Chapter Twenty
Mason
I lift the collar of my coat and squint into the distance, the sound of rushing water reverberating inside my head. “This will do.”
Noah Sr. comes to stand next to me, and he’s almost beaming. “You’re damn right it will do. I’ve had to pull quite a few strings to get a meeting with the Everetts and Fitzpatricks.”
My chest tightens at the mention of their names.
“Once they saw how much money I was offering, they were more than willing to negotiate,” Noah Sr. adds. “It’ll be my name on the paperwork, of course.”
I wrench my gaze away from the water and look at him. “Of course.”
It’s not what I wanted, but it’s the best I can do under the circumstances.
I don’t care how or what he did to get one of the docks back, as long as he did.
I hate having to jump through more hoops for a man like the mayor, but at least I know what makes him tick.
Money and power can only open so many doors for him, and he knows it.
That’s where the Payne name comes in.
Noah’s father is salivating over the few introductions I’ve already made, and it’s pathetic how desperate he is to prove himself to them.
To all of us.
Underneath all the bluster and bullshit is a sad little man willing to do whatever it takes to play with the big boys, including selling out his sons.
It’s been a week since Noah was returned to him, and he hasn’t asked about Ryder once.
It only makes me dislike him further.
What kind of father uses his children like that? How can he live with himself knowing he’s turned his back on them?
It’s no wonder he and my father speak so highly of each other. They’re cut from the same cloth.
“Have you had any luck getting rid of the evidence?”
“You mean the evidence Ryder put together.”
“Yes.”
“Ryder will be released as soon as he gives up the location of the backup.”
And once I’ve hunted down the last of his informants.
There’s nothing I hate more than a rat, and while I’ve had Carlisle hunting down every one of Ryder’s potential informants, there’s still the issue of the backup drive.
In the meantime, Carlisle has destroyed every shred of evidence he can get his hands on. Once he’s done, my right-hand man will be free to focus his attention on Noah’s brother.
The little shit still thinks he has an ace up his sleeve, and I will enjoy watching Carlisle rip him to shreds, inch by painful inch.
The mayor waves my comment away and continues to study the water. “What? Oh, yes, yes. That’s fine. Do what you need to do.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Is Noah going to be a problem?”
The mayor claps me on the back before stepping away again. “No, between the two of them, Noah is the one I worry about the least. He doesn’t have much in the way of ambition. You don’t have to worry about him causing any more problems either.”
His words should make me feel better, but they don’t.
I wonder what kind of sadistic man silences his sons for a chance to sit on top.
Is being respected in certain circles worth all the trouble?
What do you care? Not your family, not your problem, as long as he keeps his sons under control.
I should be thrilled, but I keep thinking about London and our unborn child, and the kind of man I want to be for them.
Damn it.
How did I go from wanting to take care of the baby to wanting to set an example for them?
How can I even do any of that?
This world—violence, chaos, and blood—is all I know.
I don’t know if there’s a way for me to silence the monster in me for good, or if I even want to.
London might not realize it, but you’re all going to need the monster if you want to stay alive and one step ahead of your enemies. Don’t let her convince you otherwise.
Because while everyone around me is seeing the future through rose-colored glasses, my judgment remains unaffected.
The danger hasn’t changed. If anything, it’s gotten worse.
Over the past week, I’ve racked my brain trying to think of ways to make the world safe for the child who will one day follow in my footsteps.
You won’t even try to give him a better life? What kind of father are you?
I want him to lead a different life, but I’m also realistic.
No one who grows up in this world walks away unscathed, and I want him to be prepared.
It’s my job to make sure he can face whatever is out there.
I tune back to the conversation and realize the mayor is still talking about changes to the docks. He indicates checkpoints and nods to some of the muscled men with buzzcuts who are patrolling the area. Once we’ve done a thorough sweep, we stand on the pier near the water again.
“I like a good challenge, Mr. Payne,” the mayor says. “Why do I have a feeling this was all a test?”
“It wasn’t.”
“I don’t mind having to prove myself, Mr. Payne. It’s a necessary precaution in the world of business, but I appreciate some transparency.”
I turn to face the mayor, who’s studying me intently. “I don’t appreciate the accusation, Mr. Mayor. If there’s something you want to say, it’s better if you say it.”
The mayor smiles. “There’s no need for the formalities, Mason. We are in business together. You can call me Noah Sr.”
I offer him a blank look. “I’d rather not.”
The mayor shrugs. “That’s fine. You’ll warm up to me eventually, and you’ll find me to be a very accommodating ally. Unlike the others.”
Noah Sr. is fishing for something, but for the life of me, I don’t know what it is, and I don’t have the patience to probe.
I’m eager to get back to London.
The baby isn’t even here, and she already has you on a tight leash. So much for keeping a clear head, huh?
I shove the thought away. “I assume the rest of our arrangement stands.”
The mayor nods. “Of course. Our friends at customs were pleased to hear from me.”
“And the air strip?”
The mayor’s eyes move over me intently. “You’re free to honor the rest of your business arrangements, so long as they don’t interfere with our deal.”
“They won’t.”
“I can assure you, Mr. Mayor, our arrangement is our top priority.” Jack Payne steps out of the mist, his coat billowing in the wind. He stops in front of us and smiles, showing off a row of expensive, white teeth. “I can’t tell you how pleased I am that we’re finally in business together.”
The mayor brushes past me and holds out his hand. “Jack Payne in the flesh. I can’t tell you how long I’ve looked forward to this.”
Jack’s fingers close around the mayor’s, and his smile grows even wider. “Not as much as I have. My son and I don’t see eye to eye on a lot of things, but we knew someone of your caliber would be invaluable.”
The mayor is hanging on my father’s every word, and I turn my back on them.
My father is laying it on thick, even by his standards, but I can’t say anything unless I have another ally to offer.
The two of them fall into easy conversation as we take another tour. Halfway through our inspection of the small warehouses on the edge of the property, a car pulls up, and my hand moves to my gun. A moment later, I make out the vague silhouette of Jennifer Harrison and her brother Jeremiah.
They hurry over, and my hand remains on my gun. “What are you doing here?”
“We were invited.” Jeremiah’s eyes are bloodshot, and his speech is slightly slurred, but he’s upright and moving. “Your father mentioned a deal, so we knew we had to be here.”
Jennifer shoots me an apologetic look on her way past. “Our father expressed some interest in the expansion of our allies.”
I clench one hand into a fist and shove the other into my pocket. “Indeed.”
Jesus Christ.
Will every move of mine be scrutinized and monitored by our allies?
I don’t know who’s more invested: them, or my enemies.
I loathe knowing I’m being watched, and I have half a mind to burn it all to the ground.
Let them pick at the ashes like the vultures they are.
Jack and the mayor circle back to us, still smiling and laughing. My father comes to a stop next to me and places a hand on my arm. “I trust my son has been giving you the welcome you deserve.”
I want to snort at the elated look on the mayor’s face.
My father was talking about ridding the world of his kind a few weeks ago.
“Mr. Payne has been most welcoming.” The mayor laughs. “Not much for small talk, though, is he?”
My father withdraws his hand and chuckles. “Not his strong suit, no. About the other matter we discussed…”
“Yes, I’ve reached out to our friend on the inside, and he’s working on the details to ensure a meeting with the current mayor of the city. Of course, he’s under the impression that I’ll be the one attending.”
The two of them share another laugh, and I step away to look at my phone.
“I’m sure you can understand why this needs to be handled with discretion,” Jack continues in the same cheerful voice. “We have no intention of hurting him. We just need to make the good mayor see reason.”
“There’s no need to explain. I understand. On occasion, I, too, have to carve out some time to meet my opponents and make them see the truth.”
Another laugh is shared, and I grit my teeth.
Jennifer steps up beside me and glances straight ahead. “Those two look like they’re getting along well.”
“A little too well,” I mutter. “A heads up would’ve been nice.”
“You haven’t been around. I’ve been trying to get a message to you through Katia, but I don’t think she likes me.”
I glance up from my phone and frown. “It’s not you she doesn’t like.”
Jennifer swings her gaze to mine. “I understand her reservations about Jeremiah, but I’m not my brother.”
“I know.”
Jennifer looks back at my dad and drops her voice. “I think something is happening.”
“What are you talking about?”
“There’s some chatter. Something about a Payne takeover.”
My blood turns to ice, and I force myself to remain still. “How do you know this?”
“I’m not the head of an empire,” Jennifer replies, “but I keep my ear pressed to the ground.”
“You could get in trouble for telling me this.”
“Yes.”
I shove both hands into my pockets and turn to face her, careful not to give anything away. “Why are you telling me?”
Jennifer won’t meet my gaze. “I don’t know.”
“Jen—”