“What? Figure out he wasn’t the good little boy and had a bit more spine than you thought? Realized he’s his own person and can’t be pushed into a corner?” I asked. “Because if you had asked nicely, I might have told you that.”
“Do not push your luck.”
“And don’t think your big, scary act is going to work on me. You’re here for my help, I can smell it. But mostly, I can see how pissed off you get when I bring that up, which tells me I’m right. But I’ll be nice and tone down the smart-ass bit, but you’ve got to be up front with me.”
Augustine stood in silence, and I could feel the anger and frustration radiating off him. Out of everything, the fact that he was here to ask for my help made him more pissed off than anything else. I was considered the biggest hurdle in the way of getting Levi to go full Dark Side, and he had to come down to my level. His pride was so goddamn pricked it was only his legendary self-control and patience that made sure I wasn’t lying in this bed with a bullet hole in my face.
“I see no point in giving a full transcript, but he made it quite clear he will be handling Cresson Point’s issues as he sees fit. And he wouldn’t be taking my orders...and gave me a colorful idea of where I could put my orders.”
“Not going to lie, I kind of wish I’d been there to hear that part.”
“I’m sure.”
“So he’s gone off the reservation and decided he’s not going to listen to you. So why not take control yourself?”
“There are only two ways to do that. Using force of personality on those working for him, and by force of...well, my forces. That is not an option. I may be the head of The Family, but they are following his orders over mine.”
“Oh,” I said, badly wanting to make a smartass comment, but holding back. I had thought his pride being pricked at coming to me was the worst blow, but no...he was dealing with the fact that the very people who should listen to him were ignoring him and following his son to war. That was going to piss him off.
“Levi made it quite clear that if I attempted to use force, he would return the favor,” Augustine said quietly.
I let that sink in and grimaced. “That would, uh...civil war?”
“That is a simplistic summary, but yes,” Augustine said, and I could sense him struggling with himself. “Levi has not been idle these past fifteen years. He has accumulated many connections and favors. I cannot say precisely how much influence he has, but?—”
“It’s enough to make you worry,” I said and rolled my eyes when he looked daggers at me. “Well, you obviously are. Don’t worry, I promise not to tell anyone that the big bad Augustine is worried his son has enough power under his belt to give you hell.”
“He has made it clear that although he has no illusions about winning any...civil war,” he began. “He could certainly make everything exceptionally difficult. There are still plenty of people in The Family who would love to see me knocked down several pegs, or off my throne.”
“And if Levi gives them the chance?—”
“Then his potential power grows.”
“And since he’s doing this for a reason that doesn’t have to do with The Family or business, that means he doesn’t care if it causes chaos, or brings you down, he won’t care that everyonewill start fighting over the scraps, because he’s on a personal vendetta,” I continued with a frown. “Shit.”
“You are more insightful than I gave you credit for,” Augustine said thoughtfully. “But yes. Crow about it if you want, but it seems I did, in fact, help to create the very thing that could threaten me more than anyone else. Do not for a moment think that irony is lost on me.”
“I think it’s pretty normal for parents to find themselves a little threatened by their kids...at least the shitty parents anyway,” I said, wrinkling my nose. “
“As it stands,” Augustine continued. “You are the only one who might be capable of bringing Levi back from the brink. It stands to reason you could get through to him, and perhaps even pull him back enough that the damage is minimal and even he can be salvaged from the mess.”
It was exactly like him to try to use the relationship between Levi and me to get what he wanted... but it also worked. I didn’t want Levi to do what he was doing. Oh, it was touching in a fucked up way, how many people could say the person they loved was willing to go to war on their behalf, literally? Levi was out there causing all sorts of trouble because some evil fuckers decided putting a target on my back was a good idea.
I would have to wait to figure out whether I was touched or disturbed by it. The real problem, and I didn’t think Augustine was aware of it because the manipulative fuck would have used it to get me to do what he wanted, was that Levi needed to be stopped, and he needed to be stopped soon.
“Are they going to let me leave?” I wondered, glancing toward the door.
“The guards can be taken care of, and from what I have been told, you should be able to move around on your own. But I wouldn’t do anything intensive,” he said.
“Okay,” I said, thinking about it. “I have a few questions about what he’s been doing and probably going to do before I can actually do anything. But?—”
“But?” Augustine asked. “Saving him from getting killed because of his recklessness or being arrested isn’t enough for you?”
“Nice try, Mr. Businessman. Just because doing this works for me doesn’t mean I can’t get something out of you because you want this too,” I said with a shrug.
“Lovely, there’s enough opportunism in you to find an opening,” he said, and I couldn’t tell if he was more annoyed by that realization or impressed. “And I imagine the price will not be cheap.”
“I don’t think you’re going to like it, but it’s a good idea to give me what I want. Then you can be assured that I’ll try to stop him in a way that makes you happy.”
