by Blue Saffire
I don’t know how we ever thought staying out of it was going to be possible. We’re related to half the damn table. Our broken and large family tree has allowed for a lot of pieces to fall into place.
Logan is a genius. He connected all the dots for the ultimate takeover. I still will never know what triggered him and LaSalle to come up with all of this.
There’s nothing I can do about it now. We’re in this and we’ll have to war through it with everyone else. Lex’s words are still playing in my head.
“Listen, mate. Ya need to get out of the open. My boys had to break some necks right outside of Sydney. They weren’t here as tourists. My girls on the inside of the Con say that some sod took special interest in one of the girls and took off a few days ago.”
“Wait, one of the girls?”
“Ay ay. Ya know. I didn’t think about it when the report came in. Now that ya bring it up they weren’t clear on which girl. Sorry about that, mate. A lot on my mind at the time. I didn’t think about Roni.”
“Thanks for getting in touch with me. We’re not going to chance it either way. It’s time to go,” I reply.
“I figured you’d say that. My boys will see ya out tonight. We’ll be in place at ya signal.”
“Remember, she’s not supposed to know about her father or what we’re all involved in. Keep that slaughterhouse shit to a minimum.”
Lex gives me that crazy grin, his eyes turning dark. “It’s all we know, mate, but I’ll tell my boys to reel it in.” He cups the back of my neck and places his forehead to mine. “Good to see you, Ry. We won’t be strangers much longer.”
“We were never strangers. I’ll see you back in the States.”
We parted ways and he and his brothers left. I was in a shit mood for the rest of the night. I have too many questions. Too many things out of my control. I might be the defiant child, but I don’t like being defied.
When things don’t go my way I feel like the world is out to defy me. I can’t afford that with my girl and my child’s safety. Hell, my niece or nephew may be a target and that doesn’t sit with me any better.
I sit on the foot of the bed stewing as Carmen uses the bathroom. I need to think fast. We have to go.
“What’s going on?”
I look up to find Carmen standing in from of me. I didn’t even hear her come out. She cups my face and searches my eyes.
I cringe inside at the lie I’m about to tell. “I left something at the beach house. Lex asked me for a favor and I realized I left it behind.”
“Is it important? Can we go back for it? You said the place belongs to your family, right? Would someone have been there already?”
Her genuine concern is like a punch to the gut. Placing my hands on her waist, I bury my face in her belly. These two are the reason I’m doing this, I remind myself.
Bile rises as the lie sits on my tongue. “I’m going to head back to see if it’s there.”
“I’ll come with you. It’s only one day. I don’t think I’ll miss anything. I have plenty for my story.”
She falls right into my plan. I feel like I just used her love to manipulate her. I couldn’t feel more like shit than I do in this moment.
“Yeah, sure.” I stand and kiss her forehead. “I’m making some calls so we can head out. I’ll be right back. Let me tell John we’re heading out as well.”
All lies, but I need a moment. Protecting Carmen is one thing. Lying to her is another. It’s time for some things to change. I’m not doing this shit anymore.
I walk out of the room, ignoring her eyes on my back. I pull my phone, but I don’t call to make arrangements. I call the one person that has never told me a lie and that has instilled in me the morals that form me to my core.
“Hello, my babe,” my mother answers.
“Hey, Mom,” I reply. I realize the time in Cali and groan. “Did I wake you?”
“No, ye know I rise with the chickens.” She sighs. “Talk to me. I can hear ye pain through the phone.”
I rub a hand up and down my face. We don’t usually drag Mom into our assignments. However, this one is personal.
I enter one of the empty conference rooms and start to pace. “Where do I start? The Alliance has cast the first stone and the others are responding. Carmen’s dad plays a huge role in all of this. She’s not safe—”
“Ry,” mom says softly. “I already know all of this.”
I stop pacing and smile. Yeah, my mom is Cassy Black and my father is Joe. I should have known better. My parents never reveal the depth of their relationship in public, but I think my mom has been counsel to my dad for years.
“It was my idea to take her away. That doesn’t feel right anymore. I feel it. Things have changed and the game plan needs to as well.”
“Ye have ye father’s instincts. I believe ye, but what’s truly the problem for ye. I can tell there’s something else.”
“She’s lying to her dad and her dad has me lying to her. I’m tired of it. It’s making me sick to my stomach. I love her. She’s pregnant with my kid. I can’t have these lies between us. It’s bullshit that her father has me in the middle of the lies he’s feeding her,” I say in frustration.
“Will the truth endanger her safety?”
“No. She’s stronger than he gives her credit for. I think she’ll handle the truth. It’s not like it’s going away. Like, what the fuck. He has a seat at the table. Did he really think he could hide this from her?”
“Aye, I think it’s time I explain something ye will learn when ye have ye own wee loves. From the day that little one takes its first breathe, yer going to want to be everything to it. Ye will want to keep the world from harming that tiny being with everything ye are.”
“Ye mistakes, ye dark moments, ye bad decisions will be amplified in ye head. And that’s what will make ye wish ye never did those things and ye will be hell bent on ye little one never finding any of it out. It’s ye way of protecting them. Do ye see what I’m saying?”
I take a deep breath as if inhaling her words. I get them. I understand what she’s trying to say, but Kiyoshi made a choice. He knew that the Alliance would call to his door.
“I hear you.”
“Do ye, love? She’s his little girl. She sees her father as her world. I think you figured that out by now. Ye father and Nash have been friends for a long time. Kiyoshi tried to leave the Matsumara world behind. After marrying Paloma he counseled your father on leaving that world behind. It’s how he gained his seat at the table.”
“He couldn’t leave the life, but he could make a difference. I think Nash has placed Carmen in one world and lives in the other. Sometimes we need a wee rude awakening to draw us into reality,” she says with a bit of a hint in her voice.
“What do you mean?”
“If they don’t want to tell each other the truth, maybe it’s time we reveal the truth to them. My lads are not liars and ye shouldn’t be forced to be one. Besides, I don’t like this.”
“Ye both should be home with family. That babe needs proper care and we’re the safest place to be. No one touches me lads or me lasses. No one.”
“Trust ye gut, Ry. Ye say the word and we’ll come running.”
I throw my head back and groan. Once I set this ball in motion, there’s no turning back. Is this what I want?
Carmen is sure to hate me after I place her and her father in a room to allow him to see the truth. Didn’t I just try to empower her? I feel like I’m about to ruin all of that.
“Like it or not, Ryan, they both need to know what the other’s trying to hide. She loves ye. She’ll forgive ye.”
“That’s a gamble I’m going to have to take. As selfish as it feels I don’t think I can keep this up. My gut is telling me this is the right thing to do.”
“Our gut never steers us wrong. I’ll tear the world down for ye, Ryan, I will. So do I call in the cavalry?”
“I’ll take care of it. Thanks, mom. I love you.”
“I
love you too, my babe. I miss ye too.”
I smile. “Yeah, I miss you all too. See you soon.”
“See ye soon.”
I hang up the phone with an actual plan in mind. Kiyoshi needs to know exactly what’s on the line here. The heat has turned up and we need to mobilize.
“Hello, Dad,” I say as my next call is answered. “I have a plan and I’ll need your help.”
Chapter 29
Force of Hand
Kiyoshi
“There has to be another way to do this. I grow tired of this sit and wait, LaSalle. I agreed to this when I still had the drive for this type of thing. The years that have passed have changed the man I am,” I say as I sit across from LaSalle Locatelli and Misha Krupin in the underground rooms of LaSalle’s New York home.
His expression is tight. I know he has a lot on his plate with his wife’s death and three small children to look after, but this visit is necessary. I need to know what we plan to do next.
It seems I am the first to be hit with assassination attempts on myself and my family. This cannot stand as it is. Changes will have to be made.
“You seem to be handling it all well,” he says. “We’re getting a little less resistance from the Yakuza after the message you sent with the Sato family.”
“Da, this is what I think, no?” Misha adds.
I nod. “I have done what’s necessary. I couldn’t leave that situation unanswered.”
LaSalle sits back in his seat and steeples his fingers together. His grey eyes are assessing as he thinks. I can’t help but wonder where his other partner is. I came to see Logan, Misha, and LaSalle. However, Logan has not arrived.
“What do you want to do? It’s a little late to pull out. That was what the meeting in Ireland was for.” He tilts his head. “What do you think your options are?”
I look between the two men and their hard expressions. LaSalle once did not have this demeanor. At least not as a constant. I can see things have changed for him. His eyes tell a story I know too well.
I lean forward. “I have all the options in the world,” I say so we are clear this is a courtesy visit.
He mimics my gesture, sitting forward in his seat. “If you believe so, but let me remind you of one thing. We chose each of you because we thought you had what it takes to see this through. Weak links will not be tolerated. You and I are similar men. We leave nothing to chance.”
Ne sighs beside me. “May I speak?”
I look to my son and nod. LaSalle inclines his head as well. I think it’s time my son step in. In my old age, I have no patience for these young men who have never seen or done the things I have to survive this world. I’m old and set in my ways. I’ve had enough.
“It doesn’t serve the Alliance if we begin to fight amongst ourselves,” Ne says.
“This I agree with.” LaSalle rubs his tired-looking eyes.
I look more closely and see a man that has a great weight on his shoulders. I remind myself of his challenges as he embarks on the great task of shifting the world of organized crime. It’s a great thing LaSalle and Logan want to do. It may look like we are all after power, but this is greater than power. This is an opportunity to restore some humanity.
“Da, I have not done this to fight amongst ranks,” Misha mumbles.
“My father has not come to show disrespect or weaken the ranks. He’s here to offer you a fresh option,” my son continues.
“I’m listening,” LaSalle replies.
“I will take his seat. All eyes will shift to me. I will be seen as the weak link and those that wish to challenge will feel more at ease to do so.”
“We’re forcing their hand in a way. My father will not actually be stepping away, he will operate more as my advisor. He will be our eyes and defense. You lose none of the resources or wisdom you chose him for.”
Misha narrows his eyes. “This is an interesting card to play. You believe transition will not be questioned.”
“We’ve thought of this. Yes, it’s usual as my father is still breathing, but given the nature of what the Alliance is up against, it would make sense that I step in to take his seat. To everyone else Dad is old. No one thinks he’s still getting his hands dirty,” Ne replies.
“It’s no different than what my father-in-law and Uncle have done.” I turn to find Uri Donati has revealed himself from the shadows. I have known that he was there all along. “It’s a bloody good idea if you ask me.”
“Kiyoshi.” LaSalle sighs. “You didn’t have to come here for this. My uncles trust you and your judgment. You could have just told us this was what you wanted.”
“Honor and respect bring me here.”
Misha goes to speak, but the door bursts open and Logan storms into the room. He looks livid. I rest back in my chair and observe him. He looks around at the men in the room as rage fills his gaze.
“I told ya I was right. All of this shit is enough,” Logan grunts. “The late deliveries were one thing. I told ya I had a gut feeling they weren’t a coincidence, but now two of my warehouses have been raided, the liquor license for the new pub has been blocked, and I’m being audited. Who the fuck do we pay to prevent this because they need to be fired and shot?”
I turn to LaSalle as he sits with an amused smile and raised brow. “I don’t think you’ll be shooting my brother or my sister-in-law. I’ll have Bobby look into what’s going on.”
“It’s obvious this has been done behind the scenes. Bobby keeps all our shit above board and has an eye on all legit actions. Give me a few hours to get this straight.”
“Find out who initiated the raid and audit. I will find out whose payroll they’re on and hush the problem,” Uri says.
“So they’re targeting our businesses as well,” I murmur more to myself. “I am not the only target after all.”
“Families for generals and finances of heads,” Misha replies.
“Makes sense,” Ne says. “So we agree. I will step in for my father?”
Logan takes a seat. “Hold on. What is this?”
“As we’ve told LaSalle and Misha. I’m the oldest member at the table. I agreed to this some years ago. I am no young man as the rest of you are. We have opportunity to take advantage of this.”
“It will look like a weakness for me to step down while Ne takes my place and I advise him. More will become bold and we’ll be done with this sooner.”
“Aye, I will agree to this,” Logan nods.
“It’s settled,” LaSalle says.
My phone rings, drawing my attention. When I see it’s Joe, I excuse myself. Thoughts of something happening to my daughter cause discomfort in my chest. None of this was meant to reach my wife and daughter, especially not my daughter.
I have regrets when it comes to Nene. I sometimes wonder if I’ve disillusioned myself by thinking I could create two worlds and keep Carmen from ever learning about the other. Time and again I try to tell myself that I’ve done the right thing, but her lies about her schooling and the fact that she still hasn’t told me about her boyfriend makes me question it all. I sacrificed respect for my secrets.
“Hello,” I answer the call.
“I need you and Paloma on a plane with me and my wife ASAP,” Joe says.
I knit my brows. Joe is one of my oldest friends. There are few men I give that title to. Though his request is odd, I will follow without question.
“I am in New York. I will return within the hour and can board the plane as my return flight lands. I will have Paloma meet me there,” I reply.
“Cass and I will pick up Paloma. We will be waiting on the tarmac.”
He ends the call and my curiosity has risen. I know this has something to do with my daughter. I don’t have to ask.
“What have you done now, my spoiled one?”
LaSalle
“Speak your mind, my friend,” Misha says as Kiyoshi and Nelson Nash leave.
I run a hand down my face. “This is what we wanted all along. The younger Nash. Ho
wever, it’s early in the game. Do you think he’s ready? Does he have the ruthlessness of his father yet?”
“The apple doesn’t fall for from the tree,” Logan says, his accent thickening. I can tell he’s still pissed about the play against his businesses. Sadly this is only the beginning. “If he’s not ready what’s coming will make him ready. This road has scorched us all. It’s our bones that will tell if we were made for this, not our flesh.”
“I see him following in his father’s footsteps.” Misha shrugs.
“Your cousin still has his daughter with him?”
“Aye, Ry has been looking after her all right,” Logan says with a grin.
“Not going to ask.” I shake my head.
I have enough going on in my head. I need to get my house in order. Misha has been watching me and Monique’s every move. Let’s not even mention Monique. I run a hand through my hair.
“You know it’s time,” Uri says cutting into our chatter.
I work my jaw. “Yes, but not just yet. I will release you both soon enough. We don’t want to play our cards too early. I get the feeling we haven’t seen all the players raise their hands yet.”
Kiyoshi is right in wanting to force our resisters out. I’m only making sure we have them all in view before we show our hand. Timing is everything. Every piece has to fit.
“If this is what you want,” Uri replies. “We are ready when necessary.”
Chapter 30
Don’t Know You
Carmen
I think the Universe hates me. As soon as we arrived in Barbados for the second time, I started to get sick nonstop. The little morning sickness from before we went to Australia was nothing. For the last three days, I’ve been a mess.
Ry has been worried about me becoming dehydrated and the fact that I haven’t seen a doctor as of yet. I should have started my appointment around week twelve. I’m now moving through week fourteen or fifteen.