My brothers and I don’t and never have golfed before. It’scode to meet them at the warehouse. The time is which one, and it tells me what we’ll be doing. This evening it seems we’ll be at our arms warehouse. I can’t wait to figure out why. But first I have to focus on the appointment at hand, because in walk the Germans, and they look less than thrilled.
We greet each other before I lead them into the conference room and take a seat at the head of the table. Per usual, Owen sits to my right. I gesture for Lukas and Henry to sit and wait until everyone is seated before I begin.
“So, it’s come to my attention that we have a slight pest infestation. If rumors are to be believed, it seems your streets also have the same problem.”
Henry scoffs, “Rumors are just that, Declan. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The three dead bodies that were on your streets just hours ago say otherwise. I’m not your enemy here, Henry. I want to work together to figure out who is behind this shit. My streets are being tagged too.” I’m trying to keep a hold on my temper, but my patience is running thin with the events of this morning still running through the back of my head.
“We like to deal with our shit in house if it’s all the same to you, Mr. Byrne.” The cold glare Fischer is giving me from beside his boss is pissing me off almost as much as being stonewalled.
“You do what you want, Mr. Wolf. But I’m telling you right now that the problem isn’t coming from the walls of either of our own organizations. It’s someone trying to make a grab for power. I’m still going to look for the culprit with or without you. I just wanted to offer you the courtesy of working together, seeing as we’re both on high alert because of whoever this is.” My eyes swing from Wolf’s to Fischer’sand hold them just a beat longer than I typically would. Just enough for him to remember that his children are within the confines of some of these territory lines.
“Fischer, doesn’t your son have a bar on the same street where one of the victims was brutally beaten and cut up last night? Like Boss said, we don’t care either way, but if I were you, I know that’d give me pause.” Owen probes for a reaction.
“You dare threaten my family, Mr. Quinn? You dare to bring up my children when it’s public knowledge that my daughter is in fact marrying one of your bosses? And you, Declan, you’re going to let this slide?” He roars, giving Owen the exact reaction he wanted.
Like I said, he knows what he’s doing, and he does his job well.
Playing the good guy to Owen’s bad I give him a menacing glare. “Mr. Quinn meant no offense. He’s as passionate about the attacks on our streets as I would expect any of us to be. He’s been with us longer than Rowan’s been in power, and he cares about this organization deeply. He just got carried away. He doesn’t want anyone else to get hurt. Especially one of our family members. Isn’t that right, Owen?”
He plasters on a sheepish look. “Yes, Boss.” He turns to Lukas, “I’m sorry Mr. Fischer, I didn’t mean it to sound offensive or like a threat. I only meant to put in perspective the severity of what we’re dealing with.”
Lukas nods solemnly before turning his attention to Henry, who’s raised his hand to silence the room. “I’ll talk to the Boss, then get back to you on his plans. I’m assuming you’ll do the same?” He raises a brow in my direction.
“No need. My boss and I are on the same page. Keep in touch, and hopefully we’ll be working together soon.”
They take that as their cue, and we all stand and shake handsbefore they walk out of the building. Once the door is shut and secure, I flop back into my chair and lean my head back. This is going to be a long fucking day. While I’m waiting for Rossi to get here, my thoughts filter back to something Owen said.
Doesn’t your son have a bar on the same street where one of the victims was brutally beaten and cut up last night?
Blinding rage takes over my thoughts when I remember Jakob saying someone hit him. Could he have easily been last night’s victim? I’m not thinking clearly. On impulse I pull up my phone and send a text to the one person I thought I’d never text again.
Declan: Were you jumped outside of work last night?
I watch the three dots dance across the bottom of my screen before disappearing. It starts again, then disappears once again.
Declan: I can see you typing. Answer my question, Chaos.
Is it risky to use a nickname that’s been dead for half of a decade? Yes. Do I care since he called me ‘Beast’ this morning? No.
Mortal Enemy: No, I wasn’t. I told you I was hit at work after a fight got out of hand. Why do you even care?
Declan: I don’t. Just asking.
Mortal Enemy: Whatever you say.
I leave the phone on the table, trying to decide if I’m going to respond again. Who am I kidding? Obviously I’m responding.
Declan: Jake?
Mortal Enemy: What, Declan.
Declan: Be careful when you go to and leave work. I’m serious.
Mortal Enemy: Yeah, sure.
I set my phone down, content that we were friends for long enough that he knows I don’t fuck around when I warn someone to be careful. Just as I shake that shit from my mind, Cormac opens the door.
