CHAPTER 11 - RED
CHAPTER
Red
“ W HAT THE FUCK is going on?” Liam folds his arms across his muscular chest to face me off. “Is what I’ve been told correct, or is this some kind of sick fucking joke?”
I calmly return my brother’s glare. I was half expecting a standoff, but it might not have been quite so difficult if I’d told my brothers myself.
I was planning to inform them how I’d decided to use Arianna’s presence to our benefit, but after her revelation, I got sidetracked.
What she said about the rings puts a different slant on things and it won’t be easy.
My brothers playing their face about her remaining here for longer than one night makes things even worse.
It’s hard enough waiting for confirmation, or not, that we have someone on our payroll that we trust; that we handpicked to work within the firm who is betraying us. The truth of that, I expect to be in front of me before this day is out.
I glance at my watch. There’s several hours yet before the cut-off time for my men to deliver the money from the dealers for the latest supply of Class A.
Then, that money has to be counted.
And then counted again...
Only then will I know the truth.
After that, I’m left to decide what to do about whatever is discovered.
And when...
None of this extra stress helps my already overwrought brain.
I stub out my cigarette in the crystal ashtray and glare at Del. He could have waited before opening his trap to my brothers about my plan.
Reading my mind, Del raises his hands in apology. “I thought they knew. Sorry.”
“Well, we didn’t,” Oscar mutters. “But we do now. For fuck’s sake, Red. This isn’t what was agreed!” He tugs at the knot of his tie. “Holding that slut here for the foreseeable future without consulting us isn’t acceptable. We have the right to be part of decisions that affect us all!”
I bristle at the word “slut”. I had my initial thoughts about Arianna and may have uttered a few choice words myself, but that was before I saw a different side to her.
After disclosing what she’d done with Roberto’s rings, much to my displeasure, I hold a grudging amount of respect for the woman.
I hate to admit it, but I do. Her affecting my cock the way she does means jack shit, but feeling like I need to protect her - want to protect her - is unfamiliar.
Although I can’t explain it, I don’t want my brothers using words like “slut” and “whore” in relation to her because, much to my surprise, I believe those things are the opposite of what Arianna is.
“Nothing to say?” Liam barks. “No explanation? We have as much right as you to have a say in what goes on, yet, like Oscar says, you’ve made a decision that affects us all.”
“I think you’ll find that I’m the boss, Liam!” My fist slams onto my desk. I’m surprised the glass top withstands the force, but I guess that’s what I paid for when I shelled out thousands for this kit. “ I run this fucking firm, and all of you fuckers would do well remembering that!”
My gaze swivels to that of my other brother, bypassing Del, who has the decency to look uncomfortable with what his mouth has caused.
Maybe I’ve been too lenient by including my brothers in the day-to-day running and decision-making of the firm, but I won’t be spoken to like a lackey.
Neither will I apologize for what I see fit to do.
“Where’s Steve?” I bark. “I called this meeting to discuss the unexpected issue regarding a thief in our midst. I need everyone here and expect them to be in attendance when I tell them to be!”
“He said he was running late,” Oscar says dismissively.
I purse my lips, unimpressed. I haven’t got time for my men to go swanning off here, there and everywhere. “I decide what’s important, no one else. And I don’t do late!”
“We told you we didn’t want that woman here, Red.” Reverting to his initial gripe, Liam leans forward. “She cut her husband’s dick off, for Christ’s sake! She’s messed up in the head! ”
My hands clench into fists, fast losing patience.
I don’t have to explain my reasoning. The majority of the time I choose to, but this time is different - mainly because I’m not sure of my reasoning, except that it’s all-consuming.
As for Arianna being messed up in the head, I’m not so sure.
She’s said little about her marriage to Roberto, but I get the impression the wanker didn’t treat her well.
A flicker of fury ignites, my mind scrolling through things that sorry excuse of a man could have done to warrant pushing a woman to such an action, and I like none of the forming scenarios.
Was the man a serial cheat or worse? Whatever lost him his nether regions, perhaps I should weigh up whether Liam has a point.
I may not get involved with women further than in the sack, but my cock still works and I would like to keep it attached.
“It’s hardly a great loss ridding the world of more Bristonis,” I mutter, downplaying my uncertainty.
“For fuck’s sake!” Liam rolls his eyes. “If you fancy screwing the bitch, then do it! You don’t have to keep the whore here for that! Take her up a fucking alley, shag her and then chuck her back where she belongs. We don’t need the shit she’ll bring by being here, Red, so get her the fuck gone!”
Lurching across the table, I grab Liam before he sees it coming.
He should have seen it coming, considering I picked him up on his behavior with women in the club the other night.
“I don’t like disrespect to women,” I snarl.
Resentfully releasing my brother, I move from behind my desk to pace the room, pausing at the nest of tables holding the decanter.
It’s early, but I pour myself a large whiskey, regardless.
A nerve tics just below my eye as I tip the whiskey into my mouth and turn back to face the room.
“Being as we are in this position by Arianna coming to us, we have no choice but to play our hand. Keeping her here while we do that gets us the best result - a result not previously open to us from the two firms who have always been enemies, albeit silent ones.”
“They won’t be silent for long if they reach the conclusion that we dealt out Roberto Bristoni’s death!” Oscar whines. “We’ve never planned for this, Red. We’re going okay the way we are, so why change it?”
I move back around my side of the desk, ignoring the looks Oscar and Liam exchange. I’ve planned this for a long time, just not now... “It’s too late to change the outcome now. Releasing Arianna or not, they’ll still retaliate.”
I have to broach the issue of the rings next. What Arianna told me must be rectified and there can be no argument about that. I open my mouth to speak when there’s a knock at my office door. “Yes?”
Steve Farrow enters, red-faced and out of breath. “Sorry I’m late.” He maneuvers his bulk between the chairs. “I heard something and was checking it out.” Slapping a newspaper on the desk, he nods at page two. “It seems that what I heard is true.”
Exchanging glances with Del and my brothers, I pick up the newspaper. I’ll let Steve’s tardiness go for the time being. Plus, he’s giving me a breather about breaking the news and what needs to happen next regarding the rings.
Opening the paper, my concentration immediately homes in on the bold print of the article halfway down the page:
Renowned City Figure In Tragic Death
I suck in my breath, my brow knitting. Oh yes, they’ve done this well. They’ve pulled it off in exactly the right way to save face. I glance up. “It’s about the Bristonis...”
Liam cranes his neck towards the paper. “What does it say?”
“It says, ‘The son and heir to the renowned and longstanding Knightsbridge jewelry empire, Roberto Bristoni, has tragically died following a fatal heart attack on the evening of 9th November’.”
“Heart attack?” Oscar scoffs. “Is that what they call it?”
My jaw clenches as I read out the rest of the article.
“There’s more... ‘Mr Bristoni’s wife, present when the incident occurred, is suffering with severe shock.
A family friend informs the London Echo that Arianna Bristoni is presently at an undisclosed private location recovering from the tragic and sudden loss of her much-loved husband. ’”
“Fuck’s sake!” Del hisses. “We’re right. They either suspect it’s her or believe we’re behind it. This bullshit statement is because they don’t want anyone else knowing we’ve got one over on them.”
“Does it say anything else?” Liam nervously looks around. “Because we all know Arianna Bristoni isn’t under the care of anyone they’ve chosen.”
I resume the article. “It goes on to say, ‘The director and owner of the Bristoni empire, Edoardo Bristoni, released a statement late last night: “Roberto was my heir and eldest son. We are devastated by his unexpected death and ask for privacy at this time in order to process our grief and to allow Roberto’s wife to recover.”‘ It then says, ‘ The London Echo will report on the details for Roberto’s funeral as soon as we are able. We know London wishes to pay its respects to one of our longstanding and well-respected businesses.’”
“Well-respected?” Liam snorts. “The ass-licking fuckers! Everyone knows what the Bristonis really are. I like how there’s no mention of the small issue over Roberto’s cock being missing!”
“Or that it’s somewhere at the bottom of our incinerator,” Oscar adds, a smirk on his face.
I chuck the newspaper onto my desk. “How the Bristonis are dealing with Roberto’s murder is similar to what I’d do if the boot were on the other foot.
” Making the incident out to be a natural occurrence was the only way to avoid giving your enemies an opening via chinks in your defense.
Once someone let slip Roberto had been offed, the rumor mill took over, but the Bristonis have played to the book in public. That’s why there’s been no retaliation.
Yet...
I clench my jaw. But there will be retaliation. And those retaliations will be aimed at us - or rather, me .
Oscar and Liam can make digs and jibes all they like, but there’s a more pressing matter that needs dealing with, now more than ever.
Folding my arms, I look up and the room falls silent. I turn to Steve. “Moving on, there’s an urgent job I need done. It must be actioned while the Bristonis are busy with their story of heart attacks. It’s our only window of opportunity and we’re short of time to take it.”
Steve straightens his huge frame, alert to the coming instructions.
“Do some digging on the location of Roberto’s body,” I continue. “The Italians normally use the Gallo Funeral Parlor on Basil Street, so I suspect that still applies.”
“Planning on sending flowers?” Liam grins.
I glare at Liam. “Roberto’s body must be lifted before the post-mortem. I need it done today.”
“What?” Liam yells. “Swiping the body will put us further in the frame!”
“We’re already in the bloody frame,” I snarl. “Steve will lift the body.” A small smile slides onto my face. “And you, Liam, will incinerate the fucker.”
“This is fucking mental!” Liam splutters. “What possible reason is there to...”
“I’ll explain later.” Giving Steve a nod, I watch him leave the room before turning back to Del and my brothers .
They’ll dislike this situation even more when I explain precisely why I’ve just requested that wanker’s body be brought under our roof and who will be enlisted to remove Arianna’s rings lodged in his gullet.