Tears streaming down his face, Jadon nods and rubs his discolored throat as he’s carted out of my office.
I handled that well. I didn’t kill a civilian, which issomething Carter keeps telling me not to do. Threatening him wasn’t the worst I could have done.
After Jadon is escorted out, Austin and Donny return, standing around my office like statues. Maybe they’re not so bad. They’re loyal to the family and follow my orders. Even Austin, who has more reason than anyone else not to. I’ll keep an eye on him, but I think these two can take the place of Hendrix, at least in their duties.
No one will ever get close to me like Hen did. I won’t allow it. No one will have my heart like my best friend. I don’t think I’ll make it if I lost anyone else.
Tired of seeing faces of people I only kinda trust, I say, “Wait outside for me. I’ll be ready to leave as soon as I finish his fucking exit interview.”
They nod and take their leave.
I rarely do this kind of work, but after the fuck up my HR did with hiring Jadon without checking his fucking background, I don’t trust them to remove him from the system.
After I’m done, I log off my computer, check my gun to make sure my clip is full, then leave the office, Austin and Donny flanking me as we step into the elevator.
When we get to the garage, I take two steps toward my car, then I freeze. On my windshield, underneath my wiper, is an envelope. Not many people have access to this garage and only certain people know what kind of car I drive on any given day.
“Fan out,” I tell my guards, pulling my gun from its holster. “Look for someone that doesn’t belong.”
They do what I ask without question, moving in two different directions. I cautiously walk to my car, looking around to make sure no one jumps out at me. I look up at the camera in the corner and see a bullet hole through the lens.
What the fuck?
When I get to my car, I snatch the envelope from thewindshield and open it quickly. The message contains another threat.
YOUR TIME IS RUNNING OUT.
FIVE MILLION DOLLARS OR YOU’RE FUCKING DEAD.
YOU HAVE FOURTEEN DAYS.
I ball the paper up,anger coursing through me. Who the fuck was in my garage and who thefuckis threatening me?
“What is it, boss?” Donny asks, first checking around my car, then under it.
I almost show him the letter, almost hand it over so he can take a look, and we can come up with a game plan. But I don’t trust him. If I have to trust anyone, it’s Nico because he’s helping me figure this shit out.
Fucking Jadon snuck his bitch ass down here to leave a letter on my car? After I fuckingtoldhim what I’d do to him if he fucked with me?
No matter, I’ll handle him. He’ll fucking die for his threats.
“Nothing,” I answer Donny. “Just a thank you note, that’s all.”
I tamp down my anger as I get in my car and head to the address coordinates Carter sent me. He and Kai want to meet about their new casino, so Nico will be there as well. I’ll have to get him alone so I can show him this bullshit.
As I drive, my anger mounts more and more. Jadon picked the wrong motherfucker to blackmail. I won’t fucking rest until he’s in the ground for even thinking he could squeeze money out of me.
What I haven’t figured out is hiswhy.As the supervisor ofthe cash cages, he got paid more than anyone else and it was well above minimum wage, along with all kinds of insurance and bonuses and shit. Since he’s not affiliated with the St. Clairs or Whitlocks, I haven’t tortured or killed any of his family, not even by mistake. His gambling problem was on him, so I can’t put a finger on what he wants me to pay for.
I’ll ask him before I cut his fucking head off.
My temper is flaring by the time we pull up to the grounds where the new casino will be built. Kai, Carter, Gavin, Nico, and Percy are standing around, talking, and pointing at different areas of the site. Well, everyone else is pointing. Percy is taking vigorous notes and peeking at Gavin with a blush on his face.
What is his fucking deal? From what I overheard Kai saying, Percy’s father was Charlie’s right-hand man. How could someone like that have a son that’s a fucking mess of a person? Every time I see Percy, I’m reminded of a nerd that wants to get in with jocks but is too shy to open his mouth.
Carter spots me and waves me over. My shadows flank me, but I tell them to hang back. While I’m considering them to stay on full time, I don’t want them in my business.
When I step up to them, Carter asks, “How did the firing go?”
