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I left with my guys, Russell included. Dante and I usually met in private, one or two guys around at the most, but this time, I brought a small army. We arrived at one of Dante’s buildings, a property he owned but did nothing with. It was full of old furniture that had collected decades of dust. It served solely as a meeting spot, a private location his daughter probably didn’t even know about.
His car was parked outside, so I knew he was already there. I approached the doors with my twelve guys, and the guards at the door immediately narrowed their eyes at my approach. Their hands reached for their guns, but they didn’t draw.
It was twelve versus two—so they didn’t do shit.
I clapped one on the shoulder. “We come in peace, man.” I led the way, taking the stairs instead of the elevator since there were so many of us. Dante’s arrogance would be his downfall one day. In a community so small, it was stupid not to be prepared for the chance I found out about his back-alley deal with Theo. The only reason he would survive this meeting was because I cared for Scarlett too much to hurt her.
I entered the double doors, and the guards immediately backed up at the sight of us, having no warning from the men below.
Dante sat in the armchair, his legs crossed, his hands in his lap. He had a subtle reaction to his face, a slight shock that I’d brought so many men with me, but he quickly covered it. “Didn’t realize this was a party.”
“We just finished a job.” I dropped into the armchair across from him. “And since you have your men, I thought I would bring mine.” My arms plopped down on the armrests, and I crossed my legs, one ankle resting on the opposite knee. This was the beginning of great things, and I could barely keep my smile in check. Dante was about to royally fuck himself over, and he had no idea.
He stared at me, his eyes hard and serious.
I stared back, holding his gaze as I waited for him to get on with it.
But he remained silent.
“What’s the purpose of this impromptu meeting? I’m a busy man, Dante.”
He was quiet a moment longer, like his plan was foiled by the guns I’d brought and he was desperately trying to think of another way to finish the job. His fingers moved across his jawline as he felt the stubble on his face. “I think it’s time we go our separate ways.”
“We’ve just hit our highest month, Dante.”
He released a quiet breath, his eyelids dropping slightly. “You know it’s not about the money.”
“I’ve had no contact with your daughter.”
“But the damage is done. You hurt her?—”
“That’s fucking rich.”
“She never would have been hurt if you’d listened to my warning.” His eyes sharpened with their coldness. “You disrespected me when you crossed that line. I have no desire to work with trash when my business is made of gold. We both know this was going to end.”
“When the new regulations kicked in, your business took a nose dive, and I pulled that plane back to cruising altitude. I saved your ass, and you fucking know it. This is a piss-poor way of repaying my kindness.”
Dante stared at me.
“Don’t cross me, Dante.”
His eyes narrowed slightly in provocation.
“We resume our business. And I get your daughter.”
His eyebrows lifted, and then a smile moved into his lips. “I’ve already secured a new partner for distribution. And even if I allowed you to see my daughter, she wouldn’t want you. She despises you—almost as much as I do.”
“If I tell her what you did, she’ll believe me.”
“Then by all means,” he said. “Enlighten her.” He didn’t have to issue the threat because it was heavy in the air. “How’s your father’s arm? I heard about all the surgeries…what a shame.”
I showed my greatest act of restraint by keeping my hand away from my gun. My eyes remained on him, wishing I had the privilege of taking the light out of his eyes. “My parents and I were probably never going to reconcile, but now we have no chance…because of you.”
“Because of you,” he said. “I made my wishes for Scarlett very clear?—”
“I told you how I felt about her. That I actually cared about her?—”
He exploded out of nowhere, leaning forward in his chair like he was about to launch himself at me. “You aren’t good enough for her.” The vein popped in his temple, and his words echoed in the nearly empty room. “You’re fucking trash. Trash on the bottom of my goddamn loafer. Fucking garbage. Do you understand me?”
I listened to his screams without flinching.
He got to his feet. “We’re done here.” He buttoned the front of his jacket, his voice normal again but his face still tinted red in rage. “Our business has concluded. You will be paid for your contributions up until today, until this hour. Visit any of my properties or approach me, and I’ll blind you with my bullets. Come near my daughter—and I’ll do the same to your father.”
