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But if that’s what it takes to get my point across, so be it. The Blackthorne name will not be dragged through the mud, not by them or anyone else.
My mind is racing to come up with a spin, a way to get us out of this mess, but I see no way forward. Not without more blood spilled.
None of the other Blackthornes are going to be happy, but the Natoris and Philipses have been goading me since they stepped foot through the double doors.
In their eyes, reaching out to broker a treaty is a sign of weakness. But I’ve never been one to see eye to eye with everyone else. Not where politics are concerned.
Letting the treaty burn doesn’t benefit anyone, least of all the Blackthornes, but if they continue to push me, I will hunt down each and every last one of my enemies and make sure they suffer. The longer Mathew and I stand there, silently facing off, the more uneasy everyone else becomes.
Finally, just as I’m preparing to cut my losses, Mathew shifts and walks back to his chair with his head held high and a muscle ticking in his jaw. His men take a few steps back until they reach the walls. He links his fingers together and gives me a long and measured look.
I’ve made a personal enemy of Mathew Natori.
I don’t lower my gun when I glance around the room. “In case you forgot, we could’ve wiped you out. We can still end your entire fucking bloodlines if we want. The Blackthornes aren’t here because we have no other choice. We’re here because we want to be, so it’s time to start showing a little more respect.”
Otherwise, I’m going to start dropping bodies again, regardless of what anyone else thinks. I’m angry enough to do something stupid.
A long moment passes, and no one objects.
With a smile, I set the gun down back down on the table and clear my throat. “Good. Now, we will honor the original terms of the agreement. It’s half of our properties split between the two of you.”
The Natoris and Philipses exchange a tense look.
“I know you’ve been building warehouses in the slums of the city,” I continue, my voice changing and growing harder. “It’s five warehouses so far, isn’t it? It would be a goddamn shame if something were to happen to them.”
Floyd Philips’ gaze flicks over to me. “Damn it, Blackthorne. We have an agreement.”
I shrug. “I don’t like weasels.”
Mathew Natori is holding himself as still as a statue. “What do you really want, Blackthorne?”
“I don’t like rats and weasels in my city,” I add in a louder voice. “But sometimes, you need rats and weasels to remind people who is the lesser of two evils. I know you were working with Donahue.”
Another tense moment passes.
“Since he’s no longer in the picture, I’ve thought of another way for you to make it up to me.” I glance between the two of them and nod to Tristan, who steps forward and sets a laptop down on the table. He opens it and spins it in their direction. “I want Lilian McCoy. And as a gesture of good faith, I’m increasing the bounty on her head.”
“We don’t know—”
I hold a hand up. “I don’t want to hear your fucking excuses, Philips. I know she was helping you, so that means you’ve still got an open line of communication with her. Bring me Lilian, or the whole deal is off.”
Mathew’s face is burning red. “You can’t do that.”
I snap the laptop shut and pick my gun back up. “Oh, I can, and I will. We will blow up every last warehouse, and I will make it my personal mission to hunt down every last one of your men.”
For the first time since the meeting started, I have their full attention. It feels good to realize that I’m the one who’s in control. And all it took was one angry and wronged mole in their ranks to give me everything I needed.
They’ve unknowingly handed me the blueprints to their own destruction, and they don’t even know it. I’m going to enjoy watching them squirm.
With a shrug, I put my gun away and step back. “I’m not an unreasonable man. You have one day to consider the new terms of the agreement.”
Without waiting for a response, I stride away from them. Their eyes follow me outside and down the steps of the empty building on the outskirts of town. In the distance, I see Ernesto’s car parked while he leans against it, casually scanning the surroundings from behind dark sunglasses. Having the meeting on the outskirts of the city, in the middle of an abandoned neighborhood, isn’t the best idea they’ve ever had.
But it’s suited my purposes fine. Because I’ve got my men everywhere, ready to step out if need be.
After spending two whole days in Anita’s dining room, fine-tuning the details of the plan with Tristan and a few other men, all that was left for me to do was call for backup.
With Blackthornes in every corner of the world, it didn’t take long for them to show up at Anita’s door.
