Chapter Eleven
Mason
I slam my hands against the desk hard enough to make it rattle. “We’re not done discussing this.”
Jack glances up from his chair by the fireplace and eyes me over the rim of the glass. “Throwing a tantrum is beneath a Payne. Surely, you have better things to do.”
I curl my hands into fists and step out from behind the desk. “We had a deal. Olivia and Oliver were supposed to stay out of this.”
And with everything else happening, I don’t have time or patience to wonder about what new game my father is playing.
I have no idea what the Fitzpatricks and Everetts hoped to gain with their little demonstration at the club last night, but I do know that it’s pissed me off.
Even more so because we can’t seem to find out who fired the shot.
At least no one is dead. A few injured employees is nothing in the grand scheme of things.
Having to spend all morning in my study, pouring over the evidence has left me in a bad mood.
I should be out there looking for the little shit myself.
I need something to do otherwise I’m going to do something stupid, like open fire on my enemies at every location until they hand Michael and Lance over.
Stupid little fucks.
What did they think was going to happen when they attacked the club?
They did it because they can. They’re growing bolder and bolder, and now you have a slew of clients with concerns you don’t know how to answer.
“Deals change.” Jack nonchalantly moves the glass to his lips for a sip. I fold my arms over my chest and glare at him. “Your brother and sister belong in the heart of the empire, not off chasing ridiculous daydreams. It’s time for them to grow up.”
I stop in front of my father and let my eyes sweep over him. “We had an agreement. They’re of no use to you.”
I haven’t spent the past few years honing myself into a weapon just to fail.
Olivia and Oliver aren’t supposed to be anywhere near this. If my father was anyone else, I’d already have put a bullet in his head.
So much for reaching an understanding.
He hasn’t spent the past couple of weeks sidelining me just to teach me a lesson.
Rather than wait for me to clean up my mess, he’s gone over my head and done what he thinks is best. As usual, he’s been operating in the darkness and moving pieces into play, and I’ve been too busy focusing on the imminent threat to notice.
How had I forgotten how cunning and manipulative my father is?
My siblings aren’t here for any other reason other than to pull my focus.
He’s testing me with another one of his mind games.
Goddamn prick.
Why couldn’t he just leave them alone?
Olivia has always toed the line of our world, with one foot on either side for years, but the minute she wanted to get away, I helped her.
Oliver has never shown a bit of interest in anything we do.
If anything, he’s regarded it with disgust and horror.
How in the hell had my father lured him back?
My father rises to his feet. “Shouldn’t you be attending some event with the Thayer girl?”
“Elise and I are meeting there, and we’re not done talking about this.”
Someone knocks on the door, and I turn to it, anger and frustration pounding through me. When Carlisle pokes his head in, I cross over to him and glance over my shoulder.
“I’ll find you later.”
Jack scoffs and sits down, crossing his legs. “No, we’re done here. You have another mess to clean up.”
I stare at him for a few more seconds and say nothing.
In the car, I dial Oliver’s number.
It goes to voicemail after the sixth ring, and I resist the urge to throw the phone against the window.
I drum my fingers against my chest and go over each possible scenario before discarding it.
A short while later, we pull outside the docks, and Carlisle opens the door for me.
I fasten the top button of my jacket and take quick, even strides.
Lance Fitzpatrick is waiting for me on the far end of the docks, his profile outlined in the dying light of the afternoon sun.
Carlisle returns to my side after a quick sweep and gives me a quick nod.
“Are your men satisfied?”
“Hardly, but I’m sure they’ll have their fun soon enough,” I reply, coming to a halt a few feet away. “And here I thought you were the brains of the operation. Only a fucking idiot would’ve agreed to this.”
Lance’s eyes tighten in anger. “You didn’t leave me much of a choice. What kind of man threatens another man’s brother?”
“A man who knows what needs to be done.” I draw back my jacket to reveal my gun. “If you don’t have the stomach for it, you’re in the wrong line of work.”
“You know it’s not that simple,” Lance says.
I raise an eyebrow. “Is that why Everett keeps you around? Because you like to wax poetic? That’s fucking pathetic, but I guess I shouldn’t expect more from either of you.”
“You like to hear yourself talk, don’t you? I’m here, that should tell you all you need to know.”
I move toward Lance and chuckle when he winces. “Yeah, how did you convince them to let you off your leash?”
Lance doesn’t reply.
I chuckle. “Everett doesn’t know you’re here, does he? Oh, this is better than I thought. I have to be there when he finds out.”
“Fuck you.”
I laugh harder. “Well, I’m not easily surprised, but congratulations. Not that it matters much. They’ll probably gut you like a fish for going behind their back.”
Lance straightens his back. “I’m doing what needs to be done.”
“Trouble in paradise? What a shame.”
I haven’t heard whispers about problems between the two allied families, but since Lance is there, I have to assume they’re at odds.
It doesn’t leave me a lot to work with, but I see my window of opportunity.
“Since you’re here, I’m going to do you the courtesy of amending the initial offer,” I continue. “Thirty percent of our shares from the business we conduct using the docks.”
Lance stifles a laugh. “You didn’t honestly think it was going to be that simple, did you?”
“Thirty-five percent.”
Lance rolls his shoulders. “We want half of the profit you get from the banks and forty percent of the business you conduct through the docks.’
“What makes you think I’ll agree to that?”
“We know about your alliance with the Thayers,” Lance says. “What a desperate move. You don’t have a lot of options.”
“The Paynes always have options,” I spit back. “I know business isn’t great. Got yourself into some serious debt, have you?”
Lance’s expression shifts and hardens. “Since when do the Paynes resort to spying?”
“I call it keeping an eye on our interests.”
“Stay the fuck out of our business, Payne. You’re already on thin ice with the other families. I doubt you want more trouble on your plate.”
I take my gun out and hold it up to the light. “Do you know how long it takes a man to bleed out?”
“Your scare tactics don’t work anymore. I know you wouldn’t have called this meeting if you didn’t need a truce.”
I remove the safety from the gun with painstaking patience. “I always say it’s important to be well prepared. You should’ve done your part, Fitzpatrick.”
He doesn’t flinch when I point the gun at him. “You shouldn’t have underestimated me.”
In the distance, I hear the screech of tires and the wail of sirens.
Carlisle shifts closer to me, and a ripple of unease moves through the men.
Abruptly, I reach for Lance and twist his arm behind his back. He doesn’t say anything as we step forward, and I scan the docks carefully, my heart hammering as a slew of cars pulls up.
Michael Everett gets out first, and I zero in on him.
“If you don’t make sure they clear a path for us, I’ll tell my man to put a bullet through your brother’s head and dump his body in the water,” I warn. “I’ll make your sister watch, of course. After that, I’ll have my fun with her.”
“I don’t believe you,” he replies.
“I’m getting out of here either way, so it’s up to you if you want his mangled remains to be found or not. Clock’s ticking.”
Lance goes quiet, and I wonder if I’ve pushed too far.
Michael approaches us, and his steps falter when he sees the gun pressed to Lance’s temple.
“This feels like old times,” I mention. “As much as I’d love to continue this trip down memory lane, I have somewhere to be.”
Michael blocks my path. “You’re not going anywhere.”
Behind him, I see Carlisle and two of my men creep up. In a few quick moves, they take down the closest of Michael’s men, giving us an advantage. Suddenly, Michael spins around and starts shooting.
I release Lance and dive behind the nearest dumpster as bullets sail through the air.
The smell of gunpowder and sweat hangs heavy in the air as all hell breaks loose.
I peek out and fire off a few rounds, smiling when one of them lands in Michael’s side. He howls, and his eyes widen. He fires back at me, missing my ear by an inch. Adrenaline pumps through me as I drop back behind the dumpster and check my gun.
Carlisle’s left eye is bleeding, and he’s covered in sweat when he finds me.
Back to back, we hurry across the docks and over a few inert bodies.
The car materializes out of the smoke, but I also hear Michael just behind us. I wheel to face him and aim for his head. I curse as the bullet sails past him and lodges into the man behind him. Michael’s face is dark with fury as he reaches for the gun and aims.
Carlisle steps in front of me a minute too late.
Pain shoots up my leg, and I see my blood dripping onto the ground. I blink, touch the wound, and rub my fingers together. The gun in my hand falls to the ground with a clatter, but I quickly reach for the dagger tucked into my sock. It sails through the air and hits Michael squarely in the chest.
His mouth forms a surprised O as he crumples to the ground.
I don’t have time to gloat as more men pour in from the shadows and smoke.
Carlisle and I throw ourselves into the back of the car, and the wheels screech as we drive off to the Payne estate.
My father is waiting at the top of the stairs when we return, a scowl on his face.