Free Billionaire Ransom by Lexy Timms Page B

direction. “You want to know what he’s after?” He didn’t wait for Craig to respond. “He’s looking to see if she has copies of a file that would incriminate him.”
    “For what?” Craig scoffed. “She’s not going to incriminate her own father.”
    Morgan’s eyebrows went up. “For the murders of that crew and proof he’s after that land? Like hell she won’t.”
    Craig paled. “Hell no.”
    “Hell yes,” Morgan said emphatically. “You fucked us, Craig. If they found what they’re after or still think she has a copy, they’re out to kill her. And me. Not to mention the DEA is after the club now.”
    “Whoa,” Craig held up his hands, “That wasn’t me, man. Blake Wilkes said he was going to have the city council run you out of town if she didn’t come home, and quick. I wasn’t supposed to take her home. He’s furious I took her. I was just supposed to scare the shit out of her so she would go to her house, or stay at yours.”
    “So he could kill her,” Morgan said. “Wilkes sees his own daughter as disposable, you fucking idiot!”
    Craig shook his head. “Bullshit! I’m telling you the dude just wanted the file. He said he wasn’t going to hurt anyone.”
    “Dead doesn’t hurt. The dead can’t speak either.”
    Craig stared at Morgan, unsure whether to believe him. “Are you serious about it being…did he have something to do with that mess?”
    “He had everything to do with it. He’s ruthless.” Morgan took a swallow of beer and set it aside. “You’re in this, Craig, and the shit’s piling up. You said I had to choose between her and the crew. He told you to tell me that, didn’t he? He wants Katie back in his clutches or he’s running the crew out of town. That slimy, rich bastard doesn’t play by anybody’s rules but his own.” He pounded the table. “Fuck! Now I’ve got trouble at every corner and a hit on me and Katie.”
    Craig ran a hand over his close-cropped hair. “Bro… Morgan, I’ll do whatever it takes to make this right.”
    Morgan glared at his once best friend. “Stay as far away as possible. That’s what you do. You’ve done enough. Head out of town; your ass is probably next on the list. The DEA has a shit ton of paper on us from all accounts. Guys are slipping out one by one. On my orders. This thing has to blow over, but before it does there’s going to be a lot of shit rolling right downhill, and you’re in its path as well.” Morgan stood. The trip here had been a waste of time, aside from trying to save Craig’s ass again. “Also, you’d better watch your six. That’s what I really came to tell you. Watch yourself, Craig, because if he put a hit out on me and Katie, he definitely took one out on you too.”
    Craig looked down at the table and then back at Morgan. His lips pursed and flattened. “Thanks, I appreciate the advice. Hell knows I don’t deserve it.”
    Morgan sighed. “Fuck, Craig! I didn’t mean to start a beef between us after Lisa died. I never wanted that. But it is what it is, and we can’t do a damn thing about it now.”
    Craig stared at him. “You know, I never would have hurt Katie. I know she’s your Lisa. Not that she’s anything like Lisa…” his voice faded and his eyes wandered to the stripper on the stage. He looked back. “You got a real winner, Morgan. Keep her close.”
    “I’m trying.”
    Craig nodded. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
    “You need to get out of town. Go clear your head somewhere.”
    “Yeah.” Craig shrugged. “Maybe I’ll just stick around and let it fall where it does.”
    “The only place it’s going to fall is on the ground with a bullet through it.”
    Craig shot him a half-smile. “I could say the same thing to you. I don’t see you running.”
    Morgan shook his head. “I can’t. I don’t have a choice. I have to get my crew out of this mess.” Morgan waited for Craig to say something before he left. The silence spun out, and he turned to go.
    Craig finally