Chapter 1 #2
I took a minute before answering him, but did so as if matter of fact.
“He was the former lieutenant to the Carpella Crime Syndicate family. From what I understand, he was the Don’s closest and most trusted friend.
Pops had a reputation as being a bloodthirsty man.
Now, I realize he was never father of the year, but I was gifted the opportunity to see him in action on two very distinct occasions.
And I do call the incident gifts. He even required me to participate at times. ”
There was no doubt poor Brandon was sweating like a pig. I was curious if he thought I was merely telling him a story.
I wasn’t.
“What?”
That was all the man could manage after what I’d admitted?
No one in the company knew about my father’s less scrupulous beginnings.
If you searched hard enough, you could find accusations of a connection with Carpella, but there’d never been any photographs of the two of them together and no arrests made.
My father had never left any evidence behind, which was one of several reasons he was considered part of the Carpella family.
“My father had a way of handling issues that was envied by other crime syndicates throughout the country. Perhaps the world. He was clever, creative in his methods of torture, and highly efficient. He could smell treachery for the organization even before the Don had any idea there was an issue. All of what I mentioned was something he also instilled in his offspring.”
Brandon had forgone bothering to reel in his prize. He also wasn’t looking at me, just standing trembling while the heavy breeze blew him back and forth on the deck.
For the first time in a while, I felt alive.
“Now, he didn’t want his sons directly connected with any mafia organization. He told us participating would shorten our lives, which was why Tempest became so important.”
“I can understand,” he managed, his voice now unrecognizable.
“I guess you could say I was very lucky in having a brutal father,” I continued. “It took me many years to even consider the possibility his lack of empathy and constant demands of his children would provide such a fertile understanding of how business should be run and the treachery I’d face.”
I lifted my glass as if toasting my father. While I did respect the man, perhaps even loving him in my own way, my life had been altered forever because of his own issues with greed.
Only his weakness had never been about money or power, but about exacting revenge.
In turn, just by reputation he’d gained dozens of enemies. One of them had destroyed my life. For that alone, I’d never forgive my father.
Even if I was one of the richest men in the world.
“I’m very much like my father, Brandon. Something else until recently I’d been determined never to admit.
Not only do I have his eyes and angular jaw, and his work ethic.
I also have an innate need to control all those around me and punish anyone who dares defy me.
” I polished off my drink, chuckling as soon as I swallowed.
I also took my time placing the glass on one of the tables, staring at the dense crystal as if taking my time to make a decision.
Which wasn’t true.
The bastard’s fate had been sealed the minute I’d determined he’d betrayed me and his old buddy, my father. How I was different from my father was in how I doled out punishment.
Maybe I had a penchant for drama, but I’d found I enjoyed the stench of fear almost as much as the act of revenge itself.
“And no,” I continued. “We are not considered a mafia family, Brandon. In fact, we are much… much more dangerous.”
“I don’t know what you’re getting at, Christian.”
“Yes, you do, Brandon. I certainly don’t take you for a stupid man.
Foolish but not stupid. It took me a couple weeks of beating my head against the wall to figure out how the information had leaked.
Financials. Upcoming contracts. Even bid numbers that had yet to be released.
I don’t need to tell you how vital it is in our business to keep details of an upcoming bidding war secret.
In this case, two. Or perhaps more.” I shook my head and rubbed the scruff on my jaw.
Damn, I needed a shave. “It would seem my hacker skills are rusty.”
He said nothing, not even in his defense.
I laughed and while this was all nothing more than a game, the tone was laced with bitterness. Trust was earned and the worst thing anyone could do was betray me or my family’s legacy.
“Given access had already been limited to my brother, myself, and my assistant, you can imagine what I’d endured for a full day. My sweet assistant has no understanding how close she came to losing her life.”
That wasn’t true. Maybe my dramatics were being a little overplayed. But I did love to see him sweat.
“Anyway, with my knowledge of the system that you helped supply when I was in my early twenties, I finally determined the source. I admit, Brandon. The way you covered your tracks was brilliant. You missed your calling as a hacker, which if I’d known your level of expertise, I would have exploited.
The only mistake you made was in not covering up your tracks well enough in creating an offshore bank account where someone deposited two million dollars in funds.
While I’m aware the party depositing the funds is hiding behind a shell corporation, it’s only a matter of time before I discover who is behind Southshore Limited. ”
Brandon’s body was now shaking violently. “I can explain.”
“I’m certain you can,” I told him as I retrieved my weapon.
“But here’s the truth. I’m just not interested in hearing whatever it is you have to say.
I thought that knowing how my father handled traitors within his organization, you’d know not to fuck with me.
I guess I was wrong. I assure you I won’t make that mistake again. ”
Pop!
His yelp of anguish was followed by a moment of shock as the force pitched him forward onto the platform before dumping him into the water. Almost immediately, he began to flail, which of course created a surge in his blood pressure, thereby pumping blood from the leg injury into the water.
I wasn’t interested in even the remote possibility of him being rescued. Yes, I could have simply ended his life, attaching a cinder block to his ankle and tossing him to the depths below. But what fun would that have been?
I’d enjoyed the art of playing the game more than the outcome itself over the years. This was no different than the salacious games played in college with my buddies.
Classic warfare.
I’d praised his work, lured him in for a prize.
Made him feel comfortable while assessing the situation.
Then struck when the time was right.
Actually, this game had been beneath my skill level, but there was much more at stake than when I’d been twenty-one.
Plus, Brandon’s acts of espionage could cost Tempest International billions if not handled appropriately.
The anger I’d managed to keep locked away for the duration finally surfaced when grabbing the buckets of chum I’d stored down below.
He’d dared try to climb on board, which forced me to plant my foot against his face, kicking him backward.
Brandon popped right back to the surface, his eyes filled with horror. “Please, Christian. Please. I had no choice.”
According to the few bastards I’d personally dealt with in my career, you’d think no one ever had a choice. Bullshit.
I tossed the chum into the water, not bothering to save the buckets.
“That’s where you’re wrong, Brandon. Every single person alive has a choice. You just made the wrong one.”
Turning away, I headed back to the captain’s chair and started the engine. Just as I pulled away, I swung my head over my shoulder.
The sharks were already circling.