Page 5 of Sleeping with the Dark (The Righteous 3)
“And yet you sat through an entire meal?”
“The steak was free. You never turn down an expensive meal from a five-star restaurant. That is just stupid.”
Alejandro burst out laughing. The table shook, and the silverware jingled as he smacked his hand on the top, drawing the attention of the other patrons. “I like you. You cut right through the bullshit.”
“Well then, let me do so again. Why am I here?”
“All of you take note. This is how you conduct business.” Alejandro pointed around the room, and Trev’s eyes followed the action, taking in every face now focused on them. Until that exact moment, he thought the other patrons were simply enjoying a meal. Apparently, he was off his game, or he would have noticed the discreetly hidden weapons they were all sporting. He could only blame his lack of concentration on a certain man with silver eyes.
“What I want, Mr. Anderson, is to find out who is killing my men. My men mean money to me, but more than that, they are like a small family. When members of my family turn up dead, you can understand why I might be upset. I keep being told that the Golden Dragons are responsible, but you see, I find this hard to believe. I am their best client, after all. It wouldn’t be wise for them to kill the men selling their product. This is lawyer-client confidential, of course,” he smiled wickedly and pushed a hundred across the table.
Trev eyed the money and snorted at the insult. “Well, to start, you’re not my client. So you can take that back.” He cocked a brow at Alejandro and then spread his arms wide. “But, with that said, I wouldn’t be stupid enough to say a word about this for far more important reasons than losing my license.”
“You would have trouble sleeping if you did, that is for sure. That is if you were breathing at all, of course.”
“Of course.” Trev smirked and waved over the waitress. “More wine please.”
“You are a bold man, Mr. Anderson.”
The waitress half filled his glass and he took a sip before continuing. “As far as the Golden Dragons are concerned, it would certainly benefit them if they thought they could take over your area and cut out the middleman, so to speak. That is hypothetical, of course. I like to play devil’s advocate.”
Alejandro ran his hand over his short goatee a number of times before speaking. “I do see your point, but I still am not sold that it’s them.”
“Maybe, maybe not. I don’t know them or have dealings with them to hypothesize any further.”
“No, you have given me more to think on, but tell me who else do you think it could be?”
“I think you are mistaken on what it is I do for a living. I’m a lawyer, not a private investigator.” Trev tipped his head and took another mouthful of wine before he stood and buttoned his suit jacket. “Now, if you’re ever in need of a bloody good lawyer, I can certainly help you there.”
“Please, Mr. Anderson, sit.”
The two bodyguards moved to block his path to the door, and with a quick glance, he counted out how many seconds it would take to grab the steak knife and slit the first guard’s throat before he stole the gun in his waistband and slammed the knife home in the second guard’s throat. There were twenty-three bodies in the room, and he pictured just how many bullets he would take if he tried to run for it. The odds were difficult, but not impossible. Still, he had no intention of starting a showdown like that, it did him no good when he had Alejandro right where he wanted him.
Trev sighed and sat once more, the guards noticeably relaxing. “I’m confused. Please explain what it is you think I can do for you, Alejandro,” he asked even though he had a pretty good idea where this was going.
Alejandro smiled wide and yelled to bring out dessert before he continued. “I know well what you do and who you do it for—I also know that you hear things, many things from many different individuals. I would pay very well to be kept in the loop on what you happen to hear about my men.”
Trev stared at the man in what he hoped would seem like genuine surprise before his mouth curled up in a smirk followed by a laugh. Alejandro laughed along with him, but the sound was more murderous than joyous.
“So, let me understand this correctly. You’d like me to spy on my other clients and relay private yet, relevant information to you for a large sum of money? I’ll assume that if I don’t fall in line, then there will be some unpleasantness?”
“Well, Mr. Anderson, I certainly don’t want things to go that far, but I need to protect my family. I also think that a hundred thousand per tip is reasonable.” A waitress sat a tray of small one-bite desserts on the table.
Trev ignored the small pastries and other decadent pieces. “One million.”
It was Alejandro that laughed this time. “Two hundred thousand.”
“I don’t roll out of bed for anything less than five hundred thousand. Not for my retainer and not for this, no exceptions. I am the best, and I know it.”
“You drive a hard bargain. I do like your style.” Alejandro drummed his fingers on the table. “Fine, if the information is accurate and leads me to the real murderers, then I will pay what you ask.”
Trev stood, and the guard inched closer. He glared at the man and held back the smirk as the man took a step away from his hard stare.
“Alejandro, you have given me a lot to think about, but this is not a decision I can make at this moment. I have your number. I will give you a call and let you know my answer in a couple of days.” Trev took a step, and the large man stepped into his path.
“Let him leave,” Alejandro waved at his guard. “Mr. Anderson is our guest not our prisoner. We will speak again soon, Mr. Anderson.”
“Call me Trevor, and by the way, the steak was excellent,” Trev called out as he walked out the door.
