“The higher-ups weren’t happy when I went back to them with your answer.”
“Too fucking bad.”
“They’re not just going to drop it.”
“You’re all lucky I haven’t kicked you to the curb already. I don’t appreciate business partners who try to change the terms of the agreement midway through.” I squeeze the phone so hard I’m surprised it doesn’t come apart.
“You gotta work with us?—”
“See, that’s the thing. I don’t. And you’d all do well to remember that. Accept my terms or don’t, I really don’t care. I’m certainly able to find someone who will.”
It’s like these assholes think they’re the only game in town.
I hang up before Sean can respond.
Maybe I should tread more carefully, but these assholes are pissing me off, trying to push me around and act as if they own me. I’ve never been good when people underestimate me.
The phone in my suit pocket vibrates, so I return the burner to my desk drawer and pull out my regular cell phone to see my sister’s name on the screen.
Impeccable timing as always.
“Hey, Ari. How’s it going?”
“You sound tense. What’s wrong?”
I blow out a breath and push my hand through my hair. “Nothing’s wrong. And how can you tell I sound tense? We’ve been on the phone for less than five seconds.”
“I know you, Bast.”
She says it as if that’s answer enough. I swear, since my sister became a mother, it’s like she’s got a radar for these things. Which I don’t hate, actually.
“I’m fine. It’s just work bullshit.”
“Ah, gotcha.” She says nothing more, nor do I expect her to.
Ariana has never judged me for the business I’m involved in. After the way we were raised, that’s not really a surprise, but I think it helps that one of her sisters-in-law by marriage used to be a stripper. In fact, she’s the one I got the idea from to open my first club. I was visiting Midnight Manor to spend some time with my sister’s family, and Cinder and I got to talking about how lucrative stripping was and the issues she saw with most of the clubs. I felt as though I could do better, so I did.
“How’re the twins?” I rest my feet up on the desk and lean back in my chair.
“Keeping me busy as always. Sable thinks she should still be able to sleep in the bed with Obsidian and me, and Donovan wants a dog. Insists he’ll look after it.”
“I’m sure Sid finds both those things thoroughly amusing.”
She laughs, and as it always does, it spurs a warm feeling inside. There was a time in our lives when Ariana didn’t laugh much. Now the sound fills me with happiness. She’s found peace in her life.
“You know him, he puts up a good front, but those two have him wrapped around their fingers. I have to be the heavy all the time.”
I laugh, knowing she’s right. I love those kids as though they’re my own. “Well, good luck with that. I’m pretty busy with work this summer, but I’ll see if I can get out there while the kids are out of school so I can spend some time with them.”
“That would be wonderful. I know they’d love to see their Uncle Bast. Speaking of visits, Dad and Eleanor just left.”
“Oh?” I don’t speak to my dad nearly as much as I used to now that he’s settled down a bit and I have a business to run. “How’re things with them?”
“Good, good, I just wanted to let you know that Eleanor mentioned to me that Dad had to go on some pills for his blood pressure and his cholesterol.”
I frown. “Okay, isn’t that kind of thing normal for his age?”
“I guess, it’s just… it’s weird. He’s getting older, you know? I guess I just sort of realized it when they were here.”
