Chapter 8
SILAS
“Idon’t think she’s coming, boss,” Valen says next to me.
I already guessed as fucking much. She has a set of balls on her, that’s for fucking sure.
No one tells me no, let alone rejects my invite.
Yet she has done it more than once. My niece Alexis runs around my sister’s house with all her friends, while I stay seated in the dining room, watching.
I was serious when I said there aren’t many around her age, though the older ones know better than not to play with her.
She’s just turned six, going on thirteen as my sister likes to joke.
Admittedly, today’s meeting with Grim’s goddaughter reminded me of Alexis, with her carefree but demanding attitude.
I think the two would be thick as thieves if Leonore weren’t such a stubborn woman.
Though it’s obvious she’s protective, which makes this woman only more interesting to me.
It’s been three hours, and the party is finally starting to end, apart from the few family members and their kids still here.
My sister, Gia, comes to take a seat beside Valen and me.
She sighs, evidently defeated by the party as she takes a sip of her wine.
She runs a hand through her shoulder-length, almost-black hair, similar to my own.
Her blue eyes are slightly lighter than mine, but when they slice toward me, they are just as cunning.
Though we do differ; my sister has empathy and kindness.
I extend such privileges only to family. Anyone outside of that is a threat.
“The party is exceptional,” I say to her, and she gives me a menacing grin.
“Because you’ve been to so many six-year-old birthday parties. Besides, none of this would’ve been possible without Lotti,” she says with deep appreciation for our family housekeeper.
As the family head, she usually maintains my home, but for such events, she’s always in charge, mostly because she enjoys it. In her words, she enjoys creating our celebrations, and is more than elated to do it for the next generation as well.
Lotti is busy chasing Alexis and watching both of them, I silently appreciate the moment.
My sister’s gaze is staring down at her glass of wine before she looks up at me and Valen. “Any update?”
My jaw tightens, and I adjust my shirt, uncomfortable with the thought of disappointing her. My lack of response is enough of an answer as she silently leans in. “Who would do this? Pietro deserves a funeral, for fuck’s sake.”
“I know,” I say just as clipped, my blood starting to boil.
“What if … the body has just been dumped? What if—”
“I will find out who did this,” I grit through a clenched jaw, and her expression softens. She reaches over the table and grabs my hand. “I just miss him, you know? Alexis has started asking where he is. I haven’t had the courage to tell her.”
The place where my heart is supposed to be fractures. Only because I try my hardest to keep it out of every equation, but when it comes to my family, it turns into a fragile, dangerous thing. Because all it pumps for is bloodlust, often the only way to get results. I need to find them closure.
“You need sleep too,” she gently pushes. My niece, Alexis, screams, giddy on too much sugar as she runs over, trying to get away from Lotti. She runs into Valen’s arms.
“Make me taller, Uncle Valen!” she demands.
“Well, we can’t let Lotti take you,” he muses as he throws her up onto his shoulder. My sister’s soft, pained expression is gone in the blink of an eye as she watches her daughter.
I’m failing them and only leaving them with loose ends. It just won’t do.
I stand as my sister looks at me confused, until she sees my expression.
I lean in and kiss her on the cheek before I walk out.
She doesn’t ask me where I’m going because she more than likely won’t get an answer.
But she understands that as well. To protect my family, I tell them only what they need to know. The rest I take care of.
The first thing I notice is the unusually large number of cars in her parking lot.
But I do spot hers, the black one, which is obviously her favorite color.
I also recognize the other cars. The Hayes crew.
Stepping out of my car, I walk to the front door.
The lights are on, but from the outside, you can’t see in clearly.
Pulling the door open, all sets of eyes fall on me.
I recognize each face. But the one I focus on is the leader, Cian, who is currently leaning over the counter and talking to Leonore, who’s body is locked straight, as if she is trying to keep her composure.
He pulls back when he sees me, a subtle moment of surprise, before he straightens and turns his body to me and nods his head.
“Vescari, didn’t expect to see you here.” Glancing back at Leonore, I see her eyes on me as well—begrudging, of course.
“We have a meeting,” I inform her. Her mouth opens, then snaps closed, as if she realizes whatever smart-ass thing that is about to leave her mouth is a bad idea.
“We were just leaving,” Cian says, and looks back at Leonore.
He pulls out an envelope full of cash and slides it to her.
She opens her drawer and puts it straight in.
I watch as he eyes the drawer she slid it into.
“Until next time, Grim.” He turns, and his men follow him closely as he comes to a stop beside me.
“Word on the street is you’re plucking members of the Nero crew off,” he says matter-of-factly.
My glare cuts to him. “People talk too much.”
He casually shrugs. “I just want to make sure that whatever business you’re dealing in doesn’t impact me or my crew.”
“Only if I need to, Cian. As long as your men have stayed in line. If not, our next meeting won’t be so friendly.”
He sneers but doesn’t say anything further. Cian is a man of many words, and most respect what he says, because he lives by them. The Hayes deal in drugs and pleasure. They own almost all the clubs and bars in town, pumping their drugs through the city.
Cian enjoys his high life and is very careful not to step on toes. So far. Doesn’t mean mistakes don’t happen, and in the way I glare at him, he seems to understand my silent thoughts.
Cian gives me a simple nod, and then it’s just us.
Me and the Grim. Round two for today.
“We did not have a meeting,” she finally says.
“Remove your hand from the gun, Grim,” I tell her, to which she smirks. She fucking smirks.
This woman likes playing with fire, or perhaps we’re cut from the same cloth.
She’s efficient, and I can tell right now what’s going through her mind. If she gets rid of me, I won’t be a problem any longer.
So I match her insincere, devilish smile.