Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 133975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
287 Construction had added a beautiful reception area just as one walked in the door, so her clients could relax and have lemon or cucumber water, organic tea or just carbonated water if they had to wait. Lana had shown Lyric several chairs to choose from for that waiting room, and all of them were so comfortable and felt welcoming; it had been exciting, but difficult to choose. She loved the end results.
And then there was the name of her salon, hand-carved on the beautiful wooden sign. The artistry was amazing. Ocean waves, musical notes and gorgeous lettering. Lyrical Waves. She hadn’t been able to come up with a name she really loved, and the band Crows Flying asked if they could surprise her. Since they were also owners of 287 Construction and master woodworkers, they carved the sign. It was far more than she could ever have dreamt of.
She noted that Jonas Harrington and Hannah had come, both greeting her as if she were a friend. She felt a bond with Hannah but couldn’t help being reserved around Jonas. Hannah wasn’t the only Drake sister who had come to support her. Lyric was introduced to Elle, the youngest. She was with her husband, Jackson Deveau, the deputy sheriff. The two men stayed, even after their wives left.
Her mind did what it always did: came up with reasons. Most likely it was the number of bikers in one area, although she knew Torpedo Ink had a good reputation in the community. Members of the Trinity chapter were there, but they wouldn’t start trouble with the Caspar chapter.
Lyric greeted so many people and took appointments until her first month was completely filled. She was elated to realize her business would start off so strong. Eventually, she was able to leave the building to go outside and mingle. The party seemed to have taken to the street. Even the Caspar Market was participating in the festivities.
She spotted Zyah, the manager of Caspar Market, sitting in front of the store with her husband, Player. They held hands and seemed very focused on the crowd. Two tables were on either side of them, filled with snacks for the crowd, so they had nearly as many people on that side of the street as she had on hers.
She looked around for Keys. He had his back to her and was talking to Maestro and Steele, all three very engaged in their conversation. Their heads were down, and they looked as if they were in an important huddle. The longer she watched them, the more she had a nagging feeling that something was off.
* * *
“Team two is on the move,” Steele reported. The tiny earpieces, nothing more than a tube inserted in the ear, had been developed by Mechanic and were invaluable. They couldn’t be seen, but the sound was high-fidelity. “We have very little time. Player is holding the illusion for us. We’ll be on cameras, and Jonas and Jackson will have seen us in the crowd.”
“How long can Player hold the illusion without it damaging him?” Keys asked. Concerned. Player had taken a bullet to the head months earlier, and it was only Steele’s skill and Zyah’s gifts that had saved him.
“Zyah and Blythe are both boosting his power,” Czar cut in to reassure the teams. “Declan and a five-man Ghost team, his bodyguards, are at the Airbnb they rented that backs up to the Pygmy Forest. We got lucky with that one. Team one will take the five Ghosts en route to acquire Lyric. Team two will dispatch Declan and his guards. We need to be fast and stay out of sight.”
Keys always appreciated Czar’s meticulous planning. They had counted on Declan surfacing. He had to be furious that the men he’d grown up with and formed his corporation with were dead. He blamed Lyric and was acting predictably. Torpedo Ink had studied the tactics he’d used to rid himself of any opposition.
From the very first time Keys had claimed Lyric to his club, Code had begun finding out everything he could about her and her enemies. Declan had grown arrogant, believing himself superior to those around him. Believing he couldn’t be touched by law enforcement. The more money he made, the more powerful he became, the more everyone feared him. And he ruled by fear.
It was inevitable that he’d come across the coalition of casino owners involved in trafficking. That had led him to the Ghosts. The assassins actually had offices, advertising themselves as specialists in security. Declan had found that their ruthless ways appealed to him. He’d become one of their best customers.
He had taken the bait, even the location of the Airbnb, away from neighbors, where he believed he could monitor the capture and torture of Lyric. Code had added the house into the several Declan was considering renting. He’d made certain everything Declan would want was listed. The week that included the opening of Lyric’s salon was one of the few dates available.