Law Man (Dream Man #3)(138)

Then he looked at Mitch.

Then he stated, “Access to lockdown.”

He wanted Bill Winchell.

“Your call, Lawson, make it,” Tack stated.

“Find somethin’ else you want,” Mitch, eyes on Lescheva, responded and Lescheva’s smile got bigger.

“Your woman, she’s very beautiful,” he said softly and the tense room got suffocating.

“Make another offer,” Mitch replied through clenched teeth, ignoring the comment, making the play, drawing him out.

Lescheva studied him.

The he said softly, “I have a thorn in my side.”

“I do too and tonight I learned I got more than one. But I’m not gonna do what you want done. It isn’t in you to understand this but I got two kids to raise and I become that man, I’m not fit for that job. Now make another offer.”

Lescheva nodded.

Then he started, “There are police right now searching Pierson’s Mattress and Bed warehouse. There are things in that warehouse that –”

“You know who I am,” Mitch cut him off. “You know this is wasting time. I am not interfering with an investigation. You f**ked up, tied your shit to two assclowns. You take that hit. Now make another offer and think smart before making it.”

“These children, do you think they’re safe?” Lescheva asked.

Jesus, f**k, he wanted to lay hands on this f**king guy.

“I think they better be,” Mitch answered.

“If you care about them as it would appear you do, I believe it is you who should,” he paused then finished, “think smart.”

“Is that a threat?” Mitch asked and Lescheva’s chin gave the barest jerk.

Then he studied Mitch for long moments.

Then he whispered, “Wire.”

Mitch allowed himself to smile. And he did this even though Mitch nor any of the men were wearing wires.

They just wanted Lescheva to think they were.

“Interesting,” Lescheva muttered, holding Mitch’s eyes.

“Got another offer?” Mitch asked.

“This is unorthodox,” Lescheva remarked.

Jesus, this guy liked to talk.

“Do you have another offer?” Mitch pushed.

“Inadmissible,” Lescheva noted.

“It comes to that, we’ll see,” Mitch lied. “Now, you’re not making an offer, I’ll make you one. You make a call, I get my kids and you assure me that my woman and our children cease to exist for you and your men. You are then free to do what you have to do, Chaos does what they have to do and the Feds do what they have to do. This is forgotten. Something happens to my woman or my kids, ever, memories become sharp. Lescheva, my advice, you need to chalk this up as a fail and regroup. You got problems and the men in this room, I know you get it, they will add to those problems. I’m aware you can multitask but, the men in this room feel like playing with you, even you aren’t that good. Make the call.”

Lescheva’s brows went up. “Forgotten?”

“Forgotten,” Mitch answered.

“Do you speak for everyone?” Lescheva asked.

“Everyone in this room,” Mitch answered.

“There is one other small matter,” Lescheva remarked.

“Otis Pierson,” Mitch guessed correctly.

Lescheva dipped his head to the side.

Mitch held his eyes.

Then, forcing it past the acid in his mouth, he stated, “I ask no questions, you tell no lies.”

There was his give.

Now it was up to Lescheva to let him take.

Lescheva studied Mitch then he looked at Tack.

“We are not done, you and me,” he said quietly.

“No, man, we are not,” Tack agreed and Lescheva again smiled.

“You often surprise me,” Lescheva remarked to Tack.

“That’s me,” Tack replied. “Full of surprises. Now, you gonna give Lawson his assurances and make your call or are we gonna get out our knitting needles and chat while we make scarves?”

“A worthy adversary is full of surprises,” Lescheva muttered.

“Man, seriously? We are not in a Bond movie. Make the f**kin’ call,” Tack clipped and at his loss of patience, everyone in the room shifted.

Lescheva looked to Mitch. “It would be a shame if any harm were to come to the beautiful Mara Hanover.”

He’d been watching her.

And he liked watching her.

Fuck.

Mitch drew in breath and the men in the room shifted again.

“I will see that doesn’t happen,” Lescheva said quietly.

“My kids,” Mitch prompted.

Lescheva’s brows went up. “You claim them?”

“They’re mine,” Mitch stated.

Lescheva studied him.

Then he whispered, “This, I did not know.”

He’d been watching but he didn’t understand what he saw. Mitch got this. Lescheva thought Mitch’s moves were about Mara and they were. But it wasn’t only about her.

It was the closest he’d get to an apology.

And it didn’t mean smack because he also went after Mara even knowing she was Mitch’s.

Mitch didn’t reply.

Lescheva lifted his chin.