10. Chapter 10
10
Luca
I couldn’t stop the grin from spreading on my face even if I tried.
You are disgusting.
Sunshine
The angry words along with the picture of my gift send a thrill through me.
She’ll enjoy my next gift more; I just hope she accepts it.
“I know the meeting went well, but it didn’t go that well,” Rome says, raising an eyebrow as I chuckle to myself and slip my phone back in my pocket. Fuck, I want to see her, smell her.
“Did you find out any more information?”
“A bit more context would be helpful.”
“Layla.”
“Layla? We’re moving onto the next phase of the plan, and you’re asking about some woman? Get your head in the game.” He shakes his head.
“It’s in the game, but I want to know more about her parents’ car crash.”
“Then I suggest you ask her because I can’t find jack shit,” he pauses, giving me a what the fuck is wrong with you look “like I told you yesterday, and last week, and the week before.”
“Don’t you find that strange?”
“I find many things strange, including your obsession with this girl. What am I missing here?” He pauses from typing on his phone and studies me.
Thankful for the interruption of my phone vibrating, I look down at the unknown number. I’m not ready to admit what Layla is starting to be to me. I answer it.
“Luca.”
“And this is?”
“Asher.”
“What can I do for you, Black?” I look out the window at the passing scenery of London as our driver takes Roman and me back to my club in South Kensington.
“I want in,” he says, and I glance across to Roman.
Interesting.
“You voted, I know,” I say, not changing my tone. Roman watches me intently then goes back to his phone, starting to get the other moving parts in place.
Minus the warehouse that we are still failing to secure.
“Come on, Knight, the Blacks and Westons have had an alliance for as long as I remember. I know that you’ve got more cooking, and I want in.”
“I’m not sure what you mean, my sole purpose is to protect the Covenant and my family’s operations. Besides, your alliance is with the Westons not the Knights.”
“I thought you’d say that.” I can imagine him smirking at the other end of the phone. “Something has been brought to my attention that I think you’ll be interested in.”
“Is that so?” I put the phone on speaker so that Rome can hear.
“A burnt-out Audi Q7 was picked up by the Metropolitan Police last night on some property I own up by Thameside.”
Rome’s eyes widen, and he mouths Thameside.
The Audi Q7 is an interesting hook, but it’s not the thing that will help. The property though, that’s another angle.
Once we set up operations at Thameside, we are going to need local property that can act as a hub. Does Black have the solution to our problem?
“Meet me tomorrow at Juju’s, 9 p.m.” I hang up and slide the phone back in my pocket and glance out the window, my mind going a thousand miles an hour.
“Do you trust him?” Roman asks.
“Do you?” I reply, tapping the door, watching the sky, the clouds menacing and dark.
“Yes.”
“Hmm.” I trust very few people.
“Talk, Knight,” Roman demands, and I finally stop staring out at the passing London shapes.
“I’ve got a niggle.”
“A niggle,”
“Hmm.” I rub my jaw. “Anything from your contacts on the Audi previously?”
“Fuck all. Like it never happened, and the cars never existed. Including the Mercedes, everything has been wiped. Do you think his property could be an opportunity?”
“I do. But don’t you think it’s a coincidence that Black happens to have a property in the exact location we need one, and the same location where the Audi was found?”
“There’s no such thing as coincidences in our world. What do you suggest?” Roman asks.
“Let’s see what he has to say for himself, get him to help with the next phase. He’s on good terms with Apex Security, maybe we can get Andrews to help with the investigation on who made the hit on us. If it was outsourced to private contractors, Andrews would be the one to get his dirty hands on it. Let’s do it subtly though.”
He quirks an eyebrow.
“Don’t look at me like that, I can be subtle.”
“You and the word subtle do not go together.”
“Need I say the name Snow to you.”
“Fucking Snow,” he spits out, disgusted, and I tip my head back and laugh. “Pain in my arse that woman.”
“Well, don’t forget she still owes me a favour. Get Tom, Jack, and Henry together. I want them at the club tomorrow, we need to start looking at logistics, and I want to know which gangs the Covenant is using, we need to start approaching the ones we trust.”
They’ll be the ones pushing our product.
The Colombians product.
And without them, things fail.
“We also have the poxy gala Saturday night.” A yearly event my family hosts on behalf of St Thomas' hospital. Raising funds for their charity, it’s something my aunt was always passionate about, and John, being absolutely head over fucking heels, did what his angel wanted.
So, the annual Inspire and Ignite Benefit Gala was created.
“You mean you ,” Roman says, still tapping away on his phone.
“You’re going to leave me high and dry, aren’t you.”
“Yup. You play nicer with the crowds than me. I just scare them.”
“It’s because of the surgical gloves you insist on taking with you. I’ll never forget that poor woman’s face when you tried to get a lighter out your pocket and pulled one out instead.” I belly laugh and the tension eases.
“You putting lube on the bar at the same time didn’t exactly help my cause. You never did explain why you had lube in your pocket.”
“Always be prepared,” I say, tapping my nose. He laughs once, the sound rich, his hazel eyes sparkling with mischief. “Besides, that girl was filthy. Who wants anal on a Monday night.”
“I don’t want to know about your sexually deviant ways Luca. I hear them enough.”
“One time.” I scoff, “I didn’t know she was going to be a screamer. My ears rang for days after that.”
Roman laughs, and I join him. My phone vibrates and I pick it up.
“Hello, Cousin,” I drawl.
“I need you tonight.”
“What, no hello or please ?”
“Arben and four of his men have just shown up, they want to enter one of their men in the fight tonight.”
“The fuck…Have they got a death wish?”
“It would seem that way,” Levi replies. “I’m going to need Bennett, Fletcher and Rome. They’re always good in a brawl.”
“I need Rome, but I’ll give you Jackson instead.” I run a hand through my hair. Levi makes our family an absolute fortune running London’s underground fighting ring. Ever since the bastard watched Fight Club as a kid, he’s had a hard-on for mixed martial arts, and an unhealthy obsession for Brad Pitt. The Brad phase passed, thankfully, but the fighting didn’t, and I’d hate to admit that Levi has found his strength and excels in it.
The instructions from John were clear though, no fights for a week prior to or after the gala. We don’t need our men standing out with the aftermath of the lethal fights at a black-tie event, including Levi who finishes the night with Last Man Standing.
And yes, that is exactly what it says on the tin, all rules gone, anything goes. I’ve watched the psychotic bastard bite someone’s ear off.
“I’m going to let them enter.”
“And then?” I ask.
“Then I’m going to kill the Albanian bastard.”
I smile wickedly. Levi may be a dickhead, but every so often we speak the same language. “Where am I sending the boys?”
“Duchess’ place.” Levi replies, muffled talking in the background.
“That doesn’t narrow it down.”
“It’s at Edge. Just tell them to be here.” He hangs up.
“Curve ball number one,” I explain to Roman. “Arben’s just shown up at Edge where Levi has a fight tonight. Call the boys.”
Fuck’s sake, I mutter to myself. Why is it always one step forward two steps back?