Chapter Twenty-Two
Mason
London gets out of the car and stops to adjust her shirt. Then she glances back at me, an inscrutable expression on her face. “You’re not coming inside?”
“I have business to attend to,” I reply, gesturing vaguely. “Someone will take your bags inside. I’ll see you tonight.”
A shadow settles over her face as she takes a step back. Then, she turns and walks away with her head held high. I don’t know what she’s trying to prove, but I’m not in the mood to teach her another lesson.
There’s a storm brewing inside of me.
Fucking Noah.
Why in the hell was he at her house?
Forcing myself to stand and watch was one thing, knowing that London needed at least a shred of her dignity intact. The minute I felt like he was stepping out of line, I swooped in to intervene.
Before London did anything stupid and made me angry.
It’s no wonder she keeps assuming I’ll come to her rescue.
Each time I tell myself it’s not my fight, I find myself lingering, unable to watch them come at her.
What are you doing, huh? You know how this ends, Payne. You’re a lot of things, but dishonest isn’t one of them.
I can’t resist the look on London’s face whenever I save her.
It hits a little too close to home, reminding me of the man I used to be.
The man I thought I would be.
You can’t afford to entertain thoughts like that, Payne. London is hot, and she’s a freak in the sheets, but don’t go getting any ideas.
I shouldn’t care about the fact that she’s easy to talk to, that I find myself telling her things I’ve rarely shared with anyone else, and I definitely shouldn’t be acting like some kind of knight in shining armor.
It’s pathetic, and it’s weak, and it’s not what we are to each other
But there’s something about being around her that blurs the lines between need and desire, that makes all common sense fly right out the window.
A part of me almost wishes I was the kind of man she imagined, the one who cared about more than corruption, chaos and power.
You do not need London, and she most certainly doesn’t need you.
And I know all too well what happens to people in my line of work who get distracted. With a shake of my head, I watch London through the glass and wait until she’s inside the mansion before I rap on the roof.
I spend the ride reminding myself what’s at stake, and all the reasons I need to make sure that London doesn’t seep into other aspects of my life.
I’m in charge.
Katia is waiting at the docks when we arrive.
“You got here fast.”
She falls into step beside me. “I’ve been expecting this. Carlisle and I coordinated in case you need us.”
I raise an eyebrow. “It’s a meeting. We’re not storming in there to do something stupid.”
The last thing I need is to make it look like I’m planning something reckless.
Katia tilts her head and looks at me. “Okay.”
She doesn’t say it, but we both know there’s a lot at stake.
There’s been too much tension and uncertainty since my meeting with Michael Everett.
It’s only been a few days, but I sense a change in tides, and if I’m not careful, we’re going to be caught in the middle of a storm.
Smooth whatever feathers have been ruffled and get this shit taken care of. Do what needs to be done, Payne.
Stopping by to check in on London’s childhood home wasn’t part of the plan, and I still have no idea why I felt it was necessary.
All I know is that putting her in her place was a ridiculous attempt to remind both of us who was in power.
As if that was ever in question.
Watching the color drain from her little prick of an ex’s face was just an added bonus.
What do you expect? They were together for years, and he’s close to her father, so, of course, he’s going to hang around hoping to get her back.
For the umpteenth time, I wonder how much of a problem he’s going to be.
Will I need to send Carlisle to send him a message?
Don’t be ridiculous. Sending Carlisle is going to make it seem like a bigger problem than it is. You do not want to send London, or your enemies for that matter, the wrong message. It is not your job to save her, remember?
All Noah needs is to find someone else to latch onto, and the problem will take care of it itself.
I just need to be patient.
For now, only one thing needs my attention.
The lepers who are hoping to replace us with the Everetts and the Fitzpatricks.
The clear, blue water emerges ahead, sparkling underneath the afternoon sun, and my eyes sweep over the boats docked on either side.
My pace is steady and even as I see Michel Everett and Lance Fitzpatrick standing near the water with their hands in their pockets.
Then, I see another man with a buzzcut and a cheap suit.
He is smiling and nodding, and our allies study him intently.
Fucking hell.
After decades in business together, is this what we’ve come to?
My footsteps are light and soundless as I advance on them from the back.
The man with the buzzcut notices me first, and panic registers in his eyes. “Can we help you?”
I pat the gun in my pocket, and I see his eyes linger before they move back up to my face. “I’m sure you can. I’m here to talk to them, and I suggest you take a walk.”
Michael and Lance freeze.
Maybe they haven’t forgotten their place after all.
His eyes widen. “You can’t just interrupt and act like—”
I take the gun out and roll my shoulders. “Act like what? Like we’re not in business together? I already suggested you take a walk once. Don’t make me ask you again.”
He takes an unsteady step back and throws up a hand.
“Do as he says, Kyle,” Michael says.
Kyle eyes Michael, then looks back at me. “There’s no need for that here. I’m sure we can—”
I point the gun at his leg and fire before he can finish his sentence. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
He yelps and jumps on his other foot, a thin sheen of sweat breaking out across his forehead. “What the fuck? What was that for?”
I shrug and point at his other foot. “I don’t like having to ask for something twice.”
He scrambles away, leaving a trail of blood behind him. Once he’s out of earshot, I turn to face Michael and Lance. They’ve already got a few men on either side of them, all with their guns drawn. Katia and Carlisle are on either side of me, and for a few long moments, nothing happens.
“You know what I really don’t like? I don’t like being stabbed in the back. The least you can do is do it to my face.” I pause to make a sweeping hand motion with my gun. “I thought we settled this the other day, Michael.”
Michael’s jaw hardens. “We’re just looking to branch out. It has nothing to do with you, Payne. It’s just business.”
“It has everything to do with me if it affects my business,” I reply, my eyes darting between the two. “I told you I’m working on an alternate location to use as a front… unless you think I’m a fucking liar?”
Lance purses his lips. “It’s not about that, either. You shouldn’t have shot the man.”
I shrug and lower my gun. “I don’t need advice from either of you. I don’t like it when people renege on their deals, either. It’s very bad for business.”
Lance draws himself up to his full height, the setting sun behind him giving him a strange glow. “That’s not what we’re doing.”
Michael takes a step forward, and Katia shoots him a look that gives him pause. “We’re just looking out for our businesses, same as you are. You can’t blame us for that.”
“We’re all in business together,” I remind him. “Or did you forget that?”
Michael glances from Katia to me and back again. “Yes, but this isn’t how we’re used to running things. Your father did things differently.”
How many times will they bring that up?
How long will I have to live within Jack Payne’s shadow?
When will it ever be enough?
“You better fucking get used to it. I’m not my father,” I say. “If you have a problem with that, then we have another issue altogether.”
As much as I hate to admit it, I need to get on their good side. Having them in my corner is easier than having to worry about them.
But I’ll be damned if they think I’m going to grovel and bend over backward like my father did.
While he preferred to cater to their businesses before ours, I have no intention of doing the same.
I know that our decades-long understanding is beneficial, but if I want to expand the empire, they need to adapt to the way I do things.
I have no intention of becoming my father, professionally or otherwise.
The sooner they can wrap their heads around that, the better it’ll be for everyone involved.
“I’m not an unreasonable man,” I continue. “I can overlook your little indiscretion today, and in return, we can all go back to our lives. We all have better things to do, I’m sure.”
I hate giving them another chance when they’re flaunting their disrespect, but I also know it’s necessary.
It makes no sense to charge in guns blazing. I know what a war with them would look like, and I’m trying my best to avoid it.
Michael and Lance exchange a look.
Michael clears his throat. “What about the business you promised us?”
“If you want a half-assed location, then you can set up another meeting. Otherwise, back the hell off and let me do what I need to do to make sure everything is running smoothly.”
I won’t go back on my deal with London, even if it solves my problems.
This wouldn’t have anything to do with how protective you’re feeling toward her, would it?
I purse my lips together and shove the thought away.
Once word gets out that our contracts aren’t honored, I’ll just have another set of problems on my hands.
Or at least that’s what I tell myself.
I glance over at Carlisle. He steps forward, and Katia shifts closer.
I know that one wrong move could turn this into a bloodbath. I didn’t come here to make such a bold, public statement, but I wonder if it can’t be avoided.
I’m not above getting my hands dirty to keep things running.
“Tell your goons to back off,” Michael warns, “unless you want to start something you can’t finish.”
“Is that a threat?”