13. Chapter 13
13
Luca
“It’s abandoned. I’ve got no need for security,” Asher Black replies, folding his arms behind his head as he leans back on the large leather brown sofa in my office. “The report is the only information I have.”
“I could have got that from my contacts,” Roman mutters.
“But you’ve got it earlier from me, at least you know where to look now.”
“Your property,” Roman says.
Black shrugs, ignoring the underlying accusation.
“Check the area,” I say, “there will be security cameras in the vicinity, get Henry to track back to the night of the accident and whilst he does that, you can see if you can find any other leads.”
Roman nods and leaves me and Asher alone.
“Whiskey?” I ask.
“On the rocks.”
I pour two large glasses and pass him one before taking a seat next to him.
“So, for thirty minutes you’ve been grilling me, and I’ve answered every one whilst you’ve ignored my questions. Now pay me the same courtesy, and answer me honestly, what’ve you got cooking?” Black’s trying to read me with his piercing blue eyes, but my mask is firmly in place.
“You know the plan.” I take a sip, relishing the burn. Who the fuck has property and no security?
I’m back to square one, and now I need to find out whether Andrews at Apex has any further insight into who tried to kill me. If that comes back empty, I’m going to have to call in the favour from Snow. Finding out who put a hit on me is not the thing I wanted to use it on, not with someone with her skill set.
“Come on, Luca. Don’t bullshit a bullshitter.”
“I always knew you had an active imagination.” I swill my drink, the ice clinking against the glass.
“I’m not na?ve. I see that the Covenant is dead. I see that there is an opportunity, and I see you, a man who’s a lot more intelligent, ruthless, and cunning than anyone gives him credit for. Don’t think I haven’t been watching you build your own army. It’s only logical to see the opportunity.”
“If it’s so logical, why haven’t you used the opportunity yourself.”
“Who says I haven’t?”
We stare at each other.
I tilt my head. “Your property in Tilbury?” I’m showing him one of my cards.
“The property at Tilbury.” He nods. “Having a property at that freeport was a logical choice for expansion. You can imagine my surprise when I met with the Russians to hear that two years ago, you made a deal with them and are already supporting their operations and moving their guns. But you're missing real estate to truly leverage that relationship.”
“And you’ve got the solution.” There’s no point in trying to hide it, he’s done his homework. He knows to make anything worthwhile I need property, and now he thinks it’s for the Russian gun trade. Not linked with my longer-term plan.
“My warehouse.”
“That you bought earlier this year,” I add, showing that I too have done my homework. “When did you see the cracks showing?”
“My father told me about what goes on behind closed doors between the four leaders. Relations are already strained between us and the Langleys, this past week's fuck up hasn’t helped, with our shipment being hit. Dad knows it’s only a matter of time before John and Levi make their move. He’s in support of what comes next.”
“And what’s that?”
“A new partnership.” He sips his drink and I do the same, watching him. Working through the angle. “There’s a changing of the guard. You know how ruthless John is, and Levi…He’s more intelligent than you give him credit for. He’s got ties in Soho. You know he’s fucking Duchess right. That puts the Langleys in their pocket.”
I snort. “Hardly. Terrance is already prepping Ricardo, he isn’t interested in letting Isabella take over.”
“But what makes you think Isabella will accept that? There’s a turf war coming, friend. The Albanians are going to be the least of your worries.”
I stand on the balcony and look down onto the dance floor. Juju’s is packed tonight, and the methodical beat of the drums is in sync with my heart, calming my raging blood.
What a cluster fuck.
Black’s behind me, girls wrapped all over him, with the clear instructions to make sure he has a good time. So, I’m expecting one of them to be on their knees, with his cock in her mouth any moment.
If what he’s saying about John and Levi is true, maybe my dear uncle and cousin were responsible for the hit on me after all.
Regardless, for now my plan is simple: get Black pissed and buried in pussy. I need to know how much cash will get the warehouses at the docks up to scratch, and if what Black says is true, then I want to know how close the Covenant is to imploding and whether they even have what it takes to divert the Albanians’ attention. As if they don’t, I need to pivot.
I can’t be one hundred percent sure that he doesn’t have an ulterior motive to dangle the Thames property as a carrot. If he bought the property a year ago, he’s already been thinking ahead.
But why that port?
The London Docks is made up of multiple terminals, what are the chances of him choosing the exact place I’ve infiltrated and taken over?
Most likely for the same reason as I have, the Russians.
Fuck, my head hurts.
“She’s here.” Roman appears next to me, passing me a new whiskey. “Gary’s pulled her from the queue, she’s with her roommate, and has since hooked up with two guys.”
“Is that so…” I try not to show my hand, but I’m already scanning the bodies below, searching her out.
A flash of blonde draws my attention and there, standing on my dance floor with a man wrapped around her body, is Layla.
And I see fucking red.
“Luca,” Roman warns.
I push off the railing and storm through the VIP section.
Roman overtakes me and steps ahead, blocking my path. “What are you doing, Luca? You can’t bring her into this world. People like Layla don’t belong.”
“She’s not Saskia, Rome, and I’m not you.” I’m pinned against the wall before I’ve realised he’s moved, his forearm across my throat, holding me in place and digging into my windpipe. I don’t retaliate, I stay stock-still allowing him to throw his little temper tantrum.
“You don’t say her fucking name,” he seethes.
“This isn’t the same situation, and you know it.”
“You’re treading a dangerous path here, brother, and you know it.” He pushes his forearm into me then lets me go, and I fall forward, rubbing at my neck, before straightening my shirt.
Then it’s my turn, my knife is out my pocket and pressing against his carotid artery. I let the knife sink in and draw blood. “One slice, you’ve seen me do it a thousand times.”
“Do it then,” he says, goading me.
“Don’t tempt me.” I lick my lips and then pull back, our eyes locked, chests heaving.
He brings his index finger up and wipes the wound and sucks the blood from his finger. “Bennett’s seen you follow her,” he says through narrowed eyes.
I swallow and grit my teeth. “I told you to pull back.”
“And I ignored you because I know this girl is under your skin. You need your head in the game for what comes next, not on some pussy. I watched you all day checking your phone like a fucking lovesick puppy, what is it about her? What is it you’re not telling me?”
“Tread carefully, Roman.”
“He saw you in the garden, Luca, he’s seen you at the care home. A fucking garden centre for fucks sake. What the fuck are you doing?”
I walk away from him and storm down the remainder of the stairs. I’m not pissed at Roman; I’m pissed at myself, for getting caught.
“Once I fuck her, she’ll be out my system,” I snap over my shoulder. Then I’ll be able to move on and focus on the task at hand.
Taking over London.
“You know she’s a loose end…as is her roommate.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
And I will.
Right after I’ve fucked her.