She marched past me and up the stairs. Curious, I followed her and found her in the bedroom looking around wildly. She turned to me with angry indignation. “There’s nothing to tie me to.”
“My room.” I watched her walk angrily past me as she went to my bedroom.
“No.”
“No?”
“I will not be tied to your bed.” Devon’s eyes were fixed on the bed frame in the room. “Are you joking? Tell me you’re joking?” When I slipped the handcuffs out of the drawer, she backed up slowly. “Raphe.”
“On the bed,” I told her. I knew she was going to fight as soon as I took a step towards her. Devon yelled when I caught her effortlessly as she tried to get past me. I took her as she struggled and almost threw her in the bathroom.
“Do what you need, you have five minutes.” I closed the door behind me as I heard her bounce off it in her fury. Almost ten minutes later, I heard the toilet flush, and when I opened the door, she stood at the sink in defeat. Listlessly, I led her out of the bathroom and watched as she got comfy on the bed.
“You think you could run from me and there would be no consequences?” I asked her as I caught her hand and slipped the handcuff around it. “Did you think I would let you get away with running?”
Her light brown eyes looked at me with despair. “You would run too, Raphe,” she whispered. “You would run too.”
I clipped the other handcuff to the bed frame, and standing back, I considered her for a moment. I bent forward and took off her shoes, letting her be more comfortable. “Maybe I would, Devon. The difference is…I wouldn’t get caught.”
“Fuck you,” she whispered as she curled up on her side, her arm extended over her head with the cuff.
Twenty minutes later, I placed her pizza in front of her and a bottle of water. “I won’t be long.” She ignored me until I was halfway down the stairs, and then I heard her shouting.
As I left the house and locked the door, I realised that I really did need to find her a gag. She was far too loud, and I didn’t need the neighbours calling the cops. Going back into the house, I turned the downstairs TV on and then left again.
Driving to Cherry Creek, I called Malcolm. “I’m heading to you, you at the house?”
Standing in Malcolm’s front living room, I thought over the last week as the older man appraised me while I drank a coffee. I was waiting for him to tell me he was disappointed in me or question me about New York or Devon. Hell, at this moment in time, I was waiting for him to just ask me to spill it all out.
“You look tired.”
“I do?” I took a drink of coffee. I was fucking exhausted. “Recommend a good moisturiser?”
Les snorted and failed to cover it with a laugh. Malcolm cast him a derisive look. I gave a quick wink to Les while his boss was picking up his coffee cup.
“Are you going to stand or actually sit down?” Malcolm snapped.
“I don’t know how long I’m staying for, so I haven’t decided.”
“Where else do you need to be?”
“Places.”
“You used to be more forthcoming,” Malcolm commented dryly.
“You used to respect the boundaries.”
He sat back and watched me, and I watched him right back. Malcolm was clever; I knew that, and he knew that I did. He was a businessman first and foremost, and I think he genuinely would be disgruntled to know that his fellow businessmen in the world of commerce were against his side business so much. I had heard of his deal gone wrong with the kids from Boulder. I could have told him immediately it was never going to work. I saw the three boys fight one night in the fight club by chance, and had Malcolm asked me what I thought of his plan, I would have told him.
It was never going to happen.
Had he gone to the father and told him what the youngest boy had done and agreed to, that would have been his way in. Humiliate the boy? Fine. Get the father’s undying gratitude? Worth it.
However, Malcolm was still trying to bring the tattooed idiot into the inner fold at the time. I had no idea what he saw in him, or his apparent potential. The guy seemed to get out of things by sheer luck, not his own skill.
I was waiting patiently for the day I got the order to take him out. He was by all accounts arrogant. I would enjoy removing his arrogance.
“Why don’t you tell me where our breakdown in communication is, and we can work this out?” Malcolm placed his coffee cup down and clasped his hands together. He was in dark slacks, a white button-down and a soft knit sweater over the top. His casual attire as he called it. A man at home, relaxing. An appearance that would relax anyone else but those who knew him.
“Why don’t we cut the bullshit, and you ask me what you want, and if I want, then I’ll answer.”
Malcolm smiled at me. He rarely smiled unless his son was in front of him or he was talking about him. Aiden was Malcolm’s biggest weakness, unbeknownst to Aiden and Malcolm. An estranged relationship to be fair, but blood was thicker than water, so they said.
I wasn’t sure, but I thought my cousin would disagree.
“How did New York go?” Malcolm asked casually.
“Fine.”
“Did you deal with the problem?”
“Did you hear otherwise?” I asked flatly.
“I heard there was a bloodbath and that over twenty high-ranking members all had an unfortunate accident.”
I finished my coffee. “As I said, did you hear about any problems?”
“Your cousin set you up?” Malcolm guessed shrewdly.
“He likes to think he is one step ahead of me.”
“Had myself or Louis not been there, would you have reacted differently?”
I considered it. Would I have? I would have walked out and left them to it, but I had ensured that both Louis and Malcolm were safe first. “I had no plans to go back once I had you both returned to your hotels, but I knew there was more, so I went to find out what it was.”
“Did you know Carlisle was the target when you went back?”
“I suspected. When I found two of his men in body bags, it confirmed my thoughts.”
Malcolm nodded. “Both Louis and I are vulnerable as a result now.”
Glancing quickly at Les, who was sitting silently, I looked back at Malcolm. “I did advise you to leave as soon as possible for that reason.”
“By us leaving, the message gets sent that we are working with Ray.”
“Only an idiot puts what happened in New York and you two leaving as you working for Ray.” I took a seat, fed up with standing. I needed to sleep.
“Emilio.”
The penny dropped, and I tilted my head back as I stared at the ceiling in resignation. “I forget how much of an idiot he is.” Rubbing a hand over my face, I looked back at Malcolm. “So Emilio finds out what happens, shoots his mouth off to the Sabinos that Louis is now under the protection of the Lastra family because his dick gets hard at the thought of joining forces with San Diego. Antonio comes to Denver to talk to Louis and I guess, you. Ray hears they are moving together, and he comes to Denver to remind them who the biggest boss is.” I shook my head. “Why the fuck are you involved in this? This is turf wars, old family style.”
“I would rather be exempt; however, my hand was forced the moment you removed me and Louis from the room.”
I turned to Les. “And the Highwaymen?”
“You took them out too.”
“Fuck.” I stood and crossed the floor to the window to overlook the back pool. “Les, there’s a waitress in Emilio’s club, Amy. She speaks, a lot, but she sees more than they realise. Get her, bring her here.”
“How am I supposed to do that?” Les asked me in bewilderment.
“Tell her I’m asking for her.”
“You slept with a waitress?” Malcolm asked me casually. “What about your houseguest?”
“She’s fine,” I bit out.
“What are you hoping to achieve, Raphe? I don’t think I buy the story y
ou were in the wrong place at the wrong time. You went back to the house for a reason, I know you,” Malcolm said to me when we were alone. “Your family know you won’t work for them, Louis and I are at best friendly enemies, the San Diego contingent is heavily involved with the Viallis, and through it all, you keep this homeless girl close. What are you doing with this?”
I met his enquiring stare with a smirk. “I’m watching the pieces on the board move.”
“You play a dangerous game,” Malcolm warned me quietly.
“It’s the only way I play.”
After Amy had been brought back to the house and I had a casual but informative talk with her, I left her with Les to return her to the club. She had been clever enough to know what I was asking and why. When I realised she could be used to Malcolm’s advantage, he had also already seen her potential.
“Don’t get too excited,” I told her with a tight smile as I leaned into her when I was getting ready to leave, “he already knows I fucked you in the club.”
Amy glared at me, but the message was received. Batting her eyelashes at Malcolm was going to get her nowhere. He traded in information; he wasn’t interested in anything else. He wouldn’t say it, and she needed to know. My work done, I left while they hashed out the details of Amy’s new employment.
Checking the time, I made the drive out to Louis’s next. I didn’t need to check to see if he was at home, the man hardly ever left the ranch. The fact he had been in the shelter that day had been a surprise to me, but he had always had a soft spot for Lucille.
One of the house staff directed me to Louis’s study, and I waited patiently, bracing myself for having to deal with Emilio. To my relief, Louis came in himself and greeted me as warmly as he always did.
“You look tired,” he told me as he sat down beside me, ignoring the chair behind the desk.
“So everyone keeps telling me,” I replied dryly. “I must look like shit.”
“Meh.” He shrugged as he reached for his brandy. “You’re still too handsome to be single.”
“Still trying to marry me off?” I smiled as I relaxed slightly in the chair.
“They tell me the Sabino girl is a beauty.” Louis’s shrewd look caused me to smile again.
“Harmony?” I shook my head quickly. “Girl’s a pain in the ass and more importantly, a little bit too young. She’s still a teenager.”
“You’re what, thirty now?” Louis asked as he played with his glass idly.
“Thirty-one, which you know well, my friend.” I sat back and considered him. “What is it?”
“What about the Vialli girl?”
“She’s batshit crazy. I know you’re not really trying to marry me off. Are you hoping to marry Emilio off?”
“He has a wife.” Louis glanced at me. “As you well know.”
“What can I say? I was hoping you were going to be kind and let her leave him.” I was only half joking. Emilio’s wife deserved better.
“Emilio talks too much; therefore, his wife knows too much. The only way she leaves is in a coffin.” Louis sighed loudly. “So, you’re here to tell me you told me so and I’m an idiot?”
I couldn’t hide my amusement, but I didn’t want to rub it in too much. “You never listen when I’m telling you what you don’t want to hear.”
“He is family.”
“He’s a liability,” I retorted briskly.
“Your cousin could say the same?” Louis said to me casually, and my smile told Louis all he needed to know. “I never even put it together,” he said with disgust. “You’ve worked for Malcolm for so long now, I genuinely was waiting for you to tell me you were his illegitimate child.”
A huff of laughter followed such a ridiculous statement. “My father would be insulted.”
“My apologies to your father.” We sat in silence for a short time as he drank his brandy, and I waited patiently. “What is to happen next?”
“Well, your nephew bringing the West Coast here complicates things,” I started. “Do you even want to work with the Sabinos?”
“Not particularly.” He shrugged and I nodded. I didn’t think so. “But I realise Emilio is maybe not as ready as I would have hoped. I would like to retire, step back a bit, enjoy my later years.”
“Are you even sixty?”
“Not quite, but I would like to get there.” Louis stared at the portrait of his son hanging behind the desk. “He should be here, he should have given me my grandchildren.”
“It was too soon,” I agreed. “Emilio could still be moulded,” I hedged quietly.
“No,” Louis said abruptly as he stood. “He fucks anything that moves, he cannot kill—you saw him that night—and now he makes reckless advances, which doesn’t strengthen our position but shows my opposition how weak we are.”
“Antonio is a decent man,” I said carefully. “He has an ambitious son. Remove the son, remove the problem.”
Louis considered me for a long time, and I sat easy under his weighted stare. “You want me to give the go ahead to kill a head’s firstborn son?”
“He has others.” I leaned forward as I spoke. “You do not.”
“You are cold, Raphael.” Louis shook his head slowly. “You speak to me of dead sons when you know I still grieve.” He looked back at me. “I always admired your ability to be emotionless, but to consider what you suggest, will bring war.”
“Will it?” I asked him softly. “If done the right way, it removes San Diego from your doorstep, gives you more time to groom Emilio rather than pander to him, it shows the east that there is nothing here to worry them, the rumours of amalgamated families are that, only rumours.”
“You came here with this plan in place. Is that why you allow me to know who you are?”
I stood fluidly. “You’ve always known who I am. I’m the person you call when you need a problem to disappear.”
“You’re East Coast affiliated, deeply affiliated.” Louis’s eyes betrayed his anger.
“My mother and father reside on the East Coast, that is true.” Fixing my jacket, I looked at him. “Don’t let your grief continue to blind you, old friend. Your son has been gone a very long time. My solution works, and no one will ever know.”
“I’ll think about it,” he told me reluctantly.
I left him sitting in his study as he stared at the portrait of his son. I would allow him his time for his grief, but I knew he was a smart man. He would see I made sense.
Driving back into Denver, I picked up one of the burner phones. “You still in San Diego?” I asked casually.
“Yeah, where the hell are you?” Cammy asked me. “Nico apparently almost had a heart attack that you stood them all up.” I heard him chuckle. “You got balls of steel, man.”
“I was on an errand.”
“She any good?”
Cam was a walking hormone. I put it down to the fact he was obsessed with his cousin, a cousin through marriage, but in our world, family was family. Harmony was all he thought about. Even when he wasn’t thinking about her, he was thinking about her. “Not everything is about a woman,” I lied to him. Because it was true, I had left Denver, and one of the biggest meetings of all, to go hunt down a woman.
“Whatever. So what do you need?”
“I need a meeting.”
“You do?” Cammy sounded surprised that I was asking him. He wouldn’t be when he found out why. “With who?”
“Your uncle.”
“Fuck, Raphe, what you going to do?”
“I want to talk to him,” I told him as I drove to a hotel.
“My uncle? My legitimate uncle?”
“That would be the one.”
“Fuuuuck.”
“You’re overreacting,” I said wryly. “I need him in Denver, without anyone knowing. It’s about territory.”
“Who dies?” Cammy asked seriously, his normal easy banter gone. “Uncle Alberto?”
“You think I would call you and ask you to deliver me your uncle if I was
going to kill him?” I parked the car, and as I got out, I handed the valet the car keys.
“You’re ballsy,” Cammy said defensively.
“I’m not suicidal.”
“True. Fine. Give me a day. I need to convince him why you’re going to keep him alive.”
As I put the phone in my suit jacket, I applauded the fact that Cammy didn’t need to ask the details. He had already guessed what he thought was going on. He just didn’t need to know he was wrong. I headed up to the suite on the eighteenth floor, and when I got there, I underwent the pat down before I was allowed into my cousin’s suite.
“Ray,” I greeted.
“Where the fuck have you been?”
“Here,” I answered him as I sat down on one of the couches and nodded in greeting to Nick. “How did your meeting go?” I asked Nick.
“They weren’t very forthcoming.”
“Shock.” I returned my attention to Ray. “And you stayed here?”
“It was the first meeting. They spent an hour asking about each other’s families.” Ray watched me closely. “You weren’t here. I would have known.”
“Creepy.”
“The meeting would have been more productive if you had bothered to turn up,” Nick growled behind me.
“The meeting was a waste of time.” I kept my attention on Ray. “Nico Sabino doesn’t like me. I know, it’s a shock.” I ignored Nick’s grunt. “The Sabinos have no interest in Denver except Nico. He thinks I keep him out of it. I don’t know why he thinks I have so much influence.” This time I ignored my cousin’s snort. “Louis Neroni has been grooming his nephew Emilio to take over. Emilio is a fucking clown. His uncle knows it; if you spend five minutes in his company, a blind and deaf man would know it. Emilio reached out to Nico. It can’t be calculated, so I’m going on the assumption that Nico wanted it. The Viallis are the main player in Denver and the surrounding area, they have ties with the Sabinos. Katalina Vialli will be the person to take her father’s place. You do not want Kat to meet with either Emilio or Nico.”
“Why?”
“She has a tendency to marry for her job to gain an advantage.”
Ray’s eyes flitted past me to Nick. “A marriage combines the families.”
Beautifully Broken (The Denver Series Book 2) Page 24