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I don’t like it. Everything looks like it’s in our favor on the surface, but the grin on his face is that of a man who has the upper hand.
He has his own men; he isn’t stupid enough to step onto our territory without them, but there’s no way he thinks he’s going to get out of this alive if he’s done something underhanded. His guards might be able to take out a handful of ours, but he’s outnumbered 10-to-1.
There’s no reason for the conceited look on his face, but it hasn’t wavered since he entered. He can hardly hold back his delight, and I’m surprised whatever plan he hasn’t blurted out whatever plan he has concocted like the supervillain on a child’s TV show. The simile is odd, maybe I’ve been watching too many cartoons with Matteo.
Andy is on edge as well. He’s glaring at Oleg with his hand resting on his gun. His disdain for the man has grown with each time we meet. I think he reminds him of Bianca’s uncle in some ways. Cutthroat. Underhanded. Willing to pimp out female family members to get what he wants. At this point, he might pay me to be the one to take him out.
My father has been exceedingly patient with the man in front of us. If he is on edge as well, he doesn’t show it. He’s always been better than me at hiding his emotions. It’s a skill he has honed his entire life. This meeting has been pointless overall, simply going over the original points that had been made during the negotiations before marriage had ever been introduced.
We’ve brought in a different lawyer to help us figure out the legal pieces. Businesses would need to be created to help launder the money and there’s potential property to be traded. We have to make everything look legitimate. Eric had always been good at that. It would be a while before my father would be willing to let him work again, if ever. If Oleg has noticed the change, he hasn’t mentioned it.
I glance at the clock hanging on the wall. This is a waste of fucking time. I have better things to be doing. Being in Oleg’s presence is a test of my restraint after that move he tried to pull at my engagement party. He doesn’t deserve my respect or my patience.
Andy’s phone rings.
It doesn’t actually ring, seeing as we all turn our phones on silent before entering the room for negotiations, but the low buzzing is still audible. He doesn’t answer it, and it goes dead after a few moments.
“I’d like to mention it would be best if we add some family ties to this deal.”
I grit my teeth together as I glare at the man in front of me. He can’t take no for a fucking answer. And for the life of me, I can’t figure out why he wants to marry Nina off to me so badly. This dealing isn’t hinging on a marriage. If it’s about business, then he would be better off trying to make a deal with someone else. There must be another reason, something I’m not seeing.
My phone rings next.
Same thing. No noise, just vibrations. Andy glances at me as it rings, and it takes every ounce of restraint to stop me from looking at it. There’s a chance the two calls are unrelated, two poorly timed telemarketers. I don’t trust our odds that it’s a coincidence.
“And I’ve told you Lorenzo is spoken for. You went to the engagement party.”
“Engagement party, not wedding. There’s still time for you to change your mind.”
You’re my my my my my… Lover
The exception to the cell phone rule is my mother because she can contact my father at any time, no matter what he’s doing. No matter, even if his phone is muted, when my mother calls, Lover by Taylor Swift, will play.
Andy and I look at each other. Tension fills the room as my hand slips down to my gun. Three phone calls and my mom is in on whatever is happening.
My father brings the phone up to his ear and, for a moment, Oleg’s smile falters. His hands move from the table. The movement is brief, a quick swipe of the finger beneath his nose, but I can tell a signal for what it is and before any of his guards can raise their guns, I have mine trained on him.
Everyone follows my lead. Our guards either turn their guns on Oleg’s men or apprehend them. Andy’s gun goes to Oleg’s nephew, the man who is supposed to take over for him when he retires. Within seconds, the room falls into chaos, but my father doesn’t flinch as he talks to my mother. I’m so preoccupied by the situation at hand I almost miss what he’s saying.
“What do you mean she’s missing?”
Ice runs through my veins. My father slams a hand down on the table between him and Oleg, whose smile is falling from his face. He no longer looks smug. Something replaces the cockiness, not fear because men in our world are trained not to show fear. If he had anything to do with this, he wasn’t supposed to be here when we found out. The error in timing will be fatal for him.
My father ends the phone call without saying bye. “I want all of them in the basement,” he all but growls out.
“Now Salvador,” Oleg says, but my father cuts him off with a look. One of our men pulls out the rope and starts roughly trying Oleg’s arms behind his back. Some brave but idiotic guard lunges for my father. He’s dead before he can get both of his feet off the ground. Andy’s gun smokes in the aftermath.
“Until I know you have nothing to do with Emma’s disappearance, you aren’t leaving my property. If you have anything to do with this, I’ll let Enzo torture the information out of you. Normally, I would say that’s gracious, as he is less cruel than me, but that’s his wife you’re messing with. I wouldn’t be counting on his mercy.”
I follow my father out of the room, and Andy takes point on the situation. Our men move swiftly, removing the weapons from the men and tying them up for interrogation. My heart threatens to beat out of my chest, and my jaw is so tightly clenched that my teeth ache.
“What did mom say?”
“She and Bianca came home from their shopping trip to a dead man in the living room, another man alive but unconscious, and Emma and Matteo are nowhere to be found.”
An immediate wave of dread washes over me, followed quickly by anger. This whole damn meeting had been a setup, a plan to get me away from Emma. I’m not sure how he managed the rest yet, but I’m looking forward to putting a bullet in Oleg’s head.
I pull out my phone and start shooting off orders. Footage pulled and perimeter sweeps, everything so we can find Emma and Matteo as quickly as possible.
