Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
I sent Tisha’s calls to voicemail as Josh and I pulled up to the warehouse.
I was meeting everyone in my organization there tonight to officially announce my upcoming retirement.
I was looking forward to spending quiet nights in my empty house alone with Tisha.
The last time I was here was five years ago, when I had Taylor killed for conspiring against me.
“We got everything set up the way you want it.” Josh fell into step with me as we headed for the doors. “You going to tell me what this is about?”
I glanced at my cousin, and I was like a proud papa. The way Josh had grown these last few years as I slowly relinquished control to him had been miraculous to watch. I was confident in my decision to step down and enjoy life.
“You’ll see,” I smirked, and let him open the door for me.
Slipping inside, I heard the muffled noise of my men echo down the hall.
Some of them had been with me from the start.
Others I added throughout the years. All of them were loyal, but none of them I trusted.
Who I trusted were the people I surrounded myself with every day. Josh being one and Tisha the other.
Our footfalls continued to echo down the hallway and into another back room where my ten soldiers waited for us. This room was the only one in the entire building I bothered to put money into.
“Good evening, gentlemen.”
My voice rose above the chatter, quieting the group. I took my seat at the head of the table. Joshua stood behind me as the rest of the men settled down.
“Josh, sit to my right,” I said, glancing over my shoulder.
Josh’s eyes stretched wide, and murmurs grew in hushed tones throughout the room. I continued to follow Josh with my eyes as he took his place by my side. A rare smile formed on my face as he settled in.
“Now, as I said, good evening, gentlemen.”
“Good evening,” they said in unison.
“I’m sure you’re all wondering why I called you here. I know it’s rare we gather like this. It’s dangerous, but I have an important announcement to make, and I wanted to do that in person.”
I made eye contact with each of the men, some old enough to be my father.
“I’m announcing my retirement,” I revealed. “Effective in a few months.”
Gasps and whispers spread throughout the room. Several men’s, including Joshua’s, mouths hung open and eyes were wide. Normally, I let Josh in on all my decisions. He was never in the dark about anything I did, but he’d protest if he knew in advance what I decided.
I held my hand up, silencing the group.
“Who’s taking your place?” Damian asked. “Have you thought about a successor?”
He was young. I liked his ruthlessness, but he wasn’t methodical when it came to making moves, not the kind needed to run the empire I created. But he was ambitious and would probably rise in the ranks quickly. Josh would have to watch his back.
“Yes, I have. As you may have guessed when I asked him to sit to my right.”
Heads turned to Joshua, whose eyes were planted on my face, trying to see if this was a joke.
“It’s not,” I assured him, reading his face. His body visibly relaxed, then all hell broke loose.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!”
“There’s no way I’m doing what he says!”
“What the fuck?”
The negative outbursts weren’t the only thing in the room.
There were also nods of approval and claps in support.
It didn’t matter to me if they approved or not.
It was my fucking decision. Anger swept through my veins.
My blood boiled at the blatant disrespect.
I slammed my palms down flat on top of the table, effectively silencing any protest or approval.
I rose slowly and methodically from my seat.
These fuckers forgot who was running shit.
“I don’t give a damn whether or not you approve of my moves,” I growled. “I don’t have to explain my actions to you. Just carry them the fuck out. Am I clear?”
There were nods, but not all of them around the table agreed. The protest in their eyes remained. Damian jumped from his chair.
“I challenge him.” He looked around, smirks on the men’s mouths. “What? Aren’t there rules to something like this? I should be the one to take over.”
He thumped himself in the chest. A pool of red very quickly spread across it.
Damian stared down in horror before he locked eyes with the man who ended his life.
The sound of the gun firing was almost imperceptible.
I wouldn’t even have heard it had I not been standing right next to him.
Joshua cocked his Glock, ready, but aimed at no one in particular.
“Anyone else got something to say?”
This time, there were no grumbles. Those who had any further objections didn’t let it be known. We proved our point. I chose well. Josh had been shadowing me since the beginning.
“How will this transition of power take place?” A fair question from Mr. Gary. The respect I had from him afforded him an answer.
“Gradually.” That was all any of them were getting. Mr. Gary eyed me as if he wanted to probe a little more, then nodded. “Although Josh has already been handling some of the day-to-day operations, anyway. Now, if there are no further questions, you’re dismissed.”
I continued to stand as the guys filed out of the room, taking Damian’s body with them. When the last man was out and the door closed, I sat down, closing my eyes.
“What are you doing?” A small hitch caught in Joshua’s usually strong voice that made me pry one eye open and turn in his direction.
“What do you mean?”
“Why me?”
His question made me sit straight up in my chair. “Why the fuck not you?” I asked. “You’re the only person I trust with my life, and I’ve been slowly giving you the reins to this ship, anyway.”
His eyes narrowed on my face like he didn’t believe what I was saying. “Why are you retiring?”
People never questioned my decisions. Joshua knew this but asked his questions anyway, so it was the least I could do. I pierced him with my gaze.
“I think you know the answer to that one.” I straightened my jacket and tie.
“Ahhh, her.”
I nodded. “Her.”
Tisha was good for me and calmed the beast. I made my way to the door, waiting for Joshua to accompany me. I understood his shock, but my decision was made, and it was final.
“I should’ve known,” he commented. “I saw you falling.”
Was I falling?
“No, it’s not that,” I said. “I enjoy her. She’s unlike any woman I’ve met before.”
“If you say so.” Josh chuckled.
The ride home was quiet. My mind was jammed with Joshua’s words.
I wasn’t easy to love, and I wasn’t a man who loved easily.
The possibility fell heavily on my mind.
I didn’t want to admit this to anyone, not even myself.
Could Josh be right? Was I in love with Tisha?
My willingness to give up my empire said I was.
Guilt swamped me as I glanced at my cousin’s tense face in the rearview mirror. You would think the weight of the world was on Josh’s shoulders by observing him.
“Josh.” His eyes flicked to mine in the mirror. “You’re ready.”
We stared at one another for a few moments until Josh nodded, finally accepting his destiny, and drove us home.
I waited until I was behind my office door at home before I sifted through emails. I’d received more information on Travis Connor from Aaden Conrad.
“Damn, I need this Connor guy on my payroll,” I muttered as I read over what Conrad sent. “A fucking hitman.”
I emailed the information to Donavon, then picked up my cell. “Donavon, it’s Smith. I got some more info about your boy. I sent it to your email.”
“I got it. I’ll let Martin know.” He paused. “What’s he going to owe you?”
I laughed. “We’ll be in touch,” I said, ignoring his question, then ending the call.
Leaning back in my executive chair, I focused my gaze on the ceiling, blowing out all my exhaustion. I was fucking tired of this life. Tired of keeping up this persona—as accurate as it was. My ringing phone broke through the blissful silence.
Tisha.
I’d forgotten all about her phone call from earlier.
I had so much on my mind. From my recent decision to retire to announcing my successor.
I was overloaded and maybe overwhelmed from situations I’d not been in before.
I pushed myself out of my chair, slowly making my way out of my office and to the stairs.
I felt the weight I’d placed on Josh’s shoulders on mine as well.
And it didn’t help, I still didn’t know exactly how I felt about Tish.
Well, not feelings I would admit to. My mind hadn’t caught up to my heart apparently, but hopefully, with a night to myself, I’d awaken with a clear head, ready to face my circumstances.