“You mean, do I have a digital copy somewhere?” I taunt.
He could attack me, take the notebook…
Or…
Taking the lighter off the table in front of one of his guys, I flick it and hold it up, letting the flame catch on the corner of the book.
In a moment, it goes up in flames, and I drop it into a waste bin, the glow rising up the sides.
“That was stupid,” Hugo remarks.
But I shrug. “I think some of the men around you wouldn’t agree because they know you would’ve taken it and used it to control them.”
I wait for anyone to refute me, argue, pronounce their loyalty to Hugo… But the room stays silent.
“I’m not kicking you out,” I tell him. “I’m giving Green Street to Farrow.” I stop addressing their boss as I order the men instead. “If he leaves right now.”
And I point to Hugo.
He shoots up from his seat. “Fuck you.”
The real questions come now. Do they like the idea of Farrow more than Hugo? If they know who Farrow’s father is, that could work very much in our favor.
“Take him out back,” Hugo barks. “Put him in the car.”
No one moves.
“I said put him in the car!”
I wait for one of his men to seize me. One of them will. Someone will be too scared to disobey.
But before anyone rises, a woman on my far right, and another seated next to one of the guys…moves to Farrow.
Hugo looks back and forth before one by one, all of his guys continue to stay in their seats, ignoring his orders.
Farrow lowers his eyes, but I see the smile because whoever controls the women controls Weston. Hugo was right about that.
I don’t want him to die. I just hope he has the wisdom to know when to cut his losses.
A knock hits the open door behind me, and a kid walks in. “Package at the door.”
He holds up a large manila envelope.
“Who left it?” Hugo demands.
“Didn’t recognize him.” The kid stands next to me.
“Open it.”
The kid, maybe fifteen, rips open the envelope. He pulls out a piece of paper and reads silently, his face falling before he stammers out the words:
“To…to Weston,
Do what Lucas Morrow says, and the contents of the locker is yours.
He has the combination.
-Manas Doran.”
