"Then just do that," Nathan said, cutting David off.
"Just be ready to head out once I get back," Nathan replied with a smirk.
"Dad, I've got a question. Do you think the triad will target us... I mean our home?" David asked.
"Yeah, like Uncle Colton is already fighting them, and we live in Chicago too. Do you think they'll come for us next?" Cody added.
"It's possible, but that's why we have security here, and I've trained you both to always be prepared. Bottom line is, once we get into the war, we will become their targets," Nathan said.
"If they send anyone here, that will be their mistake," Cody said. He was the more meticulous and guarded of the two, whereas David was more carefree and reckless—something Nathan had to control.
"Cody is right. Remember the rules? Which one pertains to this one?" Nathan asked.
"Never trust anyone," Cody said. "Assassins come in all packages."
Nathan nodded because he trained his sons to look for clues, if there were any, when encountering anyone: teachers, delivery personnel, doctors—anyone. Their being a family of hitmen wasn't well known, but there were people out there who did know, and that's what he wanted to protect his family from.
"We can trust family," David said.
"Never trust anyone," Nathan reiterated.
"So, I can't trust Uncle Colton or Grandma?" David asked sarcastically.
Nathan smirked. "Smart ass. I trust my siblings and mom, but I also don't trust them. Do you get that?"
"Grandma would never hurt us," David said.
Nathan shrugged. "Probably not. But say you fuck up and get the family exposed or in trouble. What do you become then?"
"A liability that needs to be handled. A loose end," Cody replied, his tone serious because, unlike his twin, he knew what his father meant.
"I would never endanger the family," David said.
"Yeah, I once thought that too, until I did it. Don't make the same mistakes I did. Mom saved me, but what if she couldn't negotiate that deal?"
"She would have had to give you over to the Castiellos," Cody said.
"To save the rest of you, yes. We are a tight-knit family, that's true. And we must always look out for each other. But we are also a family of professionals, where one mistake can put us all in jeopardy," Nathan educated his sons.
"I understand, Dad," David said, nodding.
"Okay, we can hold it down here. Go to your meeting," Cody said, grinning as he turned on the television.
"Love you, boys. Stay safe," Nathan said before snatching up his car keys and leaving. All of his vehicles were bulletproof, which cost more than a pretty penny, but were worth every cent. He took his Jeep for this trip and drove to Desires nightclub, where he would be meeting Vito Castiello. He'd never met the man before, only seen photos of him, so he was curious. Upon arrival, he went through the usual security check. The bullets in his gun were removed and the empty gun was returned, but they also kept his knives, which was to be expected. He was a professional assassin meeting a mob underboss. Weapons made killing easier, but he was the only weapon he needed.
Fortunately for Vito, he wasn't the mark. After all of that, he was granted entry into Vito's office and took a quick scan of the room and everyone in it, noting details that could help or hinder him if he needed to fight or escape. The biggest threat was Demir Balik, one of the Castiellos' elite soldiers. The man was a legend in their world, having trained in one of those torture camps since childhood. It was true that both he and Demir learned the art of what they do at a young age; his training was in pure comfort compared to Demir's and those twins who were always withRico, Akane and Akari. Demir was at least his equal; even he was willing to admit that.
Their one encounter was the mistake he was referring to. The favor in exchange for his life that his mother had to grant the Castiellos had been called in. Funny that he'd been the one picked to fulfill it. He wondered if that was part of his mom's many lessons: making him clean up his own mess. The other man he noticed beside Vito was a pretty little thing with long, curly dark brown hair and green eyes. He knew who the man was because they never went in blind to a job: Zindel Esai, Vito's lover and Ze's baby brother.
"Thank you for coming. Please, make yourself comfortable," Vito said, gesturing toward one of the two empty chairs before his desk.
Nathan took a seat, then turned just as the door opened and a large black man entered. Makade-Ma'iingan "Wolf" Sanders, the President of the Lords of Chaos Chicago Chapter. The man was an imposing figure, to say the least, and he walked over to Demir, and the two men kissed before Wolf, as he was called, slapped Demir's ass, then took the other seat beside Nathan without waiting for the invitation the way he had. Nathan looked at Vito, but the man didn't seem to mind. Nathan figured the mafia and the club were growing closer during all of this, but he also knew that there was a line neither one of those groups would allow the other to cross.
"I'll get right to the point," Vito said. "I'm sure, with your resources, that you know who everyone present is?" he asked Nathan.
"I do, but I'm wondering why your lover is joining this conversation. To my knowledge, he's not one of your men?" Nathan asked. He didn't like anyone not in the business to be privy to his business, least of all a boytoy.
"I'm more than just Vito's 'lover.' I'm also your brother's husband's brother and your brother's brother-in-law," Zindel fussed in his sassy manner.
