I don’t know whether to be relieved or worried.
Jack leans against the table, and his expression turns to stone. “Make no mistake that while we value our continued partnership, any attack on a Payne is an attack on all of us.”
I don’t miss the brief panic that crosses Michael’s features.
My father clears his throat. “Now that that has been settled, there is the matter of the location that was promised. We have several lined up.”
“This isn’t about the location anymore.”
Jack looks at Michael, who doesn’t flinch. “I understand there’s been some reservations about how things have been handled—”
“Especially by your son,” someone mutters from next to me.
I wheel in their direction, and a balding man with a protruding belly sinks into his seat and avoids my glare. “Anyone who has a problem with me can speak up directly.”
Jack places a hand on my shoulder and keeps it there. “We all know my son has done well in leading us into a better and more profitable future. His reputation speaks for itself.”
“You mentioned renegotiating the terms of our partnership.”
My father removes his hand and looks at Lorenzo Moretti, whose silver hair glistens underneath the fluorescent lights. His dark, rheumy eyes give nothing away, but I know he’s assessing everyone in the room and determining the best way to get himself to the top.
I’ve heard the rumors of how he’s spilled blood within his ranks to maintain power, and how he’s silenced even his family.
Lorenzo Moretti isn’t a man to be trifled with, and something about being in the same room always makes me uneasy.
Lorenzo is a man who enjoys the kill, a formidable enemy and ally, and a man I’d rather not piss off.
“We can renegotiate, yes,” Jack replies. “Though I was given to understand that the purpose of today’s meeting was something else entirely.”
I begin to wonder if we are here to smooth some ruffled feathers.
Or are our allies abandoning ship?
Fuck.
How did everything spiral out of control so quickly, and how had I not noticed the cracks and fissures?
Had I been so focused on getting London that I’d missed the signs?
You need to make this right. Whether or not you meant to set a chain of events in motion is beside the point. This is your fuckup.
I stand, feeling every eye in the room sizing me up. “We’re prepared to offer several of our prime locations in the interest of maintaining the continued partnership.”
It’s the one thing my father and I agreed on.
For the sake of the empire….
Michael Everett laughs. “I never knew it would be that easy to make a Payne yield.”
A flash of anger surges through me. “Most of this mess is your fault. I suggest you sit the fuck down.”
Michael remains defiant. “You going to storm my office again?”
I have my gun out before the words leave his lips.
The room grows tense as I step out from behind the table and cross over to Michael. The men who are positioned against the wall step forward, their hands on their guns. Without looking over, I know Carlisle, and a few of our men have formed a barrier between them and Michael.
I’m tempted to end him then and there, consequences be damned.
