He waits until the door is closed before leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees.His large arms stress his jacket sleeves.He has to have his suits custom made.This is evidence something is bothering him, because he’s been working out at the gym more, building muscle.
“Cuz, I’m talking to you as family, not your second, and not as a MacEvoy.”He pauses, and I sit back down in my chair.“Are you sure about this?She’s not a Bratva printsessa, but she’s as close to one as they come.Aleksei might not be active in the Bratva and legit, but you and I both know he’s a hair’s breadth from being a brother.She’s protected by all of them.Besides, I heard from Mama that she’s not only Bratva, but her mother is Carbone’s sister, princess to the Italians.”
Taking a deep breath, I think about how to respond without sounding like a sap or like I don’t care.He’s right.Aleksei is as close to being Bratva as someone can get without actually being in it.Then there’s Carbone.He and I have always had a strained relationship, but I don’t care.I can’t stop how I feel for her any more than Aleksei could stop how he felt about Lyric.
“I know.I should talk to Aleksei, but I’m going to get my girl back first.And with this other issue we have going on, I need to focus on that.The families aren’t like they used to be.Your own half sisters are married to Bratva.Besides, Daria isn’t Bratva and wasn’t raised that way.From the background I pulled on her, I know she was raised in hiding, away from the life.I’ll also speak to Carbone.It’s the right thing to do.”
“Exactly.She was in hiding because of her parents.You think we’re more progressive, but look at what happened to my sisters.”
“Your sisters went against the families for a short time.”
He takes a deep breath.“I thought it was just Jimmy we had to watch out for, then Johnny went sideways, and I’ve been trying to catch up since then.”He leans back, and I see the exhaustion in his body.
“Do you need to take a break for a bit?How isAintíntaking it all?”His mother might have gained two daughters, but she lost a son and an ex-husband in it all.
She and Jimmy, JJ’s father, weren’t exactly divorced, but they were as close as she could get them to be when he was killed.
“No.I don’t need a break.What I need is to figure out who is behind all this.I feel like Johnny wouldn’t have turned without a big influence other than our father.Jimmy was an ass, but he was still our dad.Johnny always wanted more than what he was given.He wanted your job.”JJ waves his hand at me.
Johnny had the same problem his father had.That need to blame everyone for what they lacked.Johnny blamed me for his lack of respect and status.I tried to help him so many times, but he wanted everything without working for it.He was lazy and wanted it the easy way.
I took over this family at nineteen, and it was the greatest lesson I’ve ever learned.I’ve not always done everything right, but I’ve always worked hard for where I am.I fought to prove I could lead.I fought other organizations when they tried to step in and take what was mine.The Triad and I still fight over our footholds in Vegas.But the Triad wants the whole fucking city and will destroy everyone in their path to take it.It wasn’t until one of Andrei’s second in commands or Two Spies, Dmitri, killed a general from China and shot the Chairmen’s own son in the shoulder that they took a step back and have been quiet.
I still wonder if the Triad is behind our usurper.When we had the first meeting with Andrei and his men a few months ago, I’d hoped he would say it was the Triad or leftover remnants of JJ’s sisters’ antics, but I was wrong.That’s when a thought hits me.
“JJ, your father talked your sisters into their plan, correct?And originally it was supposed to just be the Lucky Dice.They said that, right?”
“Yeah to both points.Why?”
“Why go after the other families?”
“Ainsley said originally it was because they were tired of made men getting away with having kids and leaving them.”
“Where did they get that idea from, other than proof of your father?”
“Fuck, you think someone was guiding them or Jimmy?”
“Yeah.I need to talk to your sisters.Can you arrange a meeting with them?”
“I can try, but their husbands are very protective.Do you want their half sister, Lennon, too?She’s Bronwyn’s daughter.”
“Yeah, if we could.”
“I’ll try.”
“Invite the husbands too if it will make it easier.”
“Okay.”
He gets up and heads for the door, but it opens before he reaches it.I’m pissed when the club manager, Sally, and my uncle walk in without knocking.
“Knock,” I bark.
“Oh, sorry, sweetie.Broderick was just telling me you went to the ballet last night.Did you see my sister?She was in the corps de ballet.”She smiles coyly at me, and it makes my skin crawl.
This woman has been trying to get with me for months, ever since I hired her.I’ve told her repeatedly I’m not interested.She saunters toward me and leans a hip on the desk.Her loose jacket falls open, giving me a full view of a naked breast and the fact she isn’t wearing anything underneath.I ignore it and turn to my uncle.
“UncailBroderick, I see you needed a meeting today.Is everything okay?”
