If Gris is the carrot of our family, Killian is the stick. They are rarely together, and it strikes me as odd that one is calling while the other is here.
I hit the button to pick up the phone. “Why are you calling?”
Killian snorts into the line. “Put me on speaker.”
I do as he asks, because it’s the shortest path to an answer.
“Hey, Kill,” Gris rumbles from the couch. “Flight landed?”
“Yes. On my way.”
I slap the top of my desk. “You’re in New York?” My family must be concerned about my ability to handle Vigo if both Gris and Killian are here. Fuck.
They think I’m going to fail.
“Just in case,” Killian answers. “But don’t worry. You’ll hardly even know I’m in the city.”
Killian’s nickname is The Shadow. He manages to dig out information no one else seems able to find.
Bodies also tend to disappear around him, or they did, until he married.
“I am well aware of your stealth abilities. What I’d like to know is why you’ve come?”
I look up at Gris and catch his grimace. “Our brothers have determined a plan for dealing with Vigo Sinclair. First we’re going to offer him a counter deal, and if he doesn’t accept…”
“Absolutely not. I can handle Vigo myself.” I don’t need my brothers cutting me out when I’m so close to locking this up. This is finally my game, and I don’t need help playing it.
Gris lets the silence hang before he finally answers. “You’re taking too long and there is too much at stake. We’ve got massiveassets tied up in New York and it’s time for them to start moving forward.”
I thump my fist on my desk. “I’ve got it under control.”
“Progress would suggest otherwise,” Gris says with that cool smile he uses to make people squirm, it’s so fucking confident. I hate it.
“Give me a little more time,” I say through gritted teeth. We are entering a negotiation, and I would be a fool not to understand that I’m going to need to give some ground. “Another week and I’ll get the permits locked down.”
I hear Killian rumble in dissent.
But Gris cocks his head. “It would give us time, Kill, to assess the situation and figure out which of us is needed here in New York.”
“It’s an either-or situation?” I ask, leaning back in my chair.
“That’s right,” Killian answers. “Either Gris will negotiate with Vigo, or I’ll use other methods to make certain he complies.”
“Vigo is the center of New York’s crime syndicate. Your methods, Killian, could cause far more problems than they cure.” But I’ve calmed now. I can get the permits done in the next week, I’m sure of it.
My family will understand my worth and my power by the time this is done.
I’ve waited a lifetime for this moment. Nothing and no one are distracting me now.
CHAPTER FIVE
Gigi
The next fewdays pass in a blur, but finally, it’s Friday.
I’ve moved myself and Emma into our new apartment, which was easy, because it’s fully furnished.
And when Rush leaves the office for a lunch meeting, Erika comes up to join me and catch up.
