Chapter 4
Sitting in the booth, I rest my ankle on my opposite knee, my suit pants rising with the movement.
My silk shirt falls farther open, exposing some of my chest. I took my tie off after the zoning meeting.
Nobody ever prepared me for how boring it would be to be head of construction for the family, but it has to be done.
“Did the new permits get approved?” Kane asks as he sips his wine and leans back, mirroring my pose, his arm stretched across the other side of the booth.
Zayn eyes me as he forks another piece of steak into his mouth.
The entire restaurant is empty, but it always is when we eat here.
The eighty-story building slowly rotates around, giving us the best views of the city. It’s a famous restaurant for that very reason, and it’s also why I purchased it a year ago. After all, it’s my job to expand our legal businesses and snap things up when I see potential.
“Mr. Sai.” Our waiter bows and pours us more wine. We wait for him to leave before I continue speaking, knowing better than to be overheard.
“Yes, I had to grease a few hands on the opposing counsel, since they weren’t happy about the noise pollution, but the casino is a go, and we will begin construction straight away,” I inform as I reach for my glass and drain it with a sigh.
“Long day, big brother?” Zayn mocks.
“And you?” I arch a brow.
“Nobody to keep out of jail for once.” He smirks as he leans back, wiping his mouth. “I’m sure you’ll rectify that soon enough.”
“Any news on the woman I asked you to look into?” Kane asks, his voice sharp and commanding.
There is a reason he leads the family. He shoulders all the burdens and our father’s expectations.
He’s been serious and calculating since he was young.
His brain works in ways I’ve never seen before.
He’s highly intelligent, but I see his fingers dancing across his thigh, no doubt itching to play.
If he had a choice, he would have followed that dream, but he didn’t—none of us did. This is family, and family sticks together, so his passion was forgotten, replaced by his duty. Although I know he enjoys what he does now and loves protecting us, I worry for him.
He’s so straightlaced that he might explode one day.
“Not yet. It’s like she’s a ghost,” I admit.
“Same here,” Zayn adds. “Nobody wants to talk. I’ve offered bribes and deals. Nothing. It’s like she doesn’t exist.”
Kane frowns, clearly annoyed. He hates to be denied what he wants, and he always finds a way. This will be no different, I’m sure.
“Mr. Sai, I am sorry to interrupt, but you have a visitor. He is, uh . . . rather persistent.”
I look up at the waiter with a frown. “Who is it?” I ask.
“It’s me.” A bald man storms across the restaurant. Our guards step forward, drawing their guns. He’s alone, though, and I lift my hand, stopping them.
If we can’t handle one man, then we don’t deserve to be in charge.
He doesn’t stop until he barrels through the room and reaches our table. I run my eyes down him. His suit pants are cheap and a little ripped, and his shirt is nice but messy. The tattoos indicate who he is, however, and Kane must make the connection as well.
“Jakob, head of that ragtag bunch I killed yesterday?” he asks, swirling his wine in his glass as he eyes the man.
Jakob nods, clenching his jaw.
“And why are you here?” Kane muses, taking a sip and setting the glass down. “To kill us?”
“I wouldn’t have made it two steps,” he grumbles. “I’m here to beg for forgiveness.”
“Begging is done on your knees. Don’t you agree, brother?” Zayn smirks.
“I do,” Kane answers casually.
Jakob sighs, and with an expression showing his pain and embarrassment, he drops to his knees. “I apologize for the stupid attack. I was angry and lashed out. You stole our land, so I retaliated. My men are dead. Now we are even.”
“Not even close.” I toast him before I drink my wine.
Kane looks him over. “You don’t strike me as the kind who would feel regret or ask for forgiveness, so why are you?”
“Someone told me to sacrifice my dignity and beg for my life before it’s too late.
I trust them, so that’s what I’m doing,” he admits, bowing his head out of respect and fear.
Smart. He knew we would eventually deal with him.
Nobody gets away with coming at our family, but he wasn’t at the top of our list. He’s a minor player, no one important.
“And who was that, I wonder?” Kane asks, something in his eyes flashing. I groan at his expression. It’s one we know well, and Zayn and I share a knowing look. Kane’s like a dog with a bone when he gets started.
Jakob stays quiet for a moment, glancing around. “Who it was doesn’t matter. This isn’t their business. Now, what do I have to do to keep my people and myself alive?”
“For starters, you can tell us who. I’m curious,” Kane retorts.
Jakob’s nostrils flare, and he looks resigned as he utters one word. “Karma.” My eyes narrow as I sit up. “She came to me and told me to beg after she threatened to kill us for going near what is hers. I trust her, so I’m here.”
“Interesting,” Kane mutters, and Zayn and I shoot him a look.
“I’ll tell you what. If you tell us everything we want to know about Karma, everything useful, then we will forgive you.
We have already punished your men, so I see no reason to end your entire little .
. . family. You could be valuable in the future. ”
“No, I won’t betray her,” he snaps.
“We’ll even let you keep your land. Isn’t that nice of us?
” Zayn says, sweetening the pot. I use force, and Kane uses his brain, but Zayn?
He uses this silky composure. He can talk you ‘round and ‘round in a circle and convince you it was your idea to start with.
“All you have to do is tell us what we want to know.”
Jakob glances between us. “What do you want with her?”
“Your loyalty is commendable,” Kane comments as he picks up his wine, “but foolish. This is your only chance. If you want your land and your life, then you will tell us what we want to know while I’m asking nicely.”
His face pales and he closes his eyes for a moment, and when they open, his shoulders slump. “I’ll tell you, but if you are going to try to kill her, I would caution you against it—even you wouldn’t win.”
“We don’t want to kill her.” I smirk. “We just want to . . . talk. Now, do not make us ask again. Tell us and we will decide if it’s good enough for you to live or not.”