The heavy oak door had barely shut behind me when he spun around and growled, "What was that?"
"Just establishing boundaries. He needed reminding that our partnership doesn't mean he can make threats against us—or those connected to us."
He didn't speak until he was behind his desk, fingers steepled beneath his chin. "You felt it too, didn't you?"
"Juarez is making a play," I confirmed, remaining standing. "Eight men for a 'friendly' discussion is beyond excessive."
Father's eyes narrowed. "He's testing us. Probing for weaknesses." He gestured to the chair across from him. "Sit."
I complied, watching as he opened a drawer and extracted a small black device, placing it between us. A signal jammer.
"Keep your phone close at all times," he said, his voice low despite the protection against surveillance. "I don't like how many of Juarez's men have been spotted around our territory lately. The shipyard. The club. Even that coffee shop you frequent."
My jaw tightened. Paradise Club. Elin.
Where they able to still buy themselves a way in?
"Surveillance?"
"More than that. They're looking for entry points." Father's finger tapped rhythmically against the polished wood. "I need you to be vigilant. Make sure they don't get into any family business. Not a glimpse of our books, our routes, our suppliers."
"You don't trust the alliance," I stated rather than asked.
"I trust leverage," he replied coldly. "Once Rhea is married to him, we'll have it. Until then . . ." He let the implication hang.
I swallowed back the bile rising in my throat. "And if he discovers Rhea isn't exactly . . .enthusiasticabout the arrangement?"
Father's eyes hardened to flint. "Then you do your job, talon. You ensure she understands her duty."
Like you made me understand mine with Joel.The bitter thought was loud in my mind, but I kept my mouth shut . . . for now.
His gaze swung up to the portraits of our family over the years. When he reached the large oil painting of my grandparents, his voice was more affirming and dangerous than I had heard it in a long time. "This alliance is delicate. Your sister's future and our family's expansion depend on it."
Standing up straight, I stared at my father. "And what about Elin's future? He threatened her directly."
My father's face hardened. "The Perkins woman is a liability. She's already betrayed us once—or have you forgotten that she was feeding information to the feds?"
"She did no such thing. We provided you proof Hillabrand was a lying fuck. He wanted to hurt us, had been after us for years. I took care of the problem, as is my job in this family. Elin has proven her loyalty to me.”
"Loyal?" He laughed, a cold, hollow sound. "She's using you to get close to our operation. Just like her father tried with your sister."
“Joel was an integral part of this family, Father. He and Rhea were in love. You don’t get to use what happiness they had against me.”
Silence filled his office, and when he turned to sit at his desk, he said, "Your attachment to this woman is clouding your judgment. She needs to be dealt with."
My blood ran cold. "Touch her and I'll burn this whole fucking empire to the ground."
The words hung between us, treasonous and raw. My father stared at me, genuine shock registering on his face for perhaps the first time in my life.
"You would choose her over family?" His voice was deadly quiet.
“She is mine and undermyprotection." I let the truth of it settle into my bones. "And I protect what's mine."
For a long moment, we stared at each other in silence. Finally, he spoke. "Fix this, Gavriel. Whatever hold she has on you, break it. Or I will break it for you."
"Again, she is mine and undermyprotection. I'm not taking orders from you about my personal life. Not after you killed Joel and made me remove his heart to prove your control over our family."
The mention of his name made my father flinch—a small victory. "Don't push me on this."
