Leon nodded. “Roger approached me a couple of years ago to lend him money for some of his athletes’ fights. I knew then he was having them throw fights.”
“Let me guess,” Preston said. “You lent it to him.”
Leon cocked his head to the side. “I’m a businessman first and foremost. You know that more than anyone, little brother.”
“Don’t fucking call me that,” Preston growled, trying to move around me to get to Leon.
“Tell us the rest,” I said, getting in between them again.
Leon adjusted his other cufflink. “Wolcott isn’t your problem. He’s dead.”
“I’m sure that wasn’t an accident,” Preston said, glaring at Leon.
“Heart attack. Nice to see how highly you think of me.”
“We knew that already,” I said, reminding Preston we’d found that information out months ago.
“Yeah, well, this new underground club Gatlin got himself mixed up in was hosted by a couple of employees of mine. They don’t have my permission to host the fights either. They will be taken care of.” Leon paused. His gaze darted between Preston and me.
“So, who’s pulling his chain now?” I asked.
Leon held out his hands. “Your guess is as good as mine. But from what I can tell, he’s entering these fights on his own accord.”
I turned to Preston. We exchanged a look of surprise.
“I would suggest you two tell your man to keep his nose clean. He keeps running around with the wrong people, and he will bring you both down,” Leon said.
I turned to him. “Is that a threat?”
“I make promises, not threats.” He turned cold eyes on me and then to Preston. “I’m offering a word of advice.”
“Were you the one who spread the rumors about Eli? Is that how the sponsors found out?” I asked.
Leon frowned. “It’s in my best interest that I keep my affairs private.”
“Someone who works for you then?” Preston asked, moving forward. “One of the former employees who started that underground ring?”
Leon chuckled. “Possibly, but if I had to guess, I’d say it was someone connected to Wolcott. Now that he’s dead, the rumors probably won’t gain much traction anymore. But that’s if your guy keeps his shit tight,” Leon instructed.
“We don’t need you to tell us how to handle business,” Preston said.
“Don’t you?” Leon countered. “Seeing as how I’ve been in business a hell of a lot longer. Remember you came to me for information. Not the other way around.”
“I didn’t come to you for shit,” Preston said.
I felt his anger directed at me. I didn’t give a fuck about his tone. We got the information needed to know.
Leon moved to the door, pulling it halfway open. “Think of this as a favor from me to you.” He nodded with a smirk and left, shutting the door behind him.
I turned to Preston, who was pacing.
“Leon doesn’t do favors for free.”
I snorted.
“He’ll eventually want something in return for the information he gave us.”
“We’ll deal with that when the time comes.”
