Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
CARTER
S eeing Kai last night at The Devil’s Den was a shock, but I didn’t let on. I knew he was gay—everyone knows that—but I didn’t think he was involved in any kind of kink.
Will he tell anyone he saw me there? I’m bi, men and women do it for me, but no one but Declan and Gavin know that. It’s no one’s business. I thought going somewhere no one knows me to fuck a twink into the mattress would improve my mood. But seeing Kai, knowing he wanted what I wanted, and I couldn’t have it almost sent me into a spiral. It’s one thing to attack him at the casino, but something totally different to try to fuck him up in public where the cops could be called. The guns I have on me at all times have a few bodies on them. I’d be locked up for life if I were arrested for fighting Kai. It would have felt good to pummel him, but at what cost?
And what the fuck did he mean he could take me into a room to see what I’m about? I know what it means, but what the fuck? I wouldn’t touch Kai with a ten-foot pole and I know he feels the same. He’s such a fucking asshole.
I push into the front door of my father’s house, irritation resting firmly on my shoulders. My balls are too full, too heavy since I didn’t get a chance to come last night. After running into Kai at The Devil’s Den, I don’t want to go back. And I have no hookups on the horizon.
I take the stairs to the second floor two at a time so I can talk to my dad. He’ll be pleased to see I have on a suit today. I don’t look like myself, but for the meeting today, I’ll need to follow the rules.
Dad’s guards see me coming and clap hands with me before they open his office door. Declan is standing in front of Dad’s desk, his arms crossed over his chest and a look of annoyance clear on his face.
“Baby brother,” I say, throwing my arm over his shoulder and bringing him in for a hug.
As he usually does, he pushes me away, shooting me a dry look. “I’m twenty-four, Carter. Hardly a baby.”
“You’ll always be my baby brother.” I bump his shoulder, and he rolls his eyes, though a small smile crops up on his face.
After our mother was killed, Declan has been standoffish and almost detached about everything. He loves the family and does whatever needs doing, but he always feels just out of reach. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss how he used to be when we were kids. One day, maybe we’ll get back to that.
Dad sets his phone down and looks at me with raised eyebrows. “Nice threads,” he comments.
I look down at the sleeves of my black tailored suit with the crisp black shirt under it. Declan is dressed similarly, the contrast of his light hair and the dark suit sharp. “I figured you’d like it. I came by to ask if you wanted to stand in with me while I talk to the Dominicans. Juan Reyes says we can meet him outside of Yorkley. He has a warehouse that’s about five miles over from our territory line. Close enough that if something pops off, we won’t be vulnerable.”
Most of our casinos and legal businesses are in Yorkley where we make the most money from tourist spending money like its water and locals that like to flaunt money they don’t really have.
Dad sits back in his chair, tapping two fingers across his lips as he thinks. Finally, he says, “Yeah, I’ll tag along but I’ll let you take the reins. I can feel it in my bones that my time as the head of this family is coming to an end. You need to start stepping up more.”
I nod, though I don’t like the sound of what he’s saying. Dad and I may bump heads sometimes, but I love him. Unlike most in this business, he’s been as doting as he could be. Even more so since we lost Mom. This is a brutal business, so Dad has been getting me and Declan ready for it, but he’s never been dismissive of us. All things considered—since he’s still stuck in his ways when it comes to me not wearing a suit all the time and my tattoos—he’s been a good father. Hopefully, he just means retirement and not that he feels his death is coming soon. I’d lose my shit if I lost him.
“Have you heard from the Petrov’s or the Fensters’?”
“Not yet,” I say, shaking my head. “They’re not as easy to get to like the Reyes’s.”
Dad stands and rounds his desk, a grim look on his face. “Things are heating up. Two of our warehouses were hit last night. One was empty, the other had some gun shipments. They were stolen and our men were killed. Both were set on fire. Insurance will pay for the buildings, but there will be questions. The chief of police called and said he’ll come out himself so he can fudge the reports. But we need to find out who it is before they cause more damage and steal more of our product.”
The chief of police is an old friend of Dad’s and has been in his pocket since he was on the beat. They go way back, so none of the shit we do blows back on us, though there was a close call when I was younger when my mom was killed.
My hackles rise as I listen to Dad. Who the fuck is trying to bring my family down and why? Other than the St. Clair family, we have the most territory and have our hands in the most pots down in Yorkley and the surrounding South Jersey. Dad said they’re not involved, and I know it’s not the Colombians. The Dominicans need to set us at ease during this meeting, so we won’t have three families to contend with.
Though I don’t think it’s the Dominicans either. We’re not friendly with them, but we’re not openly hostile either. We don’t bother them, and they don’t bother us. They have a good chunk of territory in the neighboring area, and they usually keep to themselves. I’m hoping their willingness to accept a meeting means they’re not involved.
I don’t care about starting a war. I live for shit like that, but even if we win, we’ll lose. We’re just starting to rebuild our ranks. There could be nothing left by the time it’s all said and done.
Declan curses, his eyes flashing with anger. “I swear to fucking god I will gut the motherfuckers that are fucking with us. What do we know?”
“Nothing,” Dad says in an almost strained tone. “Whoever it is, they’re smart. They’re keeping a tight lid on their plans. Something needs to be done.”
I nod in agreement. “After this meeting, we can discuss the next steps. I have a few ideas.”
Dad looks at me long and hard, his expression unreadable. “Let’s go.”
I exchange glances with Declan but follow Dad down the stairs and out the door. We all climb into my SUV, and I point us in the direction of Normont, where the Dominicans take up residence.
Declan pulls his gun from his holster, checking the chamber, then flipping the safety off. “How much business have you done with the Reyes family?” he asks as he checks for clips in his pockets.
“None. I reached out in good faith, hoping he wouldn’t want his people to be caught up in some bullshit.”
Declan scoffs. “Yeah, and tell him we’re vulnerable? Smart move, Car.”
“If they wanted to attack, you think they’d wait until the day of the meeting to do it? That would put a target on their backs,” I say matter-of-factly.
He grunts but doesn’t say anything further.
I don’t want to admit it, but I did take a risk by telling the Reyes family what I wanted to talk to them about. Juan might be in the life, but as my family does, they believe in honor amongst thieves. From the little I know about them, the Reyes family don’t push first. They’re content to get money and retaliate when necessary.
Five or so years ago, the Albanians tried to run the Reyes family out of town, starting a war that almost spilled over into the entire state of New Jersey. But the Reyes family were well equipped and had people everywhere. They pushed the Albanians out to the point that they no longer have a foothold in the state. They didn’t start the war, but they finished it in a big way.
I glance in the rearview mirror to make sure my guys are following behind us. Juan asked not to have more than my dad and brother with me when we came to the meeting, just as he will only have two of his men. So as not to cause bad faith, I plan to honor that. But they won’t be far behind.
Thirty minutes after we leave Dad’s place, we pull up to the designated warehouse. Just like mine, Declan’s head is on a swivel, looking around to make sure this isn’t a set up. From what I can see, there are no shooters on the roof or around any corners. The only car I see is a sleek black BMW.
After making sure the coast is clear, I motion for Dad to step out of the car and we approach the door. I knock on it three times in rapid succession, pause, then knock five times more slowly. The door pops open and Juan Reyes himself stands on the other side.
“Carter Whitlock. It’s a pleasure.” His light words hold sincerity. “Do come in.”
I step to the side and allow Dad to step in first, then follow behind, Declan bringing up the rear.
When we’re all inside, I turn to Juan and hold out my hand. A historic first since our families have never had any meeting or truce.
Juan pauses for a moment, looking at my hand. When I think he won’t shake, he clasps my hand, shaking it once. “Thanks for taking this meeting.”
“Please,” he says, indicating we step further into the room. Two other men stand near a flight of stairs. Both are spitting images of Juan, so I take it they’re either his brothers or his sons. “This is Junior, my son,” he says, pointing to a man with a long black ponytail and permascowl, “and this is my brother, Alonso. You did not bring anyone else with you, correct?”
“No. Just my father and brother. Declan and Dominic.” I point to my brother and father in turn. “As you asked.”
Juan dips his head. “Thank you for that. Now, tell me about what is going on in your camp.”
Declan speaks up. “And what’s to say you won’t use it against my family? How do we know it’s not you that’s fucking with us?”
With a raised eyebrow, Juan gives Declan the once over. I step in front of him, drawing his attention away from my brother. Yeah, we’re meeting with them on what I hope to be good terms, but I won’t hesitate to lay him the fuck out if he tries something with Declan.
Juan only smirks. “If it were me, you would be dead as soon as you crossed that boundary, little boy.”
“I got your little boy, bitch,” Declan says, his hand going into the jacket of his suit.
Junior and Alonso’s hand go in the same direction, though no one pulls their weapons. Dad steps up as if to speak, but I beat him to it. If he wants me to take over the family, I have to diffuse this shit. Though Declan will have to answer for putting us at risk on enemy territory. Sometimes, his fearlessness is a fucking deterrent.
“Enough, D. Remove your hand from your gun. Now.” A few tense moments pass before he does what I say. Alonso and Junior follow suit. “Though, he has a point, Juan. What’s to say you’re not behind the rumblings of a war starting?”
Juan waves me forward and we slowly start walking deeper into the warehouse. “We were almost wiped out by the Albanians all those years ago. We won and we took their territory, but at what cost? Junior and Alonso are all the immediate family I have left. Everyone else is dead or in prison. We have a strong grip on our territory, but another war will annihilate us. We can’t take another hit.” He stops walking when we get into the warehouse proper. The room is empty and roomy, a slight chill in the air. “We don’t have the manpower to take you on.”
I wonder why he brought me through this area, then it clicks: it’s a sign of trust. He’s showing me that he has no one else here either, that he expected me to follow his instructions and he’s showing me that he’s a man of his word. He only has his brother and his son with him.
I nod, giving him the indication that I appreciate him showing that he’s kept his end of the bargain. “I hear you. Are you planning to join forces with whomever is against my family?”
Juan shakes his head. “That would be foolish. I’d have to tell them how much manpower I don’t have. What’s to say I join up, they eliminate you and they come after me? No, I’m already risking a lot by telling you of our troubles. And I only tell you so you know it is not us that want to take your territory.”
“And you’ve heard nothing?” Declan asks, his voice still holding that hard edge.
“Nothing,” Alonso says, the same edge in his tone. “We don’t want any part of an impending war. We will tend to our business and remain neutral. We are ready if it happens, but not before. We have all we need. We are not greedy. And honestly, we will not survive another war.”
He sounds sincere. I glance at Dad, and he nods once. Turning back to Juan, I ask, “Do we have your word that you won’t take sides?”
Juan places his hand on his chest, right above his heart. “On my honor as a Reyes, I will not take up arms against your family, nor will I join yours. In this, we are neutral.”
We shake hands again—Juan taking my hand quicker this time—and we head out.
When we get back to Dad’s house and step inside, I grab Declan by the arm and push him against the wall, putting my hand around his throat. I pull him from the wall and slam his head back again, making him hiss.
He glares at me, but I don’t give a fuck. My anger at him was barely contained the entire time we were talking, and it was only my upbringing from Dad not to embarrass the family in public that I waited so long to check him.
Getting in his space and putting enough pressure on his throat that his eyes bulge, I say, “Next time you feel like being a fucking cowboy, leave me and Dad out of it. You could have fucking got us killed because you can’t control your fucking temper.”
Declan tries to speak, but I have too tight a grip on his throat. After a few more seconds, I let him go. He coughs and drags in a deep breath. “The fuck? All I did?—”
“Was speak out of fucking turn,” Dad says, his face a mask of rage as he looks at his youngest son. “Carter is right. You almost got us killed. No one asked you to fucking speak. You don’t think before you do. You might be able to get the drop on someone, but you weren’t the only one involved in the fucking meeting. I raised you to use your fucking brain, D, but I might as well have saved my fucking breath if you’re gonna do dumb shit.”
Declan looks down with an irritable look on his face. But he knows we’re right. He’s a hothead, tending to shoot first and ask questions later. With us so close to a war, we can’t afford that. We can’t afford any mistakes or everything we’ve built will be destroyed.
“I got it,” he grumbles, then pushes past me out the door.
I stare after him, shaking my head. I’ll call him tomorrow and we can talk about it, but right now, we both need to cool down. If I see him again for the rest of the day, I might knock him the fuck out.
Dad gets my attention. “Come. Let’s talk in my office.”
When we’re in his office, I walk over to the bar and pour us both a glass of whiskey. I shoot my first one, then pour a second glass to nurse while we talk.
I hand Dad his glass and he takes a sip, grimacing as the swallows the burning liquid down.
We sip our drinks in silence for a moment, then Dad sighs. “We’re almost in the same boat as Juan Reyes. We have more men than him, but not enough to ensure that whichever family might be opposing us will be beat back mercilessly. If we win, it’ll be barely.” Dad pauses and meets my eyes. For some reason, my heart rate quickens, and my palms get sweaty.
I drink the rest of the whiskey from my glass and place it on the edge of his desk. “What do we do?”
“The only thing we can do. We form an alliance. I’ve brokered a marriage with a family that, coupled with ours, will swell our ranks and we will easily win a war if it comes to that. But we have to move quickly.”
My stomach in knots, I ask, “What family did you form an alliance with? I take it I’ll be the one that will be marrying her? I’ll do it. Anything to ensure this family and our territory survives.”
Dad sighs again, leaning back in his chair. He looks ten years older, his cheeks sunken and his eyes dull. I’ve never known him to look so aged, so weathered. He’s always been a force to me, someone strong and sure. But now, he looks as if the weight of the world is on his shoulders, and he can hardly handle it.
“I formed an alliance with the St. Clair family.”
It takes me a moment to realize what he said. The St. Clair family. The fucking St. Clair family?
Then it hits me like a ton of bricks. Kai is an only child.