Chapter 17
SEPTEMBER 23 – TUESDAY 10:00 PM
L iam
Despite being a skeptic by nature, Nash had never given me a reason to question his decisions until recently. He was hiding things…big things…life-altering things. I could sense that shit a mile away.
He still refused to talk about his summer trip. That was when I really started to worry. It was too short to be a real vacation and too long to be a simple meeting.
He saw someone and there were negotiations involved before he returned. Whatever it was and whoever it was with was only a guess at this point, but I had my suspicions. If I was right, and it was Mr. Genovese, then why was he keeping all of us on the outside for so long? Was it because we wouldn’t like the deal he made? That thought bothered me the most. I was the numbers guy, evaluating the risks with an ace up my sleeve for every scenario. It was normal for us all to have our secrets but not for Nash to shut us out completely. If Nash continued to keep me on the outside, I would lose my ability to plan for emergencies or contingencies. We’d always been tight-knit, and I was his right hand, so his secretive behavior was adding to my already foul mood.
“Do you really think this is a smart idea having them here?”
I nodded toward the small group of guys that Nash had me pick out of the recruits. There were six in total, mingling with Theo, Blake, and Myles, but the two standouts were Rory and Cory. Fuck, that was funny.
They were the soldiers that I’d found to be the most dedicated and had brought countless pieces of information forward to help us. Through background checks, being followed off and on, and personal devices duplicated, there hadn’t been a single oops, leak, or concern. That didn’t mean that including them in a major meeting was a good idea.
“Do you not trust them,” Nash asked as he ran a hand down the front of his suit.
“I trust them as much as I do anyone except you, of course. But this is a huge step.”
Nash looked over at me, and I had to give it to him. He had dressed the part. The black tailored suit and new tattoos on his hands gave him a similar vibe to other heads of family.
“Do you trust Theo?”
Pressing my lips together, I crossed my arms, not wanting to discuss Theo right now. He was on the other side of the room, and the new lights that Nash had installed in the club kept him half in light and half in shadow. It suited him, and my craving for him threatened to steal my sanity.
As addictive now as he was the first time that we were roughhousing, and I saw him as more than my friend. Theo’s blond hair was perfectly styled, his green eyes bright and full of unparalleled intelligence. Under the crisp suit was a bad boy that very few knew about and a body that could keep me hard for days.
“Yes, I do,” I finally answered when Nash continued staring at me.
“And his opinion?”
“Of course. What is this an interrogation?”
Nash raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Very touchy subject, apparently.”
“Can I punch you? It’ll make me feel better, and maybe some of the touchy will leave my body.”
“Maybe after the meeting. The point that I was trying to make is that Theo felt it was time we brought a few more into the inner circle, and I agree. So why are you second-guessing the decision?”
Turning to face Nash, I leaned against the wall.
“Because I’m not sure I trust your judgment lately,” I said, and his face turned to stone. “Don’t give me that look. You’re keeping secrets.”
“I’ve always kept secrets.”
“Yes, but not big ones and not from me. Our mutual trust is what has always allowed me to do my job flawlessly. I’ve been cut off at the knees, Nash, and I don’t fucking like it,” I said.
“Are we still talking about us?”
“Don’t deflect or make this about Theo.” Nash looked away and sighed. “Do you deny it?”
“Would you believe me if I did?”
“No.”
“Then no, I don’t deny it. But that doesn’t mean I can tell you anything.” He locked eyes with me. “Yet…I will soon.”
“Answer me this, and all you have to do is nod your head. Does it have to do with Mr. Genovese?”
“Fuck, I hate you sometimes,” Nash growled, confirming my suspicions.
“I knew it. You were squirrely when he was at the school, and you didn’t say a single word about what went down with Vicky. That’s not like you. You normally would’ve danced and rubbed that shit in her face.”
He scoffed. “Squirrely? I didn’t even move, and who the hell says I didn’t rub it in her face? Just because you didn’t see it happen doesn’t mean I didn’t.”
I smiled and rolled out my shoulders.
“Fine, be defensive. I felt the vibes coming off you. I’m in tune with your aura. Does that make you feel better?”
“Don’t ever fucking say that to me again,” Nash ordered, making me laugh.
Theo glanced over, and my heart rate doubled with just the one inquisitive look. Fuck me.
“You can’t say a word, not a single fucking word. I mean it, or everything we’ve been working for will fall apart. Just trust me.”
“Understood, and you will tell me all the details soon, but Nash….” I waited until I had his full attention. “Don’t keep shit from me again. I need to know what we are up against at all times, and I’d never, not for anyone, break your confidence.”
He gripped my shoulder and nodded as the door opened and our guest arrived.
Louis Kessler. I wasn’t sure that getting into bed with a psychiatrist from Ashen Springs, Florida—who also had shadier dealings—was a smart move. But he did own the only shipping docks not already tied to a mafia family or a cartel. To date he hadn’t partnered with any organization like ours, and no one knew why. That gave us a distinct advantage if Nash could pull this off.
SEPTEMBER 23 – TUESDAY 10:21 PM
Nash
Fucking Liam. I glanced at him as we went over to greet Mr. Kessler. He was going to pester the shit out of me for more information about what I had cooking with Mr. Genovese. It was an issue for later. Right now, my head had to be in the game.
Smiling, I held out my hand. “Welcome, Mr. Kessler. I’m happy you were able to adjust your schedule to make it this evening.”
Just like Mr. Genovese, I expected him to be older. Mr. Kessler looked to be in his forties with chestnut hair and dark eyes that held the same arrogant intelligence as Theo. He wore a dark grey suit and, surprisingly, only seemed to have brought one guard with him.
His handshake was firm and direct, just like his stare.
“Mr. Collier, please call me Louis. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to stay as long as I would’ve liked. There is an issue with one of my businesses that needs my personal attention.”
“Call me Nash. I’d prefer to keep this informal.”
“Nash it is.”
“Well, let’s get to it then. I don’t want to hold you up.”
Raising my finger, Nora brought over a tray with two glasses and a bottle of double malt scotch from Whitley Distillery.
“I see you did your homework on me,” Louis said, unbuttoning his suit jacket and sitting down in one of the lush chairs.
“What kind of a host or businessman would I be if I didn’t research those I intended to get into bed with.”
Louis’s lip twitched, a subtle hint of amusement.
“Interesting phrasing. I’d love to know why you chose it. But since we are short on time, I will get right to the heart of the matter.”
Leaning forward, he poured himself three fingers before doing the same to my glass. He held it out for me to take. “Are you even old enough to drink?”
“I think when we are soon to be discussing regular shipments of alcohol and guns, having a drink is the least of my worries.”
He smiled wide. “Touche.” He took a sip and glanced around. “I know why you want to speak to me. It is the same reason the heads of all unique enterprises want to speak to me. You want access to my docks.” Louis took a sip and sat back in the chair. His henchman stood directly behind him with his hands neatly folded. Liam had taken up a similar pose but at my shoulder.
“You are correct, I do.”
“And what makes you think that I would say yes and assume all of that risk…for you? When I’ve turned everyone else away.”
Nora arrived with a tray of finger foods, and Louis happily took a napkin and some puffed pastries before she came to me. Taking three, I popped one in my mouth. Damn, I had to give her credit, she came through again. These were incredible and worthy of the company at the meeting.
“I’m not like the others you’ve spoken to…and turned away. I’m sure that you have done your homework on me as well.”
“I have, and I must say that your father is quite the interesting man.”
“That is one way of putting it,” I said, barely managing to hold in a laugh.
“And how would you describe your father, Nash?”
Smirking, I popped a second pastry into my mouth and made sure to keep eye contact as I thought of how best to answer.
“Are you asking me as Louis Kessler, the business capitalist, or Dr. Kessler, the psychiatrist?”
Each word, answer, and question was another move on the chess board. All we needed was a little timer to signal our opponent’s turn.
“As my son Micah would say, I’m afraid you never get just one or the other.”
“Very well.” I sat my drink down and slid to the front of my seat, gathering my thoughts. “My father is a monster. There is no sugarcoating that or making it more politically correct. He disrespects those who support him, he is untrustworthy, and I have seen the inside of a hospital more than once because of him.”
Louis’s features softened. “I’m sorry to hear that, I’ve known a few men that were the same.”
“I’m not looking for pity. I just want you to understand that I’m not my father. I’m a man with a moral code and ethics, and I have strived to put together the needed backing and financial security to crush the snake.”
“Then why do you need me?”
This was the second condition of my deal with Mr. Genovese. He needed a new port for his goods, and I promised to deliver untapped, safe passage. Probably wasn’t the smartest move at the time, but I wanted to prove to him that I could bring to the table, not just take.
“Because I need a location not under federal scrutiny that can handle the quantity of shipments arriving. I also would like to use Whitley Distillery as cover, which only makes sense with my latest endeavor.” I gestured toward the bar and the bottles on display. His eyebrows raised.
“Is that so?”
“Mr. Kessler, this is what I know.” I ran my thumb over my bottom lip. “You refuse to deal in party favor pharmaceuticals, so I promise never to disrespect your generosity by bringing them through your dock. You don’t want someone trying to take over your properties or the area that will one day belong to Nikolai’s heir. Yes, I know who he is.”
I took a sip of my drink before continuing.
“You prefer to deal with straight shooters and are fascinated by contentious family dynamics. That is more of a personal hobby for you, but it does draw you to those like myself. My family is…dangerously toxic at best, and I’ve been beaten to within an inch of my life so many times that I can’t count the hospital visits anymore. Despite that, I am not like my father, and despite the abuse, I’m still smart, ambitious, and sleep through the night.”
That was a bit of a stretch. I couldn’t remember the last time I slept more than three hours straight.
“You have reservations but were intrigued enough with me to take a call and then enjoyed our conversation enough that you made time to fly here from Miami.”
“Okay…you have me on all of that. But it doesn’t explain why I would take the risk with you, Nash. You’re obviously intelligent and have motivation, but you are still your father’s son, and how can I trust you will be loyal to your word?”
Standing, I waved over the rest of my guys, who had been lingering far enough away to give us privacy but close enough to eavesdrop.
“Each of these men has a different cause. But there is one thing that unites our families, and that is the terror brought to their doorsteps by my father. They are loyal to me, not because I beat them into submission, but because they know I am loyal to them. I will keep my promise to look out for them, which is something leaders do and what I want to be. Just because we don’t hold down the nine-to-five doesn’t mean we should not live by a code of ethics. You respect that. You’re willing to take a chance on that.”
I walked around my men, who looked like perfect James Bond replicas, and stopped when I got back to Liam. He looked at me, and I knew that he would lay his life on the line for me at any time as I would for him.
“But the thing that most interests you is family and what you can leave behind for them when you are gone. It is why you want to work with me and why you walked through those doors. I’ve crunched the numbers, and we can double your income in one year. Triple it in two, and based on the growth projections, you will be doing fifteen times the business by the end of five years. No one else can give you that without eventually needing to take control of your enterprises and area, which I don’t want or need.”
Theo stepped forward when I pointed to him with a folder and held it out for Louis to take with him. He flipped open the cover, scanning the numbers and locations where the money would flow.
“Obviously, we’d still need to speak on logistics for safe transport and to remain blissfully off of the Fed’s lists. But…I’m sure that we can come to an agreement that will make us both happy and feel secure in our decision to work together,” I said, patiently waiting for his response.
“And you have the clients and resources already in place to deal with this much product movement,” Louis asked.
The tiniest rush of excitement flowed through my body at the subtle undertone of respect that came through in the question.
“I not only have the resources, but it would only require a single phone call to start tomorrow.”
Sitting back down in front of Louis, I gave him a few minutes to think it over.
“Tell me something. I understand that you already have a major and much larger company at your disposal for imports. Why use me?”
“Because I need a location not tied to any other family. That creates complications.”
“Such as information getting back to your father?”
I smirked. “For one. Yes.”
“I have to say that I’m titillated by your thoroughness and eye for detail. I have one final question.” I opened my hands and sat back, silently telling him to ask whatever he wanted. “How do I know that this is not a setup? Life is never too good to be true, and this Nash seems too good to be true.”
Liam placed a plain brown envelope in my waiting hand. I held the inch-thick wad of papers and photos out to Dr. Kessler.
He pulled out the first few pictures and stared.
I knew what he was looking at, and none of it was pretty. Myles beaten to a bloody pulp with the word WORTHLESS carved into his stomach. Letters from families begging me for my help and others pledging their allegiance. Photos from my time in the hospital and the report of Lawrence killing Mya and my unborn son.
Louis glanced up at me and then around at all those who had been harmed the worst by my father’s touch and influence.
“He is a poison, and I’m the cure. In that envelope, you will also find incriminating evidence to humiliate my father or put us all behind bars for what we are and plan to do. That is my gift to you. A token of my respect, but also a show of good faith. No one other than you has seen the extent of abuse that’s been hidden for so long. Help me, and I promise that I will hold up my end of the transaction. You will not find anyone more loyal or hardworking.”
Louis looked around again, his eyes pausing on Myles and then my face before he stood and buttoned his suit jacket. I followed his lead and waited for him to speak. He held the file and envelope under his arm, and I noticed that there was pain in his eyes. Like a memory of something or someone that had nothing to do with me, but whatever it was, it seemed to sway his decision.
He held out his hand. “You have a deal, Nash. I’ll have the paperwork drawn up for you to sign, and I look forward to the part that I’ll play in cutting off the head of your snake. Have a good evening.”
Once the bells sounded that Louis was gone, I sucked in a deep breath as the guys cheered and, one at a time, pulled me into a hug. It was happening. The castling had begun.