Chapter Seventeen
“Have the contractors given you a finish date?” Lincoln asks Hawkins as they take the seats across from my desk.
“A week before Christmas. We could have a soft opening on Christmas day and open to the public on New Year.” He answers as he scratches his stubble.
“Invites only. It’s best to keep it low for now. It should be exclusive with the rumors circulating about Bianca and the potential war starting.” I say, leaning back in my chair.
Hawkins nods before leaning forward, placing his elbows on his knees. He opens his mouth to speak, but Lincoln interrupts. “Have you heard anything about the girl?”
“Which one?”
“Maggie or something like that. The one Manzo was going to trade for Bianca?”
I shake my head. “Since she got away and isn’t with him, I doubt he would hand her over.”
“But we located her.” He argues.
“It’s not up to me. If you want to reach out and get her, I won’t stop you, but I’m sure that deal was broken the minute we allowed her to get away.”
“Have you made contact with her since she broke into the warehouse?” Hawkins asks .
Lincoln smirks, and I shoot him a look. “I haven’t spoken to her.”
It’s not a complete lie. We haven’t had a conversation yet, and according to the tracker I placed in her duffle, she hasn’t moved out of the hotel. She knows I’m onto her, so I’m sure it’ll be only a matter of days before she leaves. Hawkins sees the smirk on Lincoln’s face, and he gives me the same look, putting the pieces together himself.
“Until we figure out what to do with her, we will do what Vivian has asked. Keep an eye on her and ensure she isn’t in danger.”
“My father?” Hawkins questions.
I sigh. “There are many things at play. You will be able to get the answers you need, but we also need to make sure we play this right. She knows things about Manzo that might help us. We have to look at the bigger picture.” I pull out my drawer and slide over a folder with all the information I have about the upcoming war. Hawkins grabs it and begins to scan the pages. “All we know so far is that he’s planning a few attacks. The mole he has placed has been working for him for a while, meaning we aren’t sure what information he has. The first thing we need to do is put Plan B in action.”
“Which is?” Hawkins asked with furrowed brows.
“Shifting all the docks and moving all our products into a few warehouses around the city,” Lincoln answers.
Hawkins nods, “What do you need from me?”
“Just keep training your men with Lincoln’s.”
He nods again. “I actually brought one of my best fighters and his crew. He’s in charge of our training. ”
Lincoln and I both look at each other with our eyebrows raised. “And he’s not Capo?” I question.
He lets out a sigh. “I haven’t chosen one. Since the death of my father’s Capo, we haven’t hired a replacement. I want to make sure it’s someone I trust.”
“Who is he?”
“Nolan Burke. Started fighting in one of the boxing rings about ten years ago. He’s been training with one of my enforcers since he was about sixteen.”
“How did he get on your radar?” Lincoln asks.
“I happened to go to one of his matches. He’s been a Lead for about six months, and his crew has been on top since he took over. He’s doing well.”
I nod, and there is a knock on the door. Everyone’s heads turn as I call them in. A large man who looks to be in his early twenties steps inside and shuts the door behind him. He’s almost as big as Lincoln, but his face makes him look softer than he is.
“Speak of the Devil.” Hawkins stands and grips his shoulder in a tight grip. “Boys, meet Nolan.”
He briefly eyes us, dips his head in a nod, and looks back at Hawkins.
“Have you been inducted?” Lincoln asks, and Nolan nods, showing us his forearm where the Hawkins family crest has been tatted.
Hawkins family crest is a simple skull with a dagger plunging through it. Lincoln stands and extends his hand as a sign of respect. Nolan shakes it before turning his attention back to Hawkins .
“I…” He trails off as he looks between the rest of us. “I think I know the woman Manzo is looking for.”
The room grows silent as we wait for him to continue. When he doesn’t, Hawkins is the first to speak. “What makes you think that?”
He swallows hard. “When I was working the streets, I was approached by a boy named Jeremy. He offered me a bed, and I took it. When we returned to his motel, he introduced me to a girl named Val. It wasn’t until we were forced to move that she admitted it wasn’t her real name. Over the years, she’s gone by different things, but the last I heard from her, she went by Sophie.”
I lean my elbows on my desk and eye him. “What makes you think it’s her?”
He turns his attention to me, and I can see the slight panic behind his eyes. It’s faint, but it’s there. “I saw a photo of her that’s been floating around.”
“When was the last time you saw her?”
His jaw ticks. “She called me yesterday, and we met for breakfast.”
Everyone sits there stunned as he continues. “I wasn’t sure it was her, so when she reached out, I figured I would feel her out and see if I could get anything out of her.”
“And did you?” Lincoln growls.
He shakes his head. “Other than where she’s staying, I couldn’t get any valuable information.”
“Where did she tell you she was staying?” “Central Hotel in Times Square.”
“How did she contact you?” Hawkins asks .
“I have an old burner I use for family. She’s my sister, and Jeremy, the boy who found me, became my brother. They are the only ones who have that number.”
“And you’re turning her over?” Hawkins asked.
“If she did kill your father, of course. This is my life.” He gestures to the room. “She told me she had gotten my brother killed and waited a week to reach out to me to let me know. She also knew I worked for you and still went behind my back and put me in the line of fire by taking out my boss’s father.” He shakes his head and balls his hands into fists. “I love her, I do, and I hope you are fair, but in the end, this life is all I have. If it’s her or this, I’ll choose to be loyal to you over her.”
Hawkins eyes him for a moment before slowly nodding. “Did she tell you why she killed him?”
Nolan shakes his head. “She told me not to get involved and it’s best to stay out of it.”
Hawkins scowls and lets out a sigh. “Thank you for coming to us.”
Nolan nods and starts to turn before Hawkins stops him. “You have shown me more loyalty over the past few months than anyone else. Even before my father was killed.” Hawkins looks over his shoulder at Lincoln and me, and we both nod, knowing what he’s about to do.
Hawkins pulls out his gun, puts the barrel to Nolan’s forehead, and rests his finger on the trigger. Nolan takes a deep breath and closes his eyes, preparing himself for the bullet. When it doesn’t come, he opens his eyes and sees the grin plastered on Hawkins’s face.
“You are loyal to her, so why would I trust that you wouldn’t betray me in the future? She killed my father and has continued to put her nose into things where it doesn’t belong. She could be coming for any of us. The best way to do that is through you.” He digs the barrel into his forehead harder, and Nolan clenches his jaw.
“If I wanted to protect her, I wouldn’t have given you her location.” He says through clenched teeth.
“What else can you tell us about her?” I stand and walk towards them.
“Not much. She’s always been a private person, so what I know about her wouldn’t be of interest to you.”
“Try us.” Lincoln stands and comes to stand beside me.
He takes a deep breath. “She hates cheese but loves pizza. I’ve been training her since I was sixteen, and she’s become one of the best fighters I’ve trained, even to this day. She only likes iced coffee and likes it ridiculously sweet. She has to sleep with the T.V. on or with some sort of noise. She hates the silence. She refuses to wear anything around her neck unless she has to, no matter how loose it is. When she gets nervous or needs a second to compose herself, she taps each one of her fingers to her thumbs—giving herself five seconds to freak out before she puts herself back under control. She had three sisters before she met me and Jeremy, but they died. Family is one of the most important things to her. She doesn’t claim you as family easily, but when she does…” He pauses, takes a deep breath, and closes his eyes as if he’s in pain. “She is one of the most loyal people you will ever meet. I might not know what she’s been through or why she is doing what she is, but I know it has to be for a good reason.”
“Sounds like you have some loyalty towards her.”
“No, but it’s hard to betray someone you consider your sister. I would’ve done anything to help her, but knowing she betrayed me that way, I don’t think I can forgive her. ”
We all eye him, scanning his features for any signs he might be lying. He did give us the right location, but we know to take any information with a grain of salt. Hawkins looks over to me, and I shrug. I don’t really care what happens to the man. I might be in charge of Hawkins at the moment, but he’s still in charge of his men.
Hawkins lets out a long sigh and lowers his gun. “You’ve shown us the loyalty it takes to be a part of this life.” He places the gun back in his waistband. “How would you like a promotion?”
Nolan’s eyes grow wide as he stares between the three of us. “And become?” He questions.
“Capo. I’ve considered it since my father’s death. I need someone strong and able. This is one of the toughest times in history for a leader. Wars are never easy; they are filled with loss and destruction. After that, it won’t be any better. The worst power struggle in two lifetimes won’t end until Manzo and Marcello’s territories are claimed. Do you think you are up for leading these men?”
His mouth drops open, and then he quickly schools his features. “It would be an honor.” Hawkins extends his hand, and Nolan shakes it firmly.
“Then, let’s get started.”
The next few hours were spent catching Nolan up on his new duties. He will shadow Lincoln for a few days before we announce to the men that Hawkins has appointed a new Capo. The men under him seemed to have respect for him, which is saying a lot. Most men in this life think they are better, stronger, and more powerful than everyone around them. To gain the respect of not only the few men you rule over but all, shows the potential he has.
After a few hours of deliberating on our next steps in this war, I send Nolan back out into the club, letting us get back to the business at hand. Tonight is one of the only nights we can grab the woman Ava had found for us. Since Jessica is allowed to switch between working at the clubs and working as one of Manzo’s personal women, she is kept under lock and key. Most of his women are.
Getting our hands on her would allow us to gain insight into why he wants Bianca. Gathering information on Manzo is vital, so taking a woman who has worked not only in his clubs, but has access to his house as well, will come in handy. If she overheard anything while working in his house, or if the women who stay there permanently have said anything to her, it could give us the information we need.
Manzo let it slip that he wants to marry her, allowing him control over Marcello’s territory when he dies. Hawkins, Lincoln, and I all know that it wouldn’t be hard for Marcello to take down Hawkins’s territory if that were to happen. If he gets control over all three, mine would crumble. Manzo has control over Marcello, but he can’t control his men. It’s a very similar relationship to how Hawkins and I are.
By the time I get home, I have enough time to shower and change into a suit before I head to the warehouse. I’m meeting Marcus, who took a few men to pick up Jessica from the club earlier. When I walk down the spiral staircase, I find Vivian sitting on my couch.
“We need to talk.” She says as she stands and follows me into the kitchen. I fix myself a cup of coffee and lean against the counter, eyeing her as she rests her elbows on the island. “I heard from Dad.”
I lower my cup and pull my eyebrows together. “What did he want? ”
“He heard that I’d be attending the ballet academy in the spring and wanted to know how I was doing. I thought you should know that he is alive.”
“Okay.” I chug the rest of the coffee and wince as it burns my tongue as it goes down.
“Okay? Just okay?” She stands and places her hands on her hips. “We haven’t heard from him in years and your only response is okay?”
“I don’t give a fuck if that man is dead or alive, Vivian, and neither should you.” I put the mug into the sink and walk past her.
“Can’t you have a normal conversation just once? You just learned that our father is alive and well, and yet you’re acting like you don’t care.” She trails after me and grips my arm, stopping me.
“I don’t.” I hiss and spin around to face her.
“Well, you should. He said he was going to visit and see how you were running things.”
“Did he say when?”
“No. Just that it would be soon. He needed to get things in order on his end first.”
I huff out a breath and run my hands down my face. “Don’t talk to him again. If he calls you, you call me. Do you understand?”
“You can’t stop me from talking to my own father, Ryker.”
“Damn it, Vivian!” I yell, “I’m doing it to protect you!” She winces and takes a step back.
“He is my father! I don’t need protection from him. He wanted to spend a few years gathering himself after mom passed. I can’t blame him for that, and neither should you.” She folds her arms across her chest, and I walk to the elevator, pressing the call button.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. He is a dangerous man.”
She lets out a humorless laugh, “In case you forgot, Ryker, every man in my fucking life is a dangerous man. You, Lincoln, and any guard you send to protect me aren’t upstanding citizens.”
“Things are about to get even more dangerous. More targets will be on our backs, and you need to stay safe. If you refuse to listen, you’ll force me to take matters into my own hands, and I’ll have to make you comply.”
“Make me comply?” She scoffs. “Like what? Hold me hostage?”
The doors to the elevator finally open, and we both get in. “If I have to, I will,” I grumble.
“I’d like to see you try.” She mumbles back under her breath.
The doors open, and we walk outside. I put her in her car and let out a long breath. “I’m serious, Vivian. Don’t let him contact you again. You need to tell me if he does, and I’ll deal with it.”
I shut the door and watch as the car pulls away. I send Lincoln a message to come pick me up, and within five minutes, he is at the curb, ready to take me to the warehouse.