“They’ve negotiated a deal out of Sydney. We ended up having to increase our commission to keep the same supplier, or they’d have got the principal routes out of Asia, too.”
“What your lot does up north is nothing to do with me.”
“Except we’ve been stable for years until your slipup put everything back on the negotiating table.” I turn away from him, reaching for calm like it’s a suit I can slip over my naked anger. Once I’m in control again, I spin back to face him. “Your business is your business until it becomes ours.”
“Ours. Like you’d even have a business if it wasn’t for me.”
“If you’re claiming my success as your own, you really are delusional.”
“Who introduced you to the syndicate in the first place? Me.”
“No, you didn’t. I worked for Oskar out of high school until I rose high enough to stake my claim. None of it was down to you.”
“My name opened those doors.”
“Your name means nothing. It’s an anchor around my neck.” I pull out the papers and spread them across the table. “These give you a guaranteed take. We’ll put Johnson’s team in charge until the blood caste territory is sorted. Retire. Keep working. It doesn’t matter. This will ensure enough money to keep the family intact and that’s the only legacy you can hope to pass onto them.”
The thought that my money—mine—will go to support Gabriel, a snitch who never raised a hand to work in his life, makes my blood boil but I can’t leave Azalea to fend for herself. God knows she’s put up with a lot over the years. The least she deserves is a carefree retirement. If such a thing is even possible with Thaddius still alive.
He's turned puce during our discussion and with his back to the documents he can’t even know what they say, let alone sign.
I should’ve waited until he was three sheets to the wind and told him it was an order for a crate of booze. That’d get a signature.
If I don’t succeed today, I can always come back and try the trick tomorrow or next week. If the stench of alcohol wafting out of his pores is anything to go by, he won’t remember a damn thing.
“What do you know about the relationship between Crimson and her father?”
If the change in tack surprises my dad, he takes it in his stride. “What in particular?”
“Were there ever any signs of abuse? Broken bones. Stuff like that.”
Thaddius flaps his hand at me again. “Nothing like that. He’s always doted on her. From the moment she was born, he thought the sun shone out of her arse.”
The words are spoken with disdain as though a man loving his kid was pathetic. A weakness. I slot the information into the mental filing cabinet alongside Crimson’s heated denials.
His lips slide into a smirk. “She giving you grief already?”
“No.” I turn my attention back to him, ready for round two, but he shoves the papers towards me, signature sprawled where I need it.
When I raise my eyebrows, he shrugs. “It’s about time Gabriel came on board, anyway. He can take over and I’ll retire since nobody can wait for me to leave of my own accord.”
I fold the papers and tuck them into my inner pocket. It feels like a trick but if it is, I can’t guess the punchline. “Has Gabe spent any time in the field?”
“No. Azalea’s dead set against it, but the boy’s been champing at the bit and school isn’t doing him a damn bit of good. Might as well get a taste and see if he can make something of himself.”
I nod as though that makes sense, knowing that if my stepmother isn’t behind the change, it won’t happen.
“Where is Gabe, anyway? I should probably have a word.”
My dad snorts. “Bit late for that. The time for talking was before you stole his girl out from under him.”
I leave the room in search of my kid brother, not paying any more attention to Thaddius than I ever have. In the kitchen, I give Azalea a hug and lean back against the counter. Watching her cook is like watching a maestro conduct the orchestra, everything in perfect harmony.
“It’s done?”
The worry lines on her face have long since set and age only serves to deepen them. I nod, pleased that she’s relieved at the news. “Is Gabe about?”
Her face tightens. “If you hurry, you’ll catch him. I think a friend texted him to come out.”
