My brother chuckled and set his elbows on his knees, his blue eyes the same color as mine as he looked over at me. “You got the Irish and Paolo’s cartel pissed at our syndicate, Jameson. You think they wouldn’t pay to sway the public?”
“The Irish are dead men walking after what happened atFranny’s school. Those were his men. You and I both know it.” Every one of the guys in that room knew that if I’d decided their fate, it was already done. I had names on lists now, phones tapped, routes traced, and deals made. “And I’m considering Paolo’s involvement—”
“Agreed on O’Connor and his men. The world will be better for it too,” Cal started, but then pissed me off by saying, “Why not meet with Paolo though? Even if it’s quiet and unofficial.”
“For what, exactly?” I asked, looking over a paper on my desk and trying to appear unbothered. I knew Paolo’s cartel was crumbling. They’d misstepped and made one too many wrong moves over the years. Begging for our help or leniency under the guise of diplomacy wasn’t something I had time to listen to right now. They needed us more than we needed them.
“The senator was close with Paolo’s father. It’s a courtesy and smart business to hear him out. He’s saying he wasn’t involved.”
Cal might have cared about courtesy, but I didn’t give a fuck. “Paolo canwaitwhile I decide how involved he may or may not be.” They knew I meant it, as my tone was as razor sharp as a blade now, ruthless and unforgiving. “Plus, I’m not leaving Franny right now to pacify his ass … or the mayor’s.”
Cal sucked on his teeth, holding my gaze. My brother ventured to the East Coast more, had stronger ties there, and stronger feelings about it than I did. “Fine. I get it,” he conceded, only for now. He had as much fight in him as I did. “We’ll adjust schedules. I’m just keeping up appearances. You know as well as I do it’s good to keep a senator happy, bro.”
“Which is why we buried that little mess he had with the union funds last year and ran cleanup for the ‘accident’ he had with his deputy.”
“If anything, Senator Panwell can keep up appearances by making sure the mess we’re making over this academy shooting isn’t in the headlines,” Archer grumbled.
“Wouldn’t be a problem if you hadn’t killed half the town in front of the teacher and then kept her alive to tell the story.” Cal jabbed at my men like they were novices. Archer was highly trained and one of my best. Couldn’t speak for my other hire, Xavier, who had almost got his head blown off after I saw him pull his gun on Mia, but he’d been reprimanded.
“Would you shut up, Cal?” Archer rolled his eyes and then threw back more whiskey.
“Yeah? Why? He can’t really let her go back home like nothing happened now. You’ve made a mess—”
“It doesn’t matter.” I summarized, “Franny confides in her. Likes her.”
“Exactly. No one’s touching Mia,” Archer ground out before his gaze hit me hard and mean. “Right, Knight? Because she would still be teaching at some regular old school had you not hired an inexperienced random girl who you then proceeded to manhandle.”
“Manhandle?” My brother’s dark eyebrow raised with interest.
Archer was quick with his response because his ass wanted the heat off himself. “Jameson choked her.”
My brother whistled like I’d stabbed her when she was fine. I pulled at the collar of my shirt. “Hardly choking. She was wasting time I didn’t have. Quite frankly, she’s a waste of time now, too, other than the fact that Franny is comfortable with her.”
Franny even thanked me and told me I was a good dad on the way out of Mia’s room. She didn’t see that I locked her teacher in there and told her to keep quiet or else.
“Franny’s comfortable with Ma and Valerie.”
“Is she? When’s the last time she asked you to play a game?” I pinned him with a look. “We had lunch last week with Ma, and what did they discuss?”
“I don’t know. They chat about nothing for hours.”
“Ma talks. Franny listens. With her teacher, shelearns.” I took a breath before I admitted the rest. “She also told Mia she saw the bodies at her school. She didn’t tell Val that.”
“Shit,” Cal swore, and Hades whistled low.
“I took Ms. Darling’s phone. She doesn’t have much family. And I’ve informed her of what will happen if she leaves. So, let’s accept that Franny needs her friendly face and move the fuck on.”
My brother hated complications. “I’m friendly,” he replied gruffly as he cracked his tattooed knuckles. “And so are you. Why can’t she confide in us?”
Hades, Archer, and I had dumped more bodies in the last twenty-four hours than I cared to count.
“Your face has never screamed friendly, dumbass.” I dropped into my leather chaise to contemplate our next move. “The school have evidence for us, Archer?”
“What evidence do we need?” Hades answered for him, now looking at his phone, only giving us half his attention. “O’Connor’s leading the charge. Those were his men and we know why, that’s obvious—”
I hummed to cut him off. “You don’t attempt to kidnap my child over a few legislative quarrels. There’s more to it than that. The East Coast is most likely coming together against us.” Hades tried to argue, but I held up my hand. “I don’t give a fuck who is. All of it will come to light in the end. We start with O’Connor. He’s going to pay the ultimate price with his fucking life.”
“You think Paolo’s involved too?” Hades said what we were all thinking.
