“Hiya. I understand you were all hot and bothered when your photographer you hired lost the photographs of me. You know the guy I mean, the one you had killed to tie up loose ends?”
I slipped into the seat opposite the gray-haired man, immediately crossing my legs. The heels I’d chosen were already killing me, but I’d suffer through.
I had to look the part of the femme fatale.
His shock was evident by the twitch in the corner of one eye. That was all I’d get as he was a consummate actor. But he did move his arm under the desk.
Sighing, I wagged my finger at him. “Don’t bother, William. Do you honestly think I’m some dumb chick who didn’t find your panic button leading to your hot little secretary out there? You know, the one linked to the police chief you have drinkswith every Friday night. Another Brotherhood member. So distinguished. Anyway, it’s been disabled.”
There was no doubt he recognized me yet he could never have expected my appearance in the middle of his office. There was delicious fun in the element of surprise. We’d managed a best kept secret with various company announcements, including where the family would be on this very day.
Not in Savannah.
“Well, here I am. Now, while neither I nor my family has yet to figure out why you wanted the photographs, maybe for blackmail or at minimum intimidation, it doesn’t matter. In the end, you and your rich, very old cronies thought that by forcing my hand at marrying one of your own, you’d have a leg up on the Prince family and the Five Families. Right?”
He remained quiet, but his breathing was labored.
So I continued.
“Yes, you were buddies with Walter Emmett, growing up with him, your fathers initiated into the Elite group of the Brotherhood at an early age, so you and Walter followed in your fathers’ footsteps. When Walter’s stepdaughter Josette decided to marry a member of the Prince family instead of Zane Emmett, your friend was crushed. You decided to get even for him. But that’s only part of the prize. Right?”
“Who are you again?” He asked the question coyly as if he’d rile me. Oh, how silly of men to underestimate who I was and my capabilities.
“We know how power hungry the Brotherhood is. I admit I was confused as to what your ultimate goal would be in destroyingthe Prince family. I mean we’re powerful and have money to burn while controlling the entire port system of the Southeast, but what would that mean to you? We have connections throughout the world with commodities the Brotherhood has yet to make inroads in. Illegal drugs and firearms. Precious gems. Even coffee and booze. Actual products that provide more money and power than any computer chip. But why would you care?”
William was even more uncomfortable, his fingers crawling toward his cell phone.
I leaned over his desk so abruptly, he was shocked enough that he jerked back.
“Please, Mr. Dreyfus. Don’t insult me. There are no men for you to call. They’re currently occupied. There is no communication system outside this building and won’t be until we say so. Even if you could call out, your buddies are experiencing the same thing you are. All across the planet, the Brotherhood is crumbling to the ground.”
“You’re lying.”
“Am I? I didn’t tell you the total truth. The internet is still up for now. Why don’t you check your bank accounts? Your stocks? Go on. I’ll wait.”
While he hesitated, when I sat back against the chair, he seemed almost frantic. It took him all of three minutes and twelve seconds to realize his net worth had gone from seven hundred million to zero. All in the blink of an eye.
“This can’t be,” he muttered.
“I assure you what you’re seeing is truthful and exactly what your buddies are experiencing. Yes, some of the money had been funneled away from members of law enforcement, but don’t worry. We won’t be keeping it.” I pulled out a copy of a magazine from the bag I’d brought with me, tossing it across his desk. “A copy ofForbes Magazinefor your records labeling us the wealthiest family corporation in the world. Quite a distinction that came from hard work.”
His skin was the color of melted vanilla ice cream on a hot summer day, his eyes flickering with anger and frustration.
“As I said, the money will be placed in good hands.” I stood, heading for the door. My work was done.
“What the fuck have you done?”
“Me? Well, what’s the expression?” I was almost giddy. Maybe because I’d finally be enjoying a night in a hotel with my husband since our work would soon be done. “It takes a village.” I glanced at my watch, still grinning. “Ding. Ding. About now all over the world, charities are rejoicing at seeing the dollar figures in their bank accounts from an anonymous donor.”
“You can’t do this.”
“Yes, we can and we already have. You shouldn’t have fucked with the Prince family.” As soon as I threw open the door, members of the CIA were ready to come in.
Including the father who’d married Donatello and me.
“Father Barnett.”
Francoise smiled. “Today I’m Agent Barnett. How’s married life?”
