Hartley seemed okay. For someone who had just witnessed a violent and intense gun battle in their kitchen, she seemed like she was holding it together. Normal people would have fallen apart, but Hartley was clearly far from normal.

Gage and Flynn were probably a big help. She needed to see that I had this under control, and bringing them in probably helped with that.

I left the room and heard the two idiots already joking. They were playing it up pretty hard, probably trying to make Hartley forget about this morning. I couldn’t tell if it was working or not, but I was grateful. I felt bad that I couldn’t sit and just talk with her, but things were going to move fast now.

I got outside in the warm air and leaned up against the front of the building. I got my burner phone out and dialed the number I’d been saving for just this moment.

It rang three times before he answered. “Who’s this?” he grunted.

“Hoyt, it’s Travis.”

“Travis. How’d you get this number?”

“Never mind that. I have an issue.”

Short pause. “What’s wrong?”

“Culver. He stopped answering, disappeared last night.”

“We haven’t been able to get in touch with him either.”

“What the fuck are you people doing over there?”

“I don’t know, man,” he said. “Culver is a weird one. I never liked him, but the big boss brought him in to oversee this operation.”

“Yeah, well, he’s fucking gone, and I’m making a move on the shipment tonight.”

Another pause. “Seriously? Tonight?”

“Fuck, are you listening to me, Hoyt? This is serious.”

“Yeah, okay. So you’re doing it tonight. What’s the plan?”

“I’m not sure there is a fucking plan now that your boy Culver is missing. He gave me certain assurances.”

“Like what?”

“For starters, he was the only one saying you people weren’t trying to fuck us over. How can I trust you guys when your boy Culver disappears like this?”

“Nobody is fucking you over, Travis.”

“Culver seems like he is.”

“How?”

“The guy disappears on the day I let him know I’m taking the shipment. You don’t think that looks odd?”

Hoyt sounded stressed, just how I wanted him. “Yeah. It sounds strange. But I don’t know what’s happening with him.”

“Listen to me. You still want this shipment?”

“You know we do,” he said.

“I need two things from you.”

“Go ahead.”

“First, I want to deliver this to your boss personally.”

“I can’t do that,” Hoyt said immediately.

“Then you’re not getting shit.”

“Travis, man, come on. He doesn’t go for this sort of thing.”

“I don’t care what he goes for. You want this shit, he better be there.”

“Fine,” Hoyt said reluctantly. “I’ll pass that along. And second?”

“Second, I want you to be there.”

“Why?” He sounded nervous.

“Because you’re the only person I trust in your fucking scumbag organization. I want you there.”

“Okay, Travis,” he said. “I’ll be there.”

“Tell your boss. Tell him to meet me at the old shoe factory in the hills. You know that one?”

“I know it.”

“If this deal is on, meet me there tonight at two. I’ll have his shipment in a big rig truck. I’ll pass it over, you guys get your shit, and we’re off the hook. That’s it, straight up.”

“Straight up,” Hoyt agreed. “I’ll pass the message along.”

“Fine. Make it quick. This Culver shit has me real nervous.”

“Got it.” Hoyt hung up the phone.

I hung mine up and slipped it into my pocket. Normally I’d get rid of a burner, but I needed them to be able to call me back.

Once I was finished, I walked back into the apartment and headed up the stairs. I opened the door and saw Hartley sitting at the table while Gage and Flynn were arm wrestling. She looked up at me and smiled.

“Flynn is winning,” she called out.

“Fuck that,” Gage grunted.

I shook my head. “Are you two fucking kidding me?”

“This. Is. No. Fucking. Joke,” Flynn managed to grunt.

I sighed and stood next to the table, watching the two fools. They were evenly matched, both straining as hard as they could. Hartley couldn’t help but laugh as the two men grunted and cursed at each other.

Finally, Flynn’s elbow slipped on what looked like spilled whisky. As soon as it gave out, Gage pounded his arm down to the table.

“Fuck!” he yelled, standing up. “Fuck that!”

Gage laughed wickedly. “Weak loser,” he said.

“You cheated!”

“You slipped,” Hartley observed.

He glared at her and then burst out laughing. The three of them laughed together as Flynn sat back down in his chair.

I shook my head. “Seriously you two. Don’t get too drunk. I need you guys ready for tonight.”

“We’ll be good to go, boss,” Gage said. “Don’t you worry.”

“Yeah, boss,” Flynn added.

I smirked at Hartley. “You’re not falling for this crap, are you? These fools aren’t always such clowns.”

“I think they’re just trying to show off for me,” she said.

“Damn right we are,” Flynn said.

“Pretty southern girl like you? Hard not to show off, just a little bit,” Gage added.

“Careful,” I said, grinning at them. “Come on, Hartley. We have to go make a little visit.”

She nodded and stood. “Thanks, boys. Don’t kill each other while we’re gone.”

Flynn saluted and Gage just grinned.

“See you later, Hart,” Gage said.

Hartley walked over to me and we went together over to the front door. I opened it up and we left just as the two idiot started laughing again.

“Fun guys,” she said.

“Yeah. They can be.”

“You’re sure they’re SEALs?” she asked.

“Very sure,” I said. “They’re just trying to make you feel comfortable is all.”

“You have good friends.”

“They’re good people,” I agreed, “but they can be idiots sometimes.”

She laughed and followed me down the stairs.

“Where to now?” she asked.

“Caldwells. This is the last stop before the main show. After tonight, we’ll be finished.”

“Yeah,” she said. “After tonight this is all over.”

“No more debt. No more danger.”

She nodded, resolute. “No more danger.”

I grinned at her. “Come on, girl. Let’s get the fuck out of here before the two idiots decide they want to tag along.”

We headed out of the building, walking close to each other.