Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
MASON
T ouching Casey had been a mistake. This entire trip had been a mistake, but Donelli had insisted I come instead of Tyson, which worried me. Tyson was the liaison in Armina. If Donelli wanted to see me, that meant he was wavering in his loyalty to me. Either that or he needed something that Tyson wasn’t in the position to agree to.
Riley had left for Bridgeville two weeks earlier. My men and I had dropped her at the border with a new car, a loaded pistol, and every fighting skill I’d ensured she learn before she left me. It still hurt to admit she was gone. Riley had been my life until she hadn’t, and when I’d brought her home from Bridgeville, I swore I wouldn’t let her go. I’d broken my oath to myself, and now she was in Greyson’s hands. My one instruction was that she text me the minute she was there…something she’d failed to do, leaving me waiting for hours. My mind had been a mixed mess of nerves and images until the phone rang, Greyson’s voice coming through on the other end instead of Riley’s.
“Her terms were steep, Brinks,” he’d said, and I’d clenched my fists, ready to take my plane to Bridgeville and land it in the middle of his damned city. “But I accepted.”
The relief had flooded through me as I heard Riley fighting playfully for the phone in the background. He scolded her, making my hairs bristle. What they did was their business, but I didn’t want to know, and I certainly didn’t want to hear.
“I’m fine, Mace,” she said, and I could hear the smile in her voice.
“I want a text from you every day. You tell Tides if you miss a single day, I’m coming in there with my guns loaded.”
“No, you won’t. But I’ll text you anyway. I love you, Mason.”
“Love you, too, Ri.”
That was the last time I’d talked to her, but she’d dutifully texted me every day since. Her text buzzed as I headed down the hall. Glancing at it, I sent her a quick note back, glad to have my mind off Casey for a few seconds.
Casey was another story entirely. While Riley leaving me had hurt, there was a deeper void that hadn’t healed since Casey returned to Armina. Seeing her today had filled the void, but I knew it would return. Touching her had been unavoidable, especially after the interaction with Tony. The little prick. Hearing him call her princess had my blood boiling, and I knew it would take everything I had not to deck him when I saw him again.
Angie, Donelli’s daughter, slammed into me as I entered the main hall. She was holding a pile of clothes and a pair of heels in her hand, but it wasn’t enough to hide the skin her skimpy bikini left exposed.
“What the fuck?” she asked, snapping at me. Her brown eyes were bright in the sun that seeped in from the open balcony of the room. They quickly perused my body before her red stained lips turned upward. “Well, well, does daddy have a new henchman?”
I hardened my eyes, not caring that she had no clue who I was. I knew everything there was to know about the spoiled party girl. I had a file on all the families I dealt with that included their children. Knowledge was the kingpin in my business.
“You ever call me a henchman again and I’ll make sure your father cuts your credit line off, Angela.”
Her brow creased, the only imperfection on her beautiful features, although her attitude marred that beauty. It didn’t matter to me that her breasts were pushing the tiny triangles of her suit, or the strings on her bottoms showed her thin hips and emphasized the waist that dipped in seductively to what I could only imagine was a perfectly flat stomach, her long legs highlighting calves that looked like she spent hours in the gym sculpting them. I knew too much about her to consider laying a hand on her, not that I would now because Casey’s body was the only one I wanted to touch. Angela Donelli may have tempted me in the past, and had I not known what a bitch she was, I wouldn’t have thought twice about fucking her. But I knew exactly who she was, and even though he hated admitting it, she was more Tyson’s type than mine.
Besides, I had a gorgeous hazel eyed beauty who I planned to take my sexual needs out on until my plane departed.
“Who are you?” she asked, her tongue coming out to lick her top lip. Damn, she was a temptress, and I wondered how many men she went through in any given month.
“No one you want to know.” I stepped around her, feeling her eyes on me as I continued my path, two of Donelli’s men taking the lead and escorting me to the dining room. I waited several minutes, admiring the view of the coast beyond the windows, before Donelli arrived.
“Mason Brinks,” Donelli said, walking in and giving me a firm handshake. “It’s been too long.”
“It has, Donelli. I need to make a point of coming to your province more often. It certainly is warmer here.”
“Indeed, yet you send your partner out all the time, as if you don’t like us. I don’t believe you’ve been to see me in years.”
He sat down at the head of the table, motioning for me to sit at the other end. Pushing his mid-sixties, Vince Donelli had once been as feared as Tides now was, but as Tides’ power grew and the Bad Omens settled in his backyard, Donelli’s once secure hold over the other families in the province buckled. One thing I appreciated about Donelli was his open mind. He saw an opportunity in the waves I was making among the families. I challenged the old establishment, and he understood that to survive he needed to change, so he made an agreement with me. It was one we’d had for well over a decade and one the other two families in the province quickly imitated. I kept peace between the three, helped them when needed, and my reputation kept the Bad Omens from their backdoors…until now.
“Tyson prefers to represent us,” I explained, taking my seat. “It gives him an excuse to check up on Casey.”
“Ah, yes. My men told me you made a point of finding her when you got here.”
“Tyson likes to keep an eye on her when he can and since this visit is mine, that mantle passed to me.”
A server placed a wineglass in front of me, but I stopped him from filling it. Donelli took a long sip of his red wine. “I forgot you weren’t a wine drinker. You should try it, Mason. What was it you preferred? Scotch, if I remember correctly?”
“Excellent memory.” I watched as the server moved to the bar on the far side of the room, returning with an empty glass and a bottle of scotch. I surveyed his every move, just as I knew my men were doing.
“Why the formalities, Donelli?” I asked, not comfortable with the way he was positioning me as the inferior power in the room. If anything, we’d always been on friendly terms. He’d watched over Casey for us and treated her almost as well as he treated his daughter. There had been nothing but good rapport between our families. I knew how quickly that could change, but I’d never had my doubts about Donelli’s loyalty before.
The doors burst open, and I stood, hand to my jacket, my men all grabbing their guns.
“Stand down, Mason. You act as if you don’t trust me,” Donelli said as Angie sauntered into the room, oblivious to the tension in the air.
She’d put more clothes on, but her tits still hung exposed under the tight black jumpsuit she wore. It was snug in every area that would tempt a man, her red manicured toes peeking from below the billowing bottoms that rested over her open stilettos.
“Daddy, why are there guns pointed at me?” She breezed by me, walking over and kissing her father on the head, deliberately leaning down to flash her cleavage to me.
“Just a mix-up, pumpkin. You should be careful barging into closed rooms. I’ve warned you about that before.”
She eyed me, her gaze casting the same hungry scan of my body as she’d done in the hallway.
“So, this is the infamous Mason Brinks. If I’d known when you bumped into me in the hall, I would have stayed and flirted longer.”
I gritted my teeth, not interested in playing her game.
“Mason, this is my daughter, Angela?—”
“Angie,” she corrected, walking toward me. My jaw tensed and I glowered at her, causing her path to falter. “You are intense. I like that intensity. Do you bring that out in the bedroom?”
“Angela, behave,” Donelli scolded. “Sit. We’re going to have a pleasant lunch with none of that behavior. Where is your brother?”
“Flirting with Casey again,” she said, dropping into the seat next to her father and batting her eyes at me. “She’s going to deck him if he makes another play for her.”
A flare of jealousy sliced through me, and I ground my teeth further, hoping Donelli didn’t notice.
“Sit, Mason and relax. Angela doesn’t bite.”
“Tony does from what his last girl told me,” she prattled on, clearly oblivious to my tension.
I snapped my suit jacket and sat, my eyes keen to the interaction between Angie and her father. She was still rambling about her brother’s escapades, as if this weren’t a meeting between two bosses. I wasn’t sure why she was part of this or why Casey would be. Tony might have made sense, although from everything Tyson had told me, he was more interested in the party life than taking over for his father. With every word she spoke, my envy mounted. Just when I thought I would lose it, Tony strolled in with Casey by his side. Thankfully, they’d used a side entrance instead of the main doors where Angie had entered and caught me unawares.
Casey looked ravishing. She’d changed and the pile of clothes in Angie’s hands earlier now made sense. Casey was a completely different body type from Angie’s long, thin frame, but the dress she wore fit perfectly, enhancing every curve I missed touching. The neckline was too low, revealing her full breasts and making me want to rip Tony’s eyes out. A slit ran from her mid-calf up to her thigh, her curvy leg protruding with each step and tempting me to run my tongue along it.
Where I’d thought she was adorable in the outfit she had on earlier, she was sexy in this.
“It’s a good thing I’m tall,” Angie said. “Otherwise, that dress wouldn’t look nearly as good on your short, thick frame.”
I swiveled my attention to her, seeing the jealousy in her eyes. I’d wanted to strangle her before for daring to flirt with me, but now I wanted to tear her to pieces. Donelli shot her a look but didn’t scold her, giving me the impression that this was normal behavior for her.
Her comment didn’t faze Casey, who replied, “Does this even cover your ass with those giraffe legs? My tits are a little squished since they’re so much bigger than yours, but I guess I make it work.”
Angie glared at her before giving her a nasty smile. “I guess some men like that thick look.”
“Enough Angela,” her father warned her before giving me an apologetic look. This may have been an official meeting, and I should have held my tongue, but she’d hit my last nerve.
“I do,” I said to Angie, taking a swig of my scotch and loving how her expression morphed before she recovered. “I prefer my women thick. They’re better in bed.”
Her mouth gaped, and I glanced over at Casey to see her lips lifting to a wicked smile. Donelli chuckled and shook his head. If it had been any other boss, this conversation would never have taken place.
“Their tits are bigger, too,” Tony said, ruining the moment as he sat next to Casey. The urge to pull my gun out and plug him full of holes was one I was having a hard time controlling. Especially when he scooted closer to Casey and put his arm around her. “Casey’s got amazing tits, don’t you, princess?”
The fire that burned in me was a red-hot searing heat that needed release. Casey shoved his arm away just as his father said, “Tony, have some respect. Is that the way your mother raised you?”
“Nah,” he replied with a laugh. “Ma would have smacked me upside the head for that.”
“Someone should,” I sneered.
He thumped his elbows on the table and studied me. “You just as overprotective of my princess as her brother is?”
“You could say that,” I managed, silencing the growl that wanted to accompany my words. “And she’s not your princess.”
“Not yet,” Angie remarked.
Both Casey and I swung our attention to her. She had a smug look on her face, but she said nothing to expand on her comment.
Donelli cleared his throat. “Well, now that you’ve set that up so well for me, Angela, there’s no warming up the room.”
I pulled my attention from her and looked at him. He sat back, folding his hands over his stomach. I ignored the salad that was placed in front of me, my appetite suddenly diminished.
“What’s going on, Donelli? You didn’t invite me here just to have lunch with your charming family, did you?”
I crossed my arms, leaning forward in my chair.
“Always the observant one, Mason. That’s why I like you. You’re sharp and calculating, someone no one wants to fuck with.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“I’d like to fuck with him,” Angie mumbled.
“You’re not my type,” I retorted without turning my eyes from Donelli.
He let out a booming laugh. “See, that’s what I mean. You could cut glass with that glare and that tone.” He leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table. “But you slipped up, Brinks.”
I noticed the change in his voice, the way he used my last name as if we were rivals. The tension in my jaw was tight, but I didn’t let it show.
“I don’t slip up.”
“No? Then why is it Greyson Tides killed your Bad Omen?”
Fuck. This wasn’t good. “What are you implying, Donelli?”
“That you fucked up and Mason Brinks doesn’t fuck up. You let a Bad Omen into your territory and now?—”
“And now what?” I said, standing.
His brown eyes evaluated me, beady and insightful.
“Do I have reason to question your loyalty, Donelli?” I left the question to hang in the air, my eyes never leaving his. The atmosphere minutes before may have been light with only my tension to darken it, but now the tension in the room was thick. I could feel Casey’s nerves, her eyes on me. She was used to this world and the dangers it posed, unlike Riley, but she’d never seen me in it. People feared me for good reason, and if Donelli doubted that, I’d leave his territory with his head.
He knew it, but he was playing a game, showing off for his children and his men, puffing his chest out to ensure they respected him. And I didn’t like games.
“Sit, Mason. And explain to me why I’m just finding out you have a sister, one who is marrying Tides.”
I hid my shock, forcing my mouth from gaping. No one knew about Riley. She was a secret I kept safe so that no one had leverage over me. It was something Tyson should have done with Casey, but my deal with Donelli kept her safe enough.
I adjusted my jacket and sat, my posture stiff. This was a deciding moment, one that could turn the conversation if played just right.
“I keep my personal business private, and my sister is personal. The Bad Omen we were hunting forced my hand, and I needed to ensure she remained safe and unharmed if they come after me again. Having her marry Tides ensures that.”
He raised a brow. “You arranged her marriage?”
“In a way.” I’d need to talk to Tides as soon as I could before word got back to him, but I had a feeling he’d back my claim up. If he really loved my sister, he’d understand my motive for the deception.
“Smart. An arrangement like that ensures you two are aligned, strengthening your hold over the province.” He swirled his wine before taking a sip. “No one touches Tides and having him kill your Bad Omen sends a sign to them that he’s still not one to be fucked with. You handed him the reins and, in doing so, cemented your place in the hierarchy, just below Tides where you’ve always stood.”
“Only now, I’m on the same notch as him because my sister shares his bed.” The thought made me cringe, but I pushed it aside. I didn’t want to think of Tides touching my sister, especially at this crucial moment.
“Well played, Mason.”
“So where does that leave us?” Tony asked, shoving a piece of bread in his mouth. His uncouth hand was touching Casey again, and the anger burned through me.
“It leaves you exactly where you are, only my alliance with Tides now reinforces your power because it links every one of my allies to him.”
“Actually,” Donelli said, folding his fingers. “I need more.”
My jaw tightened, the tension returning to my shoulders. “More?”
“More. The Bad Omens have turned their attention from the east for now. While they bide their time, they’ve been active in my province. The families to the north have spotted their activity, as have we. I’m sure Tyson told you about the mark we killed.”
“Yes, but the Bad Omens have been in your backyard since they formed. They’re to the south of you in the next province and they’ve never bothered you before because they know you’re under my protection.”
“Correct, but that was before they broke through your defenses. Now they seem intent on playing with me, and that leaves me in a dangerous position. I need more than your word. I need a sign, so they won’t even look my way.”
Shit, I didn’t like where this was heading and if he dared even assume that I wanted anything to do with Angie, I’d walk out.
“My son has taken a liking to Casey.” This time, my jaw did drop before I had time to catch it. That wasn’t where I’d expected him to go. Casey’s gasp was audible, but I didn’t dare turn my attention from Donelli. “I would offer my Angie to you, but she likes to play too much and I’m not ready to give her up.”
“That’s a shame,” she muttered, and I dared to look at her. “I could have changed your mind on my type. You’d be surprised what these long legs can do?—”
“Angela!”
“Fine,” she huffed, but still seductively licked her lips again.
I wondered what was going through Casey’s mind but didn’t want to look over at her because doing so would break my composure.
“This isn’t about you, my dear, this is about your brother. As I said, Tony has taken a liking to Casey, and I propose we use that to secure the relationship between my family and yours just like you did with Tides.”
Fuck.
“What?” Casey asked.
“He’s saying you become mine, princess. Come on, you know you want it.”
My tension was erupting, anger seething through me.
“I don’t want it.” I could hear the distress in her voice.
“It’s not up to you, Casey. This is a business arrangement,” Donelli said as I continued to grapple with how to handle this situation.
“Just think, we’d be sisters,” Angie gushed in a completely opposing way to the snide insults she’d flung at Casey earlier.
“I’m not sure how I feel about this,” I said. “Tyson?—”
“Does Tyson run your business?” Donelli asked, challenging me. “Are you not the head of the family?” He leaned further in. “Was I wrong about that?”
“No,” I snarled. “Don’t question my power, Donelli.”
“Then Casey marries Tony.”
This was turning so fast I was losing control. My mind was a flood of thoughts and emotions, my body so heated with anger and jealousy that my hold on my glass of scotch tightened the further the discussion went.
“I can’t—” Casey started.
“You can, princess. Just think, you’ll be sharing my bed and my name. You’ll be my girl.”
My glass shattered, and I stood, shaking the glass away. “She’s not your fucking girl. She’s mine. And if you touch her or call her princess again, I’ll shove that hand so far up your ass you won’t walk straight for months.”
Silence fell, the echo of Angie’s fork dropping against her plate the only sound. Casey’s mouth had fallen open, her eyes filled with emotion.
“Your girl, Mason?” Donelli asked.
“Yes, she’s mine. She won’t be part of any deal because she’s not free to be taken.”
I drew my eyes from her and back to Donelli.
“Why didn’t I know this?” he said, furrowing his brow.
“Because no one knows.”
His lips tightened. “Everyone out, leave us now,” he said, rising and waving his hands.
“But daddy, I’m hungry,” Angie whined.
“Eat in the fucking kitchen. I want you and your brother out now!”
Tony rose, grumbling about how Casey was his. I threw him a look that shut him up as Casey rose to go, too.
“You stay, Casey. Everyone else leave us.”
Angie brushed by me, making sure her hand slid over my arm.
“He’s mine, Angie,” Casey said, crossing her arms, her breasts further emphasized by the move. Her words sunk into my heart, waking it once again.
“No wonder you were no fun at the club. That hottie could have been yours, and the one that was hitting on you looked like he would have been worth risking this one’s wrath.”
I glanced at Casey. “You went to a club?”
She rolled her eyes.
“We’ll talk about that later,” I snarled, not liking the fact that she’d gone out or that other men had been hitting on her.
Breck and my men didn’t move, flanking me as I yanked Casey toward me and tucked her next to me. She let out a complaint, but I quieted her with a stern look. I didn’t know where this was heading. If Donelli wanted to take her from me so her son could have her, he was in for a fight. The two men he had in the room flanked him as he stood, following his path around the table.
“You hurt me with your mistrust, Mason,” he said, moving to the bar to pour himself more wine. He picked up a fresh glass and filled it with scotch before bringing it over to me. “I won’t hurt her. I will, however, question why you have so many secrets.”
“We all have secrets, Donelli. I’m sure you have plenty of your own.”
“True.” He took a sip of his wine and looked between the two of us. “Why is it your brother didn’t mention this when I passed the idea of Tony and you by him the last time he was here?”
“What?” Casey said, confusion in her voice. She glanced at me.
“This is the first I’ve heard of it, Case. Although I’m surprised Tyson didn’t mention it.”
“Don’t be. He was very adamant that no one touch his sister. I didn’t divulge how many men have, Casey.”
A growl slipped from me, and she shot me an annoyed look. Donelli only laughed, making his way back to his seat. “I guess that means lunch is off, as is any chance that our families will merge. At least until Angie tires of flaunting herself to every man she meets,” he grumbled.
“Was this the only reason you asked me to visit?” I asked, wondering why Tyson hadn’t mentioned it.
“No. I wanted to hear your explanation about your sister.”
“And I satisfied you with the answer.”
“Did you?” he asked. “The Bad Omen are still a threat and one I do not want at my back door. Find a way to get rid of them.” He sat back in his chair and let out a long sigh. Exhaustion rested in his posture. “Between us, I’m weak. I no longer have the resources you do. My daughter cares only about my money and the things I indulge her with, and my son is an idiot looking to get laid. There is no one to take over until I get his head out of his pants long enough for him to step up.”
“What do you want from me?” The stress was leaving my shoulders. Donelli wasn’t a threat; he was only trying to protect his family from an enemy none of us could predict.
“Your assurance that if they strike, you will protect me. I’ve been loyal to you since you first flexed your muscles against the old school bosses like me. I know when to embrace change and to respect motivation like yours. And now you have Tides in your corner. No one can touch you.”
I wished his words were true, but someone had touched my sister and almost killed her twice. I wasn’t invincible, and I didn’t know if Greyson even was. That was something I wouldn’t admit, however.
“You have my word. If they attack you, they attack me. But we’re hours away, Donelli. I can only do so much from there.”
“And you’ll do even more now that you have a greater chance of loss here.” He looked directly at Casey and my chest tightened. He’d played the right card—I’d kill anyone who threatened Casey’s safety and run them down and fuck her in their blood. I didn’t want to leave her here, but I was in a bind. If I took her home, Donelli would consider it a sign that I wouldn’t hold up our agreement. Plus, I had Tyson to contend with, and I was damned sure Tony was already calling him to tell him the news. Vengeance for taking Casey from him. I’d deal with him when I finished dealing with the Tyson mess.
Donelli rose. “You may want to have a conversation with your partner when you return, Mason. He about ripped my head off when I suggested Casey marry my son. I can only imagine what he’ll do when he finds out you’ve been touching her.”
“Leave Tyson to me. I can handle him.” Although I wasn’t certain I could. “I’m taking Casey with me until my plane departs.”
He pursed his lips, looking like he wanted to retort, but he knew better.
“Oh, and Donelli, if Tony touches as much of a hair on her head now that he knows she’s mine, I’ll show him just why the families fear me, regardless of my alliance with you.”
I didn’t wait for his response, turning and dragging Casey behind me. She didn’t protest, likely knowing it wasn’t the right time. She’d never seen me in a business setting, and I wasn’t one to fuck around with.
Breck opened the car door for me, and I shoved Casey in, climbing next to her as he got into the driver seat, Leo following. My other two men tailed us as we took off.
“Mason,” Casey started, but I glowered at her, not wanting to talk until I calmed down. Too much had happened both professionally and personally in that meeting, and I needed to digest it. Our secret was out, forced out into the open in an unexpected moment, and now I’d need to deal with the repercussions. Tyson was the main one, but leaving Casey here left her vulnerable to anyone who found out about us. Donelli’s men guarded her, but I didn’t trust his men. His hold on the territory was shaky and the only reason he hadn’t fallen was an agreement between me and the other two bosses who held territory in this province.
If either of them found out about Casey, they could turn on me and take her as collateral, just like what had happened with Riley. The thought gutted me. I’d have to leave her soon, but I was damned sure it wouldn’t be long. As soon as I worked things out with Tyson, I would bring her home, whether she liked it or not.