“This asshole has been compiling information on certain families, including ours. We don’t know what he intends, but he is targeting heirs. The board is sufficiently worried, and I was told Arlo had to be initiated and trained.”
Shit must be real if the board is making those kinds of demands because granting kids free will and decision-making powers is a big part of their mantra. They would only dictate Dad do this if they genuinely believed Arlo’s life was at risk. In light of this information, I can’t fight to keep him out anymore. He needs to understand what is going on, what he’s up against, and to have the requisite skill set to defend himself. Arlo is proficient with a gun, and he attended Krav Maga classes for several years, so he isn’t completely vulnerable. But the kind of skills and cunning he needs to operate in our world is lacking, and he’s going to require intense training to catch up.
“I want to help. I can train him.”
“You live in Boston.” Dad’s lips tease at the corners as he lifts the glass to his mouth.
“I can work remotely from Lowell,” I say, mentally rearranging projects as my mind churns. “I hired and trained junior consultants for this very reason.” I had to have backups because Dad often calls me out on missions at short notice, and I didn’t want my business to fall apart because I was MIA for days or weeks at a time. I’m glad I invested time and money in my small team, so they can hold the reins while I get my brother up to speed.
“You’re needed in Boston. That’s where the mark is.” He lifts the file and slaps it onto my lap. “Everything you need to know is in there, either printed or on the digital key.”
I flip open the folder, staring at the familiar face staring back at me from the profile page. Drew Manning is a handsome psychopath with his messy, dyed dirty-blond hair, calculating, sultry brown eyes, high cheekbones, sharp jawline dusted with dark hair, and full lips I’m certain are expert in delivering pleasure.
“You’ve got to be shitting me, Dad.” My eyes lift to his. “Manning isn’t your run-of-the-mill asshole elite bastard. There is still talk of what he did to that MC when he was only fifteen. He’s the monster you warn kids about, and he should not be underestimated.”
Dad’s brows climb to his receding hairline. “You know him?”
I scoff. “Not personally, but did you really expect me to move to the East Coast and not investigate any potential threats in the area? I know all the criminal entities operating in New York and Boston. The elite were top of my list.”
An almost proud smile crests over his face. “It’s such a pity you weren’t born a boy.”
“I’m not even going to dignify that bullshit with a reply.”
“It’s a compliment, Athena.”
“It’s a fucking insult! The fact I’m a woman shouldn’t make any damn difference!”
“It’s the way of our world, and you should be grateful for the opportunities I’ve given you. Most women are married off and under their husband’s thumb by your age.”
I suppose I can be grateful for that small mercy. Though I’m sure my father will turn his thoughts to that now he’s bringing Arlo into the fold. If Amos thinks he’s going to force me into marriage with some sap, purely to strengthen ties, or for traditional reasons, like most of the arranged marriages in our society, he can think again. I don’t want to get into it now though. This bomb he’s just dropped in my lap requires my sole attention.
“Drew Manning is not just any mark, Dad. He’s a cold-blooded killer with sharp instincts. How do you expect me to get close to a man like that without him getting suspicious?”
“You’re presenting a proposal to him at Manning Motors on Tuesday. They’re rebranding, and your company is the perfect fit for the project.”
“I can’t prepare a professional proposal in three days! I don’t even have the brief!”
“It’s all on the key, and you don’t need to worry about it. My contact has already prepared the perfect proposal. Just tweak it a little, and show up looking sexy and confident, and you’ll have him eating out of your hand.” He scrutinizes my hair with narrowed eyes. “You’ll need to dye your hair.”
“What?” He’s never made any such demands of me in the past. If the mission is to seduce some target, he’s always left it up to me. I am particularly skilled in that area.
“He doesn’t date blondes.”
“He doesn’t date, period.” Drew rocks up to corporate and social events with a different woman on his arm every time. He’s never photographed with the same woman twice, and he’s never been known to have a girlfriend.
“I was trying to be polite. He won’t fuck you if you’re a blonde, so dye your hair.”
Dad can get fucked. I’m not dying my hair. I’ve traded enough of my soul to do his bidding.
He doesn’t get my hair.
“This won’t be an easy task, and it’s going to take time.”
“I’m aware, but don’t take too long. Remember your brother is a target. Right now, we don’t know why. You are doing this to protect Arlo and our way of life. Don’t fall for anything that manipulative bastard might say. He’s the enemy, and he needs to be taken down.”
“I don’t need reminding. I’ll riddle his hot body with bullets before he has a chance to get anywhere near, Arlo. That is a guarantee.”
ChapterFive
