3. Dax #2
“Aren’t you?” I demanded. “Pretty sure I’m the one who did all the fucking work and gave you the credit.
It’s me and my men who put our asses on the line to get you where you are today.
” Slipping out a knife from my sleeve, I placed it on his throat.
“I put you on this throne, and I can remove you just as easily,” I threatened.
Holding his gaze, I could see he knew he’d never win when it came to a fight between us. “You’ve made your point, Dax. Now remove the knife before the door opens, please.”
“Just know that you’re nowhere near my equal like Diego was.
When you go to sleep at night from now on, I want you to remember just what I’m capable of,” I stated then stepped back.
“I’m a far better friend than enemy, so don’t make me regret offering my friendship to you.
It won’t just be you who pays the price for that mistake. ”
My dagger now back where I’d pulled it from, I smoothed out my leather jacket and rolled my shoulders to shake off the adrenaline.
No one spoke as the elevator opened, but we waited for Tommaso to exit first, all my men watching him carefully.
The idiot made a wrong move feeling too full of himself, but I had zero problem putting him right back where he belonged.
This man might be the better option of the two De Leóns, but power did funny things to people.
They either learned to respect it, or they got swept up in it and sold their soul to the devil that would never deliver what it promised.
“Master Tommaso,” an older man greeted with a slight bow. When he righted himself, he noticed us, and his eyes went wide. “Madam Two Tricks,” he squeaked out.
“You can call me Dax. I’m not one for fancy titles,” I said, waving off the greeting. “Don’t mind us, we’re just here as a show of support to our new ally as he takes stock of his new domain.”
The man gulped and nodded his head more aggressively than needed. It would seem that Tommy boy hadn’t been kidding when he said people were scared shitless of me right now.
Wes stepped forward and reached out a hand. “Hello, I’m Weston, Dax’s right-hand man in the Empire. Could you tell me where I might be able to log into your computer systems?”
“Richmond, Tarrance Richmond,” he answered, still a little off his game. Tarrance looked back to Tommaso as if making sure he was allowed to give Wes that information.
“Dax and her men are welcome to any information we have to offer them. I feel it’s best to get outside eyes to help me go through things.
We know that Diego was in the pocket of others, and I want to know what I’m getting into,” Tommaso explained.
Then he turned to us. “Tarrance is one of my people, and I brought him in to help me since he’s been working in large mafia-run corporations his whole career. ”
Wes nodded and smiled at the man. “If you don’t know where the server room is, I’m sure I can ask one of the other employees.”
“Oh, ah… about that,” Tarrance started to say, wringing his hands.
“Our security had called them all in and detained them in the cafeteria. They’re to be questioned and assessed to see if they would be safe to keep on as Tommaso takes over.
This is standard practice when the mafia acquires a new business. ”
“Makes sense to me,” I agreed. “Welp, Tommaso… while Wes is searching for the tech he needs, how can I help you?”
“You’re amazing at reading people, so it would help me to have you sit in on the interviews.
Or even just watch from the other side of the glass if you feel that would be better,” Tommaso replied.
“I need to meet with the lawyers and accountants to go over transferring the legalities, but since I’m a lawyer, that part is easy for me. ”
“Can the rest of us poke around?” Sprocket asked. “We might find things in the office or desks that give us a feel for who needs to be questioned more carefully and who’s here for a paycheck.”
Tommaso spread his arms wide. “Go where you please. There’s another elevator down the hall that only goes through the top four floors, but the employee area is strictly on this floor and the next one up.
The rest was only used by those trusted few who knew the full extent of what the De León Corporation did.
Dax, if you and whoever wishes to join you want to follow me, I’ll take you to where the interviews are being conducted. ”
I glanced back and wasn’t surprised when Void and Cam stepped up to come with me. Those are the two I’d have asked since Sprocket already had a job in mind.
“What about the rest of you?” I asked, looking at Eagle, Picasso, and Cognac.
“Oh, loba, I’m most definitely going with Sprocket. To be allowed to snoop in people’s desks and learn all their dirty secrets is just too much fun,” Cognac answered with a grin.
Eagle rolled his eyes. “Figured I should make sure those two don’t get into trouble.”
Picasso shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “Out of my options, I think I’m gonna go with the Nosy Nellies.”
I chuckled. “Fine, you guys have fun, but one of you hand over your cell so you can send me messages about people. Or if I have someone I want you to check out, I can reach one of you.”
Cognac handed me his. “Tell my other girlfriend I’m busy, and I’ll get back to her later.”
“You know that won’t be funny if I ever catch something like that happening, right?” I warned with a frown on my lips.
He grabbed my chin, lifted my face, and kissed me soundly. “Loba, do you think there’s a chance in hell that someone could make me stray from you? I wouldn’t have let just anyone make a husband out of me, taking such a catch off the market.”
“Go, now, before I choose to carve my name into your skin next,” I threatened.
Cognac winked and blew me a kiss. “Love you too, wifey.”
“My, you’re all rather affectionate, aren’t you?” Tarrance commented, looking slightly uncomfortable.
“I suppose so, but when you have seven husbands, you gotta take what you can get from each other,” I said, watching his eyes widen. “Yeah, they’re all mine, and I’m one lucky-ass bitch.”
“Shall we?” Tommaso asked as he gestured for us to head down the hall. “The cafeteria is one floor up.”