary relocation and return to the Seattle operation.”
“Technical assistance?”
“Who is more valua
ble than a good hacker?” His eyes soften slightly, and I know I’ve hit the mark. “I happen to have one who could be very beneficial.”
“And you’d throw this hacker in with the deal?”
“I would.”
“And how do I know this hacker will be loyal?”
“Meet with him and check him out,” I say. “He will be here shortly. Meet with the Ramsays, too. Before your documents are ready for you, everything can be in place.”
Landon Stark sits in my office chair, silent and contemplative for far longer than is comfortable. His jaw tightens and relaxes. He folds and unfolds his hands, and his eyes never leave mine. I hold the gaze—as painful as it is—and wait as patiently as I can. Just when I’m sure he’s going to say no and maybe even put a bullet in my head, he speaks.
“Do you have a method for organizing a meeting with your rival family?”
“I have an idea, yes.”
“Then do so.”
*****
The summer heat turns the car into an oven, so I finally suck it up and get out. I walk slowly down the cemetery path, looking through a section I’d never been in before until I find the grave of Leanne Ramsay.
My mother.
I never knew this woman. I barely knew Rosa Orso, for that matter. I was quite young when she passed, but I knew nothing of Leanne Ramsay. I’d heard about Roland Ramsay all my life but very little about his wife. I wonder what kind of a person she was, and if she—like the woman who raised me—was kind and gentle despite her husband’s inclinations.
It doesn’t take very long before I hear a car pull up behind me. I knew I wouldn’t be able to stand here without attracting attention from exactly the person I needed to see. I don’t even turn around when I hear Janna Ramsay’s voice.