Chapter 36
Isit in the dimly lit conference room located in one of the many houses owned and utilized by the Donovan empire. The air around me is thick with the anticipation of the impending mission, and I rub my hands on my thighs, trying to relieve my need for a weapon. The table before me is strewn with maps, digital blueprints of the warehouse, and a tablet displaying the surveillance devices my team and I will be planting.
“Hey, cousin.”
I nod at Liam Donovan, who’s followed by my other cousin, Marcus. They’re both formidable crows, the best our family has to offer. Marcus stands a few inches taller than me, with a broad, muscular build and a scar that runs down the side of his face, a souvenir from one of his Trials. Liam, lean and agile, with sharp, hawkish features, is known for his precision and lack of mercy in completing any given task.
Other than me and my father, they are the most ruthless men to carry the Donovan name.
“Hey there, recruit,” Marcus says, hitting me in the shoulder.
“Hey there, cocksucker.” I punch him in the dick, smiling when he curses at me. “I hope your reaction time is better than that, or you’re going to get us all killed.”
Marcus flips me off and shuffles to the nearest chair, wincing as he sits down. Liam occupies another seat next to him, his expression amused as his gaze flits between the two of us.
“Okay, enough bullshit.” I thread my fingers and place them on the table, leaning forward. “This isn’t just any summons. It deals with another founding family. The Gages have been stealing weapons from us. Whether that’s to protect their narcotics or to bolster their crows is unknown and irrelevant.”
Marcus shakes his head. “Stupid motherfuckers.”
“Agreed,” Liam says.
“Tonight isn’t about retrieving the stolen weapons or even retribution,” I say. “That’ll come later. Our task is to plant surveillance equipment. Once we have solid evidence against them, my father will take it before the leaders.”
Marcus frowns, the expression tugging his scar, making it more grotesque. “Are you saying we don’t get to kill anyone tonight?”
“No, you bloodthirsty fuck. That’s going to have to wait for another summons.”
“You really know how to ruin a man’s fun, recruit.”
Liam, ever the strategist, taps his finger against the blueprint displayed on the tablet. “The surveillance tech we got from the McKenzie bastard… is it satisfactory? I mean, it has to be undetectable and work the first time around. No second chances on this one.”
“It’s the best we’ve got,” I assure him, pushing the tablet closer so he can see the specs again. “Night vision, motion sensors, encrypted data transmission—once these are in place, we’ll have eyes inside the Gage’s operations.”
“And if we’re caught?” Liam’s question hangs in the air, a stark reminder of the risks involved.
I shake my head. “Not an option. We do this clean. In and out, no traces. We’ve mapped out the security rotations for all five locations in the designated cities, blind spots, everything. Marcus, you’ll handle the main entrance incursion. Liam, you’re on tech deployment.”
They both nod, understanding their roles without further explanation. Despite their prowess and reputation within the family, my position as Edward Donovan’s son places me above them in the chain of command. This isn’t a matter of arrogance; it’s simply the way our world operates. My decisions carry the weight of my father’s authority, and with that comes both power and heavy responsibility.
If things don’t go according to plan, it’s not my cousins that my father will punish.
“And you?” Marcus asks, his eyes narrowing slightly. “What’s your part?”
“I’ll plant the primary devices in the main storage areas,” I say. “That’s where they keep the bulk of the stolen weapons. If we can prove they’re stealing, the Gages are fucked.”
“That makes my dick hard.” Marcus grabs his cock with a smile. “Not as much as killing, but I’ll take it.”
Liam nods, his expression serious. “They should’ve made a deal with us instead of taking our shit.”
Marcus folds his arms over his massive chest. “Like I said earlier, they’re stupid motherfuckers.”
“Stupid or not, we can’t let this go unchecked,” I say. “Are you armed?”
“Is pussy my favorite snack?” Marcus scoffs. “Of course, I’m armed.”
“Same,” Liam says.
I get to my feet. “We have an hour to arrive at the first location and get into position.”
Marcus rises too, and pulls out a firearm, cocking the weapon. “Yippee ki-yay.”
Liam rolls his eyes. “I’m of half a mind to shoot you.”
I blow out a breath. “Same.”