“For fuck’s sake, I’m yourson.” There’s still so much confidence in his voice. “You’re not going to kill me.”
“There are so many things that can happen to you worse than death,” I inform him. “Maybe it’s my fault that I didn’t show you more of this side of the business.”
“You haven’t shown meshit,” Elliott spits out.
“That’s the thing. If you want to be a part of the business, you fucking earn it. You don’t strut all overmy fucking cityand put the family in danger. You donotmake it seem like the Kings of Vegas are weak. I will protect my organization, my brothers, and my fucking livelihood at all costs, even if that means disinheriting and punishing my own son. You’re not an exception, Elliott.”
I slash a short line down his outer thigh, just enough to hurt like fuck, but not make him bleed out, and listen to him scream in pain.
Carson grins.
Crazy fucker.
“You’ll never be the next in line, Elliott. Jack will take over if anything happens to me.”
“It’smine,” Elliott hisses, and I take the knife to his arm this time. Just a small two inch cut, but the blood beads up and runs down into his armpit and over his ribs.
“Your behavior makes me look weak to my enemies, and you’ve tested my patience for the last fucking time.” I toss the knife aside, take off my suit coat and roll my sleeves. “You’ve hurt Natasha after I gave you the order to leave her alone.”
Elliott snarls, and I turn and land a punch in his gut, sending him swinging on the chains.
“I GAVE YOU A FUCKING ORDER!”
I hit him again and again, seeing Natasha, so perfect and scared, and I throw punches until my hands are sore and my arms sing from the exertion. Until his face is swollen and he’s sweaty, and Mateo grabs my arm.
“No killing him,” he reminds me.
“Stop,” Elliott wheezes out through his swollen jaw. “Please.”
“Take him to the cell in my building,” I instruct Jack, who nods once, always so stoic. But I can see the anger and disappointment in his eyes as he stares at my son. Jack was there the day Elliott was born. He’s known him all his life. “He’ll stay there for at least a week. One meal a day.”
“No,” Elliott says.
“Yes.” I stand eye to eye with him. “You’re going to learn thatI’mthe one in control, Elliott. I’m the only one with the power, and I’m a scary motherfucker. Eventually, you’ll yield to me. I’ll see you in a week.”
With that, I turn and grab my coat and follow the others out of the room.
“I need some whiskey,” I mutter to Rome.
“I’ve got you,” he says. “What about your alliance with Ivanov? Isn’t Elliott supposed to marry the Bratva daughter in three days?”
Two days now.
“Leave that to me.”
“I have to go hunt a guy down,” Carson says. “Call me if you need me.”
“Thanks for coming. Sorry I did all the work myself.”
Carson grins. “I wouldn’t have missed it. Elliott’s needed a beating for a while.”
“Everyone thinks my kid’s an asshole. Good to know.”
Mateo claps his hand on my shoulder. “Elliottisan asshole. I have to go too.”
He leaves right behind Carson, and Rome and I get into the elevator and ride it up to Rome’s penthouse.
“He is no longer welcome in my club,” Rome says simply.
