Page 123 of Smoke Screen
Dude! I would have signed your damned NDA and let you use the training center for a meeting.
He must really be tired if he was considering asking his cousin for help. Phin shook his head, somehow hoping he’d knock those words straight out of his mind.
Not only would Zeke kill him and make him that statue after all, if Phin wasn’t willing to do the meeting here, it wasn’t fair to ask Reid. Not when his mother and pregnant wife lived on the same property.
He offered.
Phin got moving, pacing the yard, getting some blood flow going to clear his thoughts. Reid never did anything without confidence. And, yes, he had offered.
Wouldn’t hurt to at least explore the idea. Then, if Phin didn’t like it, for whatever reason, he’d can it.
An exploratory conversation. That’s all.
Phin swiped at his phone, found his cousin’s name in his contact list. Two rings in, Reid picked up.
“What’s up?” he said, by way of greeting.
“Hey.”
“Y’all okay?”
“We’re good. I … uh …”
An image of Brendan Eckert’s body filled his mind. This wasn’t right.
Not after what happened yesterday. Not after he wouldn’t be willing to have a meeting at his own home. Phin waved a hand. “Forget it. Never mind.”
“Phin, if you hang up on me, I’ll tie you to my bumper and drag your ass over gravel. Mess up that pretty face some.”
He’d probably do it, too. Still, Phin laughed. “You’re an asshole.”
“I’m a busy asshole. What do you need?”
“Nothing. I changed my mind.”
“Why?”
Because it’s not right. Because it’d make me a helluva hypocrite.“Some things I won’t ask family to do.”
“I’ll ask again. What do you need?”
Goddamned Reid. Stubborn as the day was long. Phin started pacing again, burning off some energy. “I need to set up a meeting. Somewhere I can control the environment. The only place I can think of is our house. Which I’m not willing to do. I’m also not willing to ask you to do that. I’ll figure something else out and everyone stays safe. Let me go. Got shit to do.”
“Just hold on. Let me think a minute. This meeting? Who’s it with?”
Phin relayed only the need-to-know information. His brothers on their way to a separate meeting, Phin flying solo, their contact ready to bolt, possibly doing a recovery that very day.
“It’s one guy?” Reid asked.
“Yes. I’ll insist on it.”
“And Zeke is okay with you having this meeting?”
Phin hesitated. “He doesn’t know, and probably not.”
Reid whistled. “You’re brave.”
“Or stupid. Sometimes they’re one and the same.”
