“I recommend you check Salem. It’s easy to hide in plain sight.” I huff, completing my end of the bargain. The man strokes his beard, contemplating, as I reach into my purse, I pull out a wad of cash and drop it on the counter. “I’ll take the vial. And your discretion.”
“At this price, you can have the whole building if you wantit.” He gives me a wink as he runs his fingers through the money, and I tuck the vial away into my pocket and head toward the exit. My hand is on the doorknob when the old man sends me his final parting words,
“A word of caution, my dear? Better to believe your own truth than that of others. It makes the killing all the easier.”
12
DECLAN
“For fuck’s sake, you’re not hearing me!” My uncle slams a fist on the table. In his defense, he is right. He’d been throwing a tantrum for the past fifteen minutes, and I had consciously decided to daydream when he stormed my office.
My mind first went through a dozen different scenarios in which we could track down whoever had been stealing from us and the Persian Empire. Unfortunately for me and my uncle, the second the Persians came to mind, all I could think about was Zahra. Her plump lips that matched the softness of her curves and thick thighs. The brutal and cunning way she approached every challenge that came her way. How I had craved being closer to her ever since we met in the gardens. Our last encounter was a few days ago, yet it felt like I hadn’t seen her in years. Jesus. What the hell is wrong with me? My father’s murder is still out there, I have a rat in my ranks, and my uncle is currently beet red, yelling at me so loud the room is shaking, and all I can think about is…a girl? Except she isn’t just a girl. She’s somuch more.
“May I remind you that I am yoursecond. And beyond that, your father gave me additional powers to exert over you. If you continue to exclude me in discussions about the well-being of our mafia?—”
“Of our mafia?” I seethe, standing out of my seat and leaning forward. “I don’t think so, Uncle. This is my mafia. My men and women. My soldiers, engineers, and doctors. My legacy. Don’t forget that for a second.” I know I shouldn’t poke the bear, but his attitude and insistence on treating me like a child is pissing me off.
“Yourmafia, that is currently being bankrolled by funds thatIhave absolute power over. Or did you forget?” My uncle flashes his teeth in a harsh sneer. “Keep pushing me, Declan, and I’ll cut off your silly little gun supply in the blink of an eye.”
What a weak bluff. “Cut off a major income supply? Sure, be my guest.”
“Don’t worry. I have other plans for replenishing the gap in funds.”
My mind immediately goes to the drug trade my uncle used to head for our mafia before my father asked him to end all ties with the drug lords. I debate reaching for the gun tucked in the waistband of my pants. A bullet is all it would take to rid myself of the pest that was my uncle. As tempting as the idea is, I can't do it. I can’t bring myself to kill the small amount of family I have left. “You wouldn’t dare.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Neither you nor the counsel will be able to do anything about it. Your father’s will is as it stands, and no one would dare go against his wishes.”
Rage ignites in my veins. He’s right. My inner circle respected me, but they were first and foremost my father’s men. They would want to keep his memory alive as best they could. Even if that memory included a ridiculous clause in hiswill that my uncle would maintain power over mafia finances and remain my second, until I got married. I loved my father, but if he were alive now, I’d probably shake him. Why he thought including a marriage clause of all things was a smart move, I’ll never know. Probably because he was such a hopeless romantic when it came to my mom, and he wanted me to find the same. If only it was that easy. Now I have another problem to solve on top of the pile already on my plate. I need a fucking break.
“Fine,” I bite. “The inner circle and I are meeting next week, Monday. At three pm. I’ll be sure to save you a seat there.”
“And also ensure that I won’t be left out of any future meetings,” he presses.
I give him a small nod, unable to form words due to my anger.
“Excellent. See lad, that wasn’t so hard now, was it?” My uncle taps his fingers on my desk, using his cane to give him balance as he stands and exits my office.
Sitting down, I roughly drag my hands down my face. What a fucking nightmare. The last thing I need is my uncle questioning every decision I make in front of men whose respect I’m trying to gain. And I have no doubt my uncle would be on his absolute worst behavior in all our future meetings.
“Really a charmer that guy is,” Aidan says, cutting the tension and startling me as he walks into the office.
“I am so fucked,” I groan, leaning my forehead against the cold wood of my desk.
“You don’t think he was serious about the drug trade, do you?” Aidan whispers.
I lift my head and see the faint hint of shine in his eyes. Aidan lost his best friends to an overdose a few years back. It had taken a massive toll on him since, understandably so. Ourdad had pulled out of the drug trade immediately after that loss, refusing to cause more pain to his son.
“Honestly, I don’t know. You know how pissed Uncle was when Dad pulled the plug on that whole operation. Didn’t help that most of the connections we used were his, either. Uncle severed many relationships on our father’s command. Wouldn’t be surprised if he was now looking for his due.”
Aidan starts to visibly shake. “Dammit. We have to do something. We can’t let him do this. We can’t, Declan!”
“I know. I know. I promise you, I will do everything in my power to stop this.” And I mean it. I had been the one to continue to piss off my uncle, pushing him so far that he now feels the need to lash out. I’m the boss. And so this responsibility fell on my shoulders. “The charity gala is this weekend, right?”
Aidan cocks his head. “Yeah, why?”
“I need to ensure I have meetings with whoever is eligible and willing to be at my side for the foreseeable future.” My skin crawls as the words leave my mouth.
Evidently, I’m not clear enough because the confusion on Aidan’s face deepens. “Be at your side? Like a new bodyguard?”
