“Dead!”
His smile spreads across his face, his eyes creasing as he starts to chuckle. “And you thought you’d play at being in charge? Ahh, honey, that’s cute. But in the real world, you’re more likely to just get fucked.” He shrugs. “I mean, you’re pretty. I bet you have a tight cunt.”
He leans in and takes a sniff, smelling me as his eyes flutter closed. “You smell ripe for the taking. Why don’t you step into my office, and we can… work something out?” He licks his lips, his neck flushes at his dirty thoughts.
I nod to Matteo and Luca to stay there, and I step towards the lech. He side-steps to let me inside and clicks the door closed behind him. I walk straight to the back of the room and spin around, glaring at him. He backs against the door, and I hear the telltale click of the door locking as he grins a predatory grin.
“Well, well, well,” he singsongs, “looks like you’ve got yourself a little out of your depth.” He winks at me. His gaze flicks over every feature of my face, every curve of my body.
I chuckle. “Are you simple? You don’t seem to realise how dire a situation you’re in, honey.” I spit at him.
He takes a step forward and licks his lips again. “Why don’t you walk that tight ass over here? Let me break you in. Show you what a real man is like. I can’t promise I’ll be gentle,” he sneers at me.
I smile and slide my hand up over my breast. “Is this what you want?” I undo a button so he can see my bra, and his eyes flash with need. I slip my other hand into the backof my trousers while he’s distracted, wrapping my hand around my gun. I keep stroking over the mounds of my cleavage, as he loses control, he lunges for me.
I shoot him in the kneecap. He screams out as he crumples to the floor, and I climb up over his writhing body, reaching for the syringe in my pocket. I plunge it into his neck. He gasps and tries to struggle. It’s not long until his body stops moving. His eyes widen a fraction, and I smile down at him. His body goes limp beneath mine. I slip the gun back into my waistband. I reach down and remove my knife from the holster on my thigh. I sit back, straddling him on the skanky floor. I press the tip of the knife against my finger, twisting it around. I lean down and grin at him.
“You will show me the respect I deserve.” I press the knife into the corner of his mouth and drag it up over his cheek. He tries to scream out—but nothing. He’s numb, limp and paralysed. For now, anyway.
Failing miserably, he tries to buck me off. I can see it in his eyes, but nothing, and I laugh as I pull the blade in line with his eye. “Go on, move if you can,” I chuckle. I dig the tip of his knife into his eyebrow and drag it down to his cheek, but he stays still, his eyes telling me inside he’s thrashing. Externally, he’s just a pile of limp meat. I dig in again, dragging in the opposite direction over the same eye.
“Don’t mistake me for weak. I am not my father. You will bow down or die. Consider this your performance review. For your information, you have failed. I rescind your position within my organisation. Choose your next move wisely.” I climb off him. There’s a dribble of drool leaking down his cheek and tears running from his eyes. I shoot him in the thigh.
“I’ll see myself out. Make sure you let everyone know there’s a new boss, and I mean business; either you all play by my rules, or their fate will be more severe than what you’ve received today. Do I make myself clear? I’ll take your silence as a yes.”
I step over him and unlock the door. I step out. I turn and glare down at him. “That’s your one mistake. Disrespect me again, and you’ll pay with your life.”
As I stalk through the office, I can see that Matteo and Luca have the muscle, and the receptionist at gunpoint. I pay them no mind. I stroll out into the fresh air and reach up for my sunglasses. “Motherfucker,” I spit out, realising they must have fallen off my head. I sigh, not being arsed to fetch them. I’ll just have to get a new pair.
Luca passes me and opens the door. I climb up into the vehicle, and Matteo climbs in beside me. As I clip in the seatbelt, I look down to see another blouse ruined with blood. Time to rethink the wardrobe.
Arianna
Chapter Six
It’s been a few days since I had my meeting with Larry. He’s still in the hospital, but I’ve been to see him and confirmed my stance on the whole organisation. I informed him that his position is now in limbo, and he’s been demoted. If he wants to succeed in the new regime, he will have to work his way up. I won’t be disrespected again, so he either puts in the work or disappears. Failing that, I’ll disappear him. The scars will stand as a reminder of my intolerance of him and anyone else who’s unsure of my stance.
I’ve been looking through Father’s papers and researching all those he did business with. I’ll give my father his dues; he'd carried out thorough background checks on every employee. The trouble is, he really didn’t pay attention to the information that was collated, or the contact employees tried to impress on him. He’s ignored many attempts from an ambitious ex-military man, Deano, and he has his own small team working under him, mainly used for smaller collections and protection. But their expertise is wasted on these jobs. I’ve seen thenumbers. I’ve tracked his work ethic, and Father was a moron to sideline him.
As I walk out to the car, Matteo and Luca are already waiting for me. Luca gives me a quick nod as he opens the driver’s door and settles in the seat, while Matteo’s gaze holds me in its grasp as he opens the door for me. I slip into the backseat with my folder in hand, nodding to them both before Matteo climbs in and we head out. I absentmindedly flick through the pages in my folder, eyeing every detail again. I’ve read through his file, and the men who work for him.
They’re highly decorated ex-military men who the system has failed; after their extensive tours, they’ve been either medically or dishonourably discharged. The system tossed them back into society with no support or rehabilitation. Left to do menial minimum wage jobs, because how does a sniper or a SEAL fit into civilian life and still pay the bills?
This is where Father dropped the ball. These men are highly skilled, dangerous and efficient. He should have seen their potential and created space for them to grow, to cultivate and expand their team. With Deano’s connections to other men getting out of the service with no hope or future, it should be a no-brainer; our work is a perfect fit for them to excel.
Pulling up outside the office, I take time to look around. The outside is tidy. The pavement is clear and swept. The lettering on the frontage is plain and simple, but tidy. The window is clean and the view inside it neat. This is a far smaller office space than Larry’s, but already such a stark contrast.
I climb out of the vehicle and make my way to the door. Luca and Matteo are at my back. I push open the door, and the buzzer rings. Two built men sitting at desks on either side of the room, one leaning back in his chair with a toothpick in his mouth and boots kicked up on the desk, lazily scanning through some photos. The other leans forward, flicking through paperwork as they assess me as I enter. I notice the way they remain relaxed, giving off an air of nonchalance, while I already know they know how many weapons me and the guys have. And if we’re deemed a threat.
I smile and nod at each of them. There’s no receptionist, just these two, so I flick my attention between them. “Good morning, gentlemen. I’m here to see Deano.”
“Deano,” one of them yells. “Visitor.”
The office door clicks open, and Deano steps into the frame. He’s tall, filling the entire frame with his body. Blond hair, pale skin, with a tight black tee and jeans stuffed into desert boots. His arms are thick and tattooed as he glares at me for a second before crossing them across his chest.
“Can I help you?” His gravelly voice bites out into the silence of the room.
I step forward, leaving Matteo and Luca at the door. I stride towards him. As I get closer, I reach out my hand. “I believe we can help each other.”
