Chapter 24 #2
And Zane? Well, as vice president of his father’s operations, he had his hand in everything. Including wanting the Strathmore property. But the list was endless and I planned on holding most names for future blackmail possibilities. I was an opportunist after all.
Discovery had been made and someone had seen Josette. It was amazing how an object of obsession could turn a man upside down.
Including me.
You could have heard a pin drop when I walked into Alexander’s office.
Jaxon and Montgomery stood with their backs against the wall, drinks in their hands even though it was only one in the afternoon.
Not that time mattered in our world. We worked as many nights as we did days.
I waltzed in, saying nothing but immediately heading to the bar myself. I could feel the heat and tension increasing in the room. Yes, I should have called him as soon as I’d learned half of what I’d discovered, but I’d wanted as many of the pieces in place as possible.
As I passed Alexander, he studied me as if watching someone passing on the street, but he was seething. I knew my brother too well. His silence meant fury.
I hadn’t made it to the bar before I felt him behind me.
With a rough yank, he pummeled his fist into my face, the force pitching me back against the bar.
As glasses were tossed off the shelves, smashed on the wooden floor, he stood with his hands on his hips.
I shook it off, rubbing my jaw and pushing myself away from the wooden surface. “I guess I deserved that.”
“Yeah, you did. Just be glad I’m in a fucking good mood.”
“This is a good mood?” Montgomery asked.
Very slowly Alexander shot him a look. “Why in the hell did you try and get yourself killed? Why didn’t you call for backup? Why did you put our entire family and our operation front and center in front of a gang? And why the fuck did you blow up a warehouse owned by a new enemy?”
“It wasn’t about getting myself killed, but about making a statement.
” I shoved aside the broken glass, grabbing one that remained undamaged.
“And the Las Riveras weren’t going away, Alexander.
They were tipped off that I was at a restaurant with Josette.
They were waiting and they had no intention of allowing me to return home alive. ”
“That’s because you killed Dejandro’s son.”
“You mean the man caught stealing ten million dollars’ worth of product from us. What would you have preferred I do?” I poured the glass full.
The continued tension in the room was to be expected. He took a deep breath.
“He’s right, Alex,” Montgomery offered.
Alexander wasn’t interested in compromises or excuses.
“If it makes you feel any better, I recovered our precious cargo.” I waited as the news sank in. Finally, Alexander’s expression softened.
“What in the fuck kind of game are you playing?”
“Have you heard of the Brotherhood?” I left the carrot dangling, enjoying a sip of my drink. After my expert sleuthing, I deserved the expensive glass of whiskey.
“Go on,” he gritted out.
I proceeded to tell them the story including regarding Josette’s true identity, even showing them the photographs on her phone. Afterwards, there was silence.
“That’s an incredible story,” Montgomery said, whistling through his teeth.
“You’re certain of the people involved,” Jaxon pushed.
Nodding, I glanced at Alexander, curious as to his reaction. “Yes, although I have no doubt there are more. Including members of our own private club.”
Alexander finally laughed. “They truly don’t know how powerful we are. What are your thoughts of bringing this stimulating but annoying chapter of business to a conclusion, Sin?”
“I say we set up a few meetings, eventually bringing all the players together.” I shifted my gaze among my brothers, chuckling under my breath.
Jaxon nodded. “I like the idea. We deal with them all at once.”
“Not necessarily. I say we also have a field trip to Texas. There’s a state penitentiary that needs some redecorating.
” I continued to laugh. If the Las Riveras and Santos wanted to sic various chapters of their gang on us, we’d go to the source.
We’d be doing the public a good service by ridding the world of tainted drugs in the process.
Finally, Alexander grinned. “Maybe I was a little premature in punching you after all.”
I rubbed my jaw on purpose. “A compliment from the king. I’m honored.”
He narrowed his eyes but nodded out of respect. At least I’d redeem myself.
“If only we knew who the mole was, I’d say this was one of our best days,” Jaxon suggested, even raising his glass.
Montgomery’s phone made noise. As soon as he glanced at the screen, his grin widened. “You asked me to find the source. Well, I did. You won’t like it, Sinclair, but don’t shoot the messenger.” He sent a return message before looking at me.
The sharp knock on the door was followed by two of Montgomery’s men storming inside. With a prisoner in tow.
“What the fuck?” I walked closer, surprised to see Tommy being led in like a traitor. “What are you trying to tell me, brother?” Tommy was a loyal soldier and had been for years.
“He’s the mole,” one of the soldiers said.
They’d worked him over, but it wasn’t anything compared to what I would do. “Let him go.”
They did, backing away a few feet. I hauled off and punched Tommy in the face just to get his attention.
“You know what happens to traitors in this family.”
He was a big guy, able to take the abuse. He wasn’t gloating, the look in his eyes unreadable. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know I was a traitor.”
“Who did you tell about the cargo shipment and the dinner I had?” The list could go on and on.
“Nobody who would say anything. I swear to God.” His expression was one of fear, but there was something off about it.
“Who did you tell?”
“I…”
He was worried for the person he’d told. “Tell me, Tommy. Was this a mistake?”
When I pulled out my weapon, he pleaded with me with his eyes. “Please.”
“Then talk to me. Who was it? If you didn’t betray us, the person you told did.”
“She wouldn’t do that.”
“She?” Now he had my attention.
“My sister.”
“Your sister,” Montgomery said as he flanked my side. “Should that mean something to us?”
“Yes. Because she works for the family.”
“What?” I pushed, able to see he wasn’t lying.
As he spat off word for word what had been said and who his sister worked for, all four brothers of the Prince family looked at each other.
The Brotherhood.
“Why in the hell were you so cryptic on the phone?” Greg asked as he slipped across from me in the booth.
We’d come to the hole in the wall bar a few times years before. We’d chatted about business, old times, and women. Now I had to wonder if everything we’d discussed starting from the day we’d met had been all about gathering information.
Thankfully, I’d learned from an early age never to supply direct information about our family’s operation. Just general terms. Maybe that’s why our friendship had ultimately gone south.
“I took the liberty of ordering a whiskey for you.” On cue, the drink was slammed down in front of him. I didn’t take my eyes off him. I tried to remember the last time I’d seen Greg in anything but a collared shirt and tie.
As if it mattered.
“Oh, this must be serious,” he said after taking a gulp. “What did you do, have them finally stock the good shit?”
“Something like that.” When I didn’t respond to his smile, it faded.
“What is this about, Sin? Are you going to try and strong-arm me into pushing the Johnsons into accepting your offer? You know I can’t do that legally. I’d lose my license to practice law.”
I took my time answering. “Where is it, Greg?”
“Where is what?”
The whiskey was tasting good. I allowed him to sweat while I took another swallow. “The emblem of your servitude.” Swirling the glass, I glanced down at what I was doing.
“I don’t understand.”
“To the Brotherhood.” I slowly lifted my gaze, watching the color drain from his face.
“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
As soon as he touched his upper chest involuntarily, I grabbed his hand, bending his wrist back until I sensed he was in significant pain. He gritted his teeth, his eyes darting back and forth. I stuck the fingers of my other hand under his collar, yanking out the chain.
“This one.” I didn’t release my hold on his other hand. With a single snap I could break all four fingers or his wrist. Maybe I’d do both.
“Please. Sinclair.” His words were spit from clenched teeth, beads of sweat already forming across his forehead.
“Please what? Show you some mercy after all the fucking years you’ve been lying to me? After playing ball for the Brotherhood?”
“I didn’t lie to you. Their operation didn’t affect you.”
“Until now. That’s why you acted so insecure the other day. I should have put two and two together.” I added pressure until he was gasping for air. Then I let him go, sitting back and glaring at the dagger with diamonds.
He rubbed his hand, panting before darting a glance toward the door.
“Don’t worry. This is between you and me. For now. But you’re going to tell me what the fuck is going on.”
“There’s nothing to tell. I’m not involved with them. I mean not really.”
Not really.
I was already losing my patience. I also had a date I didn’t intend on missing. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out four photographs, laying them out one at time. Without saying a word, I offered him a choice.
As he peered down at his wife photographed at the grocery store, he sucked in his breath.
When his eyes flitted to his black lab, Lucy, who was at the doggy day care, that single bead of sweat finally trickled down the side of his face.
But when he shifted his gaze from the picture of his daughter in elementary school on the playground and his son in junior high running track and field, he slipped further down in the booth.
“You fucking monster,” he hissed. “You’d hurt my family?”
“I’d do what it takes to protect mine, including the woman who you discovered recently became important to me, the one you also were made aware had escaped from a previous life.
Away from the clutches of the Brotherhood, namely Zane Emmett.
Now, I was curious when she told me all about the Brotherhood, so I did my research.
You know how thorough I’ve been in my life. That’s kept me alive.”
He took a gulp of his drink and I noticed his hand was shaking. As if I cared. “What do you want from me?”
“Well, it’s simple really. In exchange for the life of your family, you’re going to take these papers to the Johnsons and tell them to sign them.
In turn, you’re going to contact all the people involved with the proposed transaction, which includes Marcus Jeffries, Walter Emmett, and poor Mark Zuckerberg, the lamb to this slaughter, and you’re going to tell them that the deal is done, the paperwork signed, and you want to present it at the Strathmore location for a celebration. ”
From what I could tell, the Brotherhood had plans on using Mark as a scapegoat.
“They won’t buy that.”
His insistence made me laugh. “You’re going to ensure they come to the meeting.”
“You don’t know these people, Sin. They’re dangerous. I mean, fuck. They almost killed you.”
His admittance spread a smile across my face since he shouldn’t have discovered the news. “And apparently, you conveniently forgot how powerful and dangerous the Prince family is.” I toyed with the photographs. “Would you prefer I offer you a lesson in challenging me?”
“Don’t you dare hurt them. They have nothing to do with this.” He was sweating like a pig.
“You have me curious. From which family did you find your wife? I mean you told me you were madly in love. Was it all an arrangement with your father and her father maybe right after you were born?”
“I’m not part of the Elite.”
“Which means?”
He glanced over his shoulder, extremely nervous.
Leaning over the table, he lowered his voice.
“If you know anything about the Brotherhood, you know there are tiers. The Elite has had their entire life planned out for them, but they don’t care.
Because they own the fucking world. They can do whatever they want as long as certain protocols are followed.
I’m second tier. Second class. That means I’m allowed to make choices. ”
“Ah, but that makes you their lackey.”
He nodded, more nervous than ever.
“Doesn’t that piss you off?”
Finally, he rolled his eyes, bringing his glass to his lips and holding it there. “You don’t know how many times I’ve wanted to get out.”
“But they hold some level of corruption over your head.”
“Yep. I told you they were dangerous.”
“Well, I’m not in the mood to make deals with you, Greg.
However, if you do what I just told you to do, I’ll help you and your family become reestablished.
Not like witness protection. Something real.
Something tangible. But if not, your family will be eliminated and I’ll leave you to explain why to your…
Brotherhood. Oh, and one more thing. You’re going to provide me with information on all acts of extortion, blackmail, and general corruption you’re aware of with the Brotherhood. Especially involving Zane Emmett.”
I thought for a minute he was going to cry. I whipped out the date and time of the meeting and stood, buttoning my jacket. He collected the card, still shaking.
But not before he noticed the weapon I had in a holster. “Don’t cry and cross me on this.”
“Zane Emmett? Be careful of the fuck. He’s wacko. Uncontrollable and he has something for Daniella that has driven him fucking nuts for years. Now that he found her, he won’t let her go.”
I chuckled. “He’ll have no choice.”