“A man like me doesn’t have loyalties.” I spin the lighter across my knuckles. “I want power. That means The Association. Word on the street, your family’s losing its grip. The others in The Six aren’t happy with you.”
Edon’s eyes flash with anger, but it disappears in an instant.
The old, sly fox.
Smirking, I lean close. “The Association doesn’t like weakness. You’re the newest family. I could only imagine what they’d do to you. You need me on your side. What happened with the Andersons? Just appetizers. Inconsequential. Now imagine what I could do if I were your enemy.”
The men shift, the atmosphere hostile in an instant.
Dritan unbuttons his jacket, flashing me the gun at his waist. A warning.
“Easy,” his father murmurs and looks at me with renewed interest. “You’ve got nerve. Walking in here with no backup and only threats.”
“A man like me always has backup. And I’m worth more to you alive than dead.”
I reach into my suit pocket.
Dritan and Ilir both draw their weapons. Two gun barrels point at my face.
“Relax. I didn’t come here without gifts.” I smile despite my pulse quickening.
Negotiation is a game of chicken. Let’s see who blinks first.
I pull out a white envelope and slide it over the desk. “A belated birthday present, Mr. Berisha.”
Amusement glitters in the old man’s eyes as he examines the documents inside. His gaze snaps to mine. “How did you get this?”
“I won’t bore you with the details. You want that land on the north side, but it’s an Irish stronghold. Here’s the deed with your name on it. I even threw in a port for free. Will come in handy with all your personnel…relocations.”
Human trafficking. The fucking bastards.
Edon hums under his breath and hands the document to Ilir, who slowly lowers his weapon. As the chief legal officer, he brokers the most brutal deals, leaving his opponents with pennies to their names, if they’re lucky.
Strange disappearances are more apt.
Ilir scans the pages, a frown creasing his forehead. He hands them back to his father.
“It’s legit. No loopholes.”
“It’s a gift. No strings attached. Meaningless to me but everything to you.” The phone buzzes in my pocket, warning me I’ve been here for twenty minutes.
Most deals are made within the first half hour. After that, I lose the advantage.
Time to move things along.
“Imagine what I could doonlyfor your family. If I were part of The Association, that is.” I knock my lighter on his desk.
Once. Twice. Three times.
The words are unspoken, but from the sharpness in his gaze, he knows what I’m offering. Having my black book of secrets on his side will give him unprecedented power even within The Six.
“And Agron,” I glance at the oldest son, who’s scrutinizing me like a pest under his shoe, “sweep your car more often. Trackers stick. Unless you want your wife to know you’re fucking her brother. Not to mention all the bad press you’re generating for The Association.”
Agron’s jaw tics. “Y-You assho—”
“Turp! Mbylle gojën!”Edon slams his fists down.
Disgrace. Shut up.
