Finding Honor

By Lorhainne Eckhart

When city councillor Terrance Mack is threatened with dangerous consequences if he doesn’t align his vote with his peers, he learns something deeply sinister is happening within the Billings Council office. Can he overcome an unknown enemy and protect his family?

Trusting the wrong person can be dangerous.

On a warm Friday morning, city councilor Terrance Mack walks into his office to find a stranger waiting with an unexpected warning: If he doesn’t fall in line with the rest of the council on an upcoming vote, he’ll face consequences.

Terrance has earned a reputation as a thorn in the side of corporate America. In fact, he holds such strong values as a father, a husband, a community leader, and an advocate for the disadvantaged that he’s become a target. With his rock-solid stance of being no one’s puppet, he knows that each day he walks into his office could be his last.

When his brakes fail one morning, a man is shot beside him, and he lands in the ER after an accidental poisoning, Terrance learns the secrets and lies that fill the Billings Council office may be only the tip of something truly sinister. Terrance refuses to park his morals for anything, not even his bank account—but he doesn’t know who he can trust, and if he’s not careful, his family could become the next target.

Will Terrance continue to do the right thing, or will he fall in line as a voice for a bigger enemy hiding in the shadows?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lorhainne Eckhart, INC.
• Release date: Jan 18, 2024
• ISBN: 9781998775545

Lorhainne Eckhart

"Lorhainne Eckhart is one of my go to authors when I want a guaranteed good book. So many twists and turns, but also so much love and such a strong sense of family." (Lora W., Reviewer)New York Times & USA Today bestseller Lorhainne Eckhart writes Raw Relatable Real Romance is best known for writing big family romances series, where “Morals and family are running themes. Danger, romance, and a drive to do what is right will see you glued to the page.” As one fan calls her, she is the “Queen of the family saga.” (aherman) writing “the ups and downs of what goes on within a family but also with some suspense, angst and of course a bit of romance thrown in for good measure.” Follow Lorhainne on Bookbub to receive alerts on New Releases and Sales and join her mailing list at LorhainneEckhart.com for her Monday Blog, books news, giveaways and FREE reads. With over 120 books, audiobooks, and multiple series published and available at all retailers now translated into multiple languages. She is a multiple recipient of the Readers’ Favorite Award for Suspense and Romance, and lives in the Pacific Northwest on an island, is the mother of three, her oldest has autism and she is an advocate for never giving up on your dreams."Lorhainne Eckhart has this uncanny way of just hitting the spot every time with her books.” ★★★★★ Caroline L., ReviewerThe O’Connells: The O’Connells of Livingston, Montana are not your typical family. A riveting collection of stories surrounding the ups and downs of what goes on within a family but also with some suspense, angst and of course a bit of romance thrown in for good measure “I thought I loved the Friessens, but I absolutely adore the O’Connell’s. Each and every book has totally different genres of stories but the one thing in common is how she is able to wrap it around the family which is the heart of each story.” C. LogueThe Friessens: An emotional big family romance series, the Friessen family siblings find their relationships tested, lay their hearts on the line, and discover lasting love! “Lorhainne Eckhart is one of my go to authors when I want a guaranteed good book. So many twists and turns, but also so much love and such a strong sense of family.” Lora W., ReviewerThe Parker Sisters: The Parker Sisters are a close-knit family, and like any other family they have their ups and downs. “Eckhart has crafted another intense family drama...The character development is outstanding, and the emotional investment is high..." Aherman, ReviewerThe McCabe Brothers: Join the five McCabe siblings on their journeys to the dark and dangerous side of love! An intense, exhilarating collection of romantic thrillers you won’t want to miss. — “Eckhart has a new series that is definitely worth the read. The queen of the family saga started this series with a spin-off of her wildly successful Friessen series.” From a Readers’ Favorite award—winning author and “queen of the family saga” (Aherman)

Book preview

Finding Honor

Finding Honor, The Street Fighter

COPYRIGHT © Lorhainne Ekelund, 2023, All Rights Reserved.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Contact Information: [e-mail]

Editor: Talia Leduc

Finding Honor

THE STREET FIGHTER

BOOK TWO

LORHAINNE ECKHART

www.LorhainneEckhart.com

Contents

Keep in touch with Lorhainne

The Streetfighter

About this book

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Epilogue

Coming Soon - Shadow Game

The Watchers

Next in The O’Connells

The Hunted

The Hunted

About the Author

Links to Lorhainne Eckhart’s Booklist

Keep in touch with Lorhainne

Sign-up for Lorhainne’s Newsletter & Monday Blog

Like Lorhainne on Facebook

Follow Lorhainne on Instagram

Follow Lorhainne on Twitter

Lorhainne’s Audiobooks on Audible

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The Streetfighter

Terrance Mack is the Street Fighter, a family man and now local politician who once lived on the streets. He understands social injustice all too well and the hidden danger in the kind of people who hold all the power. Danger is all around him, only Terrance Mack is a man of the people, who can’t be bought, believes in right and wrong and no matter the threat against him, he will continue to stand up and fight for the underdog.

Finding Home

Finding Honor

About this book

Trusting the wrong person can be dangerous.

On a warm Friday morning, city councilor Terrance Mack walks into his office to find a stranger waiting with an unexpected warning: If he doesn’t fall in line with the rest of the council on an upcoming vote, he’ll face consequences.

Terrance has earned a reputation as a thorn in the side of corporate America. In fact, he holds such strong values as a father, a husband, a community leader, and an advocate for the disadvantaged that he’s become a target. With his rock-solid stance of being no one’s puppet, he knows that each day he walks into his office could be his last.

When his brakes fail one morning, a man is shot beside him, and he lands in the ER after an accidental poisoning, Terrance learns the secrets and lies that fill the Billings Council office may be only the tip of something truly sinister. Terrance refuses to park his morals for anything, not even his bank account—but he doesn’t know who he can trust, and if he’s not careful, his family could become the next target.

Will Terrance continue to do the right thing, or will he fall in line as a voice for a bigger enemy hiding in the shadows?

Chapter

One

Terrance wondered why no one saw what he did. He took in a scrawny man in a dirty brown hoodie, bent over, rummaging through the trash, pulling out cans and tucking them into a large plastic bag. He was tall and thin, the severe thinness Terrance saw often in those on the streets. Terrance figured the man was maybe his age, unshaven, wearing a ball cap and dirty baggy jeans. Human nature was amazing in a sad way. He watched people hurrying past, looking at their phones or anywhere but the lost soul rummaging through a garbage bin filled with everything everyone had tossed away.

Terrance breathed in the warm morning, feeling the bright Montana sun. The sounds of cars drowned out the birds outside the city council building. There were a few bushes, a few trees, but mostly concrete. The division of humanity bothered him more now—because not long ago, that man had been him.

Terrance, wait up.

He turned to see Matt McCutchin, the councilor for Ward 3, a man of average height, soft in the middle, in a striped golf shirt, his neat dark hair thinning on top. Terrance said nothing. The man at the garbage had glanced over his shoulder, then back to the garbage, still picking out cans and bottles. No one seemed to notice him.

Have you given any thought as to how you’re going to vote on the rezoning application? Matt said as he caught up to Terrance. Then he lifted his wrist and looked at his watch. Damn. Had to push back my tee time. Was hoping this would be resolved already. What do you think we get everyone in chambers for a quick, easy vote and then be out by ten?

Terrance realized it wasn’t really a question. He didn’t answer, only stared at a man he figured was all about service to self.

With a clatter, the too-thin man rummaging for cans dropped a few on the ground as he tried to stuff them into that well-used black garbage bag.

Hey, you piece of shit, get the hell out of here! Matt yelled.

The man glanced at him and then was already walking away, bag in hand.

Matt, with his fist still raised in the air and his back to Terrance, muttered, Goddamn piece of shit! I’ll have to have a word with security about keeping the degenerates out of here.

He’s just pulling out bottles and cans someone tossed away, Terrance said. At least it won’t end up in the landfill, and it’s a few dollars in his pocket. He wondered how he’d kept his voice so calm.

It’s not his garbage, and it’s a city code violation.

Of course it was, just one of many violations of city codes that had been drafted by someone who’d had way too much time on his hands.

Matt was looking his way again. Come on, I’ll walk with you. You know, Terrance, you’re a hard man to read. You hold your cards close to your chest. I kind of admire that. Seriously, I do.

Terrance started to the doors of the building where people determined the structure and rules that ran this city. He’d never realized before how much power was in the hands of so few.

I have a lot of questions no one has answered, Terrance said. Who runs the Quinton Group? They’re pushing for this rezoning, and now the council has unanimously, without any discussion, voted to rezone over a thousand acres of what was once farmland. I also can’t help wondering why you’re suddenly wanting to greenlight this, considering just last year, when the prior owner wanted to sell a chunk off and have it rezoned to build a small community, this same council denied his application not just once but three times.

Matt was shorter than he was, and he didn’t hide his annoyance at that fact, but his cold blue eyes now flickered with a spark that was anything but friendly. Terrance, is that what this is about? You have a lot to learn. This is about progress and jobs, moving things forward. You cannot ignore the needs of the community, and a rezoning by a group of this magnitude is going to provide not only jobs but services and infrastructure for a booming economy. That will bring in ongoing tax revenue, which is where your paycheck comes from, and provide more city contracts, too. Matt waved his hand, and Terrance wondered whether he really believed what he was spouting. Matt slapped a hand to his chest to stop him walking. This is going through one way or another. Do us all a favor and stop dragging your feet, because you don’t want to be known as the councilor responsible for keeping much-needed jobs from the people here. Standing in the way of progress is career suicide.

Terrance just took in Matt’s anger—or was it a warning?—before walking around him and pushing through the glass door that led to all the councilors’ offices, where a map hung on the wall, a flag stood in the corner, and a janitor up ahead was mopping the hardwood floor. He heard Matt fall in beside him again. He really didn’t like him.

"You know what, Matt? I’m not a fool, so don’t treat me like one. What’s really going on here? The only thing that comes from this kind of rezoning is tons of low-paying minimum-wage jobs, and it sends property prices skyrocketing, which jacks up taxes for those already struggling. For all those high-paying jobs you talk about, consultants will be brought in from out of state or country. The people who live here now make a meager wage, and all this is going to do is drive more and more families out. You know what really pisses me off? With all this talk of jobs, even low-paying jobs, no one talks about where the folks working them are going to live. They won’t be able to afford rent, because that too will go through the roof.

Let me assure you that I’ve looked into that development, and what I found interesting is that a community with HOA fees is being pre-sold right now to people out of state. It’s a community for second homeowners. Nothing about that development will benefit the good people of Billings. At one time, I didn’t pay much attention to the driving up of property values. More property taxes are being collected, but where is all that money going?

Matt just stared at him. He thought his eyelid twitched.

Yeah, I know that game, Terrance said. Sorry, but not on my watch. I didn’t take a seat on this council to collect a paycheck. You have any idea how hard it is out there for the average person?

Matt wasn’t smiling. He lifted a brow without pulling those piercing cold eyes from Terrance. He didn’t miss a thing. That’s right, he said. You lived on the streets once, didn’t you, with nothing, digging in garbage cans? Well, whatever you did to land there, think of it as a lesson so you don’t land there again.

His words were like a slap. Then he was walking away, lifting his hand in a wave to a few other city workers. The man was a schmuck, and Terrance liked him even less than he had a few seconds earlier.

Terrance kept walking to his office. Heather, the assistant he shared with the other councilors, was not in yet, her desk empty. His office door was closed, and when he opened it and stepped in, he was met by a man with short light hair, lean, maybe a few inches shorter than he was, standing by the window. The blinds were open just enough to allow the bright sun in.

Can I help you? Terrance said. You lost? He walked around his desk, which was neat and tidy, but he didn’t sit.

Terrance Mack, the newest councilor, the man said. He had a stance that reminded Terrance of the cops or the military. You didn’t get voted in, did you? You were just whisked into your position. Interesting how that works. He walked to the open door and closed it.

You still haven’t told me what you’re doing in my office, Terrance said. Who are you?

The man pointed his thumb at the door. Heather, was it? Your secretary is running an errand, so she won’t be back for a bit. You’re a family man, Terrance. That wife of yours, Lizzie, is cute even though she’ll be thirty-four on June 11. Her dark hair is growing out from that haircut that didn’t work so well for her. Your boys, Greg and John, are looking more and more like you. Well, actually, Greg favors his mother. He gestured to his face.

Beads of sweat had gathered under Terrance’s arms, and his heartbeat thudded. Who are you? How the hell do you know all that about my family? His voice was calm, level, though a knot twisted in his stomach.

The man hadn’t stepped away from the door. He wore heavy jeans, neat and tidy, with a light blazer over a blue dress shirt, and he held a dark cowboy hat, which he rested on his head as he smiled over at Terrance.

You know what? I’m calling security. Terrance reached for the phone on his desk.

No, don’t go doing that, Terrance. I’m just here to have a friendly chat with you. You look a little pale. Have a seat.

He was still gripping the phone, but he recognized a nudge inside that had always warned him to pay attention,