Something that’s easier to accept once he leaves the room.
* * *
MICAH
I find Ciprian at the base of the main stairwell, talking with a group of three men who are obviously sucking up to him. Conscious there’s a time crunch, I ask without preamble, “Can I have a quick word?”
His head’s halfway through a shake when I add, “It’s an urgent matter regarding your daughter.”
The fierce glare I send to the surrounding men sees them make their excuses, and Ciprian gives a lengthy sigh, then leads me to a small office that looks more suited to life as a broom closet.
“What’s this about?” he asks, face strained with impatience as he closes the door.
I swallow and force my hands to unclench. “Your daughter told me that you’ve accepted an offer of marriage from my brother.”
Ciprian’s lips twist as he asks, “Who’s that?” He shakes his head. “Sorry, I don’t know who you are.”
Like fuck he’s doesn’t.
His attitude instantly reminds me why I hate the old guard. They’re rude and condescending arseholes to a man.
“Micah Webb,” I say through gritted teeth. “My brother—half-brother—is Gabriel Webb. Considering he’s been cosying up to your daughter for years, I presume you’ve heard of him.” My voice bristles with disdain.
“I’m familiar with Gabriel, yes.”
“And are you familiar with his current standing in our community? More specifically, what he did just six months ago?” There’s no flicker of recognition. “When he couldn’t keep his lips buttoned to save himself,” I further explain.
The man smirks. He actually has the gall to smirk.
I close my eyes, forcing my hand to unclench again. For years, I had this rage under control. Had grown from a volatile teenager to a man who nobody could rattle.
That’s what our line of work demands. Otherwise, we’d forever be in all-out war.
Since my arrest, it’s been a constant battle. The thin veneer of civility not enough to stop the raging beast inside me from forcing his way to the front.
“I heard you two were on the outs,” Ciprian says with a snide tone.
I wonder if he’s had men kowtowing to him for so long that he’s forgotten how to talk to an equal. Men suck up to me, too. I just have the foresight not to let them lodge their nostrils in my anus.
He continues, “Thaddius mentioned something the last time we met but that was a while ago now.” He pauses for a beat. “Are you down here to clear up your dad’s mess with the eastern suburbs?”
My eyes flick open. “So, you do know who I am?”
He gives a casual shrug, then steps towards the door. “Lovely chatting with you, but I have a party to host so if you—”
I push the door closed. Softly, I think, until I hear the slam.
“You can’t allow your daughter to marry Gabriel. It would be a disastrous union and there’s no way you can have someone that untrustworthy working in your business. It’ll send a message to anyone who’s listening that his behaviour is not only tolerated but rewarded.”
Again, the smirk. “Strangely enough, down here we let men run their outfits the way they want to. We don’t interfere with who they hire. Maybe they don’t deal with things that way up north. Or is it that our younger members still need handholding?”
His tone puts me firmly in that camp and another spurt of rage leaps inside me. “Our younger members?” I sidle closer and point my shaking finger in his face. “It’s the younger members down here that I have a problem with. Do you understand what he did?”
“I understand that if he did what you’re implying, he’d be a dead man. Since he’s not…” Another lazy shrug.
“My benevolence towards my family doesn’t alter his actions.” When the man still doesn’t give an inch, I blurt, “Are you really going to take a snitch under your arm? You can’t be serious.”
“Alleged snitch.”
