I’m not blind to the fact there are more traitors in this room, I’m certain of at least one other, if not two, I just needed to get the names from Hank. This must be handled fragilely from here on. While no one stood to defend Hank, I see them eyeing me skeptically, and now we’re all balancing on a scale.
I have to ensure it tips in my favor or it won’t matter what I do or how I handle these threats, because one wrong move and everything I have done up until thispoint will have been for nothing. Do I think they have the power to get rid of me? No. But it’ll make things very difficult in moving this organization in the right direction if the men who hold all my secrets are not on my side of the line.
“As no one will defend you, Hank,” I nod to Killian who closes the final step and grasps Hank, followed by Dean and they drag him away from the table. The chair is knocked over in the process and while Hank has always been a fighter, he doesn’t compare to two of the most lethal men this business has ever seen. “Take him to the cells.”
His bellows echo through the room long after my guys have removed him.
When silence finally falls, I look to each face around the table, “He will not be executed until I have provided further proof of his treason.”
“Hank has been with this organization for nearly thirty years,” One of the men says, “What of those years of loyalty?”
“I don’t give a shit about the years before this,” I tell them, “I will not tolerate betrayal of this organization. And I’ll make it clear now, there are more of you involved in this, I will find out who. This is your one and only chance to step forward and I will make it swift.”
No one moves an inch.
“Death is the only outcome to betraying this organization. Consider yourselves warned.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out, reading the message from Killian advising Hank is readyfor me.
“Be on standby,” I step away from the table, “I expect everyone here within an hour if I call until further notice.”
As I leave, I hear them all start to shuffle around, preparing to leave while Sebastian follows me down to the cells. Somewhere in the house, Olivia is relaxing, having no idea what I’m about to do beneath her feet.
Killian and Dean are standing when we finally enter the cells, seeing Hank already attached to the table and chair. He scowls at me when he sees me arrive, not nearly as bloody as I’d hoped.
“Hello, Hank.” I greet him with a smile.
“They’ll all turn on you for this!” He seethes.
“Will they?” I reply, a little smug, “Because there wasn’t a single person ready to defend you back there.”
“They’re not blind to your uselessness, Malakai. I only did what they were all too fucking scared to do.”
“And what is it you did, Hank?”
He closes his mouth, glowering at me from across the table.
“Tell me, was it you who also dug into Olivia’s past?”
He scoffs, “You won’t get anything from me, boy.”
I glance at Sebastian who heads to one of the locked rooms, pulling out his keys. He inserts it into the lock and opens the door, instant wailing filling the room.
Regina is currently tied to the wall, completely unharmed if not a little put out.
“Regina!” Hank gasps.
“So, here’s how it’s going to go, you’re going to tell me what I need to know, and she’ll remain unharmed for the duration.”
“You’ll torture a woman!?” Hank seethes.
“Please,” I scoff, “As if you have any respect for the fairer sex.”
“That’s my daughter!”
“Why did you dig into Olivia’s past?” I ask.
“He didn’t!” Regina interrupts with a hiccup, tears on her face, “I did!”
