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The man had to be kidding. I was ready to shove my fist into the guy’s mouth. I was losing patience and control very quickly, but that was likely something both men were hoping for. My practiced smile was something I was quite proud of. “Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear. For that, I do apologize. So, let me say this another way. Get out. If you as much as step foot in our territory or dare to open a single casino in Missouri or Kansas, you and your clan will be run out of town. And I assure you that you won’t like how I do it. Now, I hope you don’t take offense but when my sister decides to get married, it will be to a man considered of her caliber.”
Ronin all but pushed the table over, rocking it as he tried to stand with enough force my drink was sloshed over the rim. I shifted my amused look from his father to him, enjoying the redness in his face and the way he was huffing and puffing. Meanwhile, I was having a better time than I’d thought I would. It had been a long time since I’d engaged in a terse meeting. It felt good to be back in the saddle.
Liam pushed his arm in front of his son. “I think we’re done here. We’ve both said our piece. I suggest you take my offer back to the man who is in charge. Allow him to make the decision. You know where to find me when you’ve come to your senses.” He stood slowly, acting as if I would do the same.
I remained seated, glancing over at the two goons who’d opened their jackets as if ready to yank out their weapons in a public space. Talk about Neanderthals. In a world where business such as ours was done via computers and Zoom meetings, it was ridiculous to think about shooting up a place, especially with innocent people inside.
It was difficult to keep a smirk off my face as they walked out.
Kane huffed before motioning to the waiter. “That was something else. You remind me more of your brother every day, only a bit more refined.”
“I’m not certain that’s a compliment.”
“Oh, it is. You’re in your element like that. I just thought you should know.”
I thought about his statement and grinned. “Let’s finish our drinks.”
“You got it. Boss man.”
He liked to call me that when he was in a good mood. Why not be in one. I knew exactly what was going to happen once we stepped foot outside of the bar. I was actually looking forward to it.
Sure enough, when we walked outside into the twilight after only ten minutes, headed to the two vehicles we’d brought, it didn’t take ten seconds before I felt a presence coming at us from the side. I resisted the urge to reach for my gun, the hesitation allowing a hard punch to be delivered to my head. I’d warned Kane and the others what to expect as well so they stood back, waiting for any sign I was ready for them to take over or provide assistance.
This was all about a game of testosterone. Me against Ronin. I’d insulted his honor in front of his father’s men and he was determined to get it back. Also as anticipated, he’d sent his men and his father away so there wouldn’t be any further humiliation. That was a good thing since he was about to get his ass kicked.
Little did the hulking flesh of a man know I had a blackbelt in karate. I’d also been trained in other martial arts and had recently taken up boxing as a form of exercise.
Those were just a few of my skills.
I didn’t hesitate, firing off several brutal punches, catching Ronin under the chin and in the gut, followed with two savage jabs to his kidneys. He went down hard on the pavement, struggling to get up. As soon as he did, I spun and issued a hard kick, knocking the wind out of him as I pitched his body back to the pavement.
He didn’t hesitate to come out swinging this time, managing to get in two uppercuts before I backhanded him, sending him reeling for a third time. This time he tripped and went flying into a vehicle, an alarm immediately starting. I threw up my hands and backed away.
“I think we’re done here,” I told him.
He rose to his full height, wiping blood from his mouth. When he didn’t attempt to come at me again, I turned around on purpose. The man was far too predictable, coming at me then like the coward he was.
That’s the moment I spun around, pointing the weapon at his forehead while wrapping one hand around his throat. Something that most people didn’t know was that Kane had taught me how to use pressure points, something he’d learned while serving his country overseas. It didn’t matter how big a guy was, I could drop him to his knees within seconds, which is exactly what I did.
I kept my firm hold, pressing the cold hard steel against his forehead. “Now, I have a very important meeting to get to and I’d prefer not to arrive with blood splattered all over my nice, freshly laundered jacket. But I’ll make a detour, stopping at my favorite fashionable men’s clothing shop if necessary.”
He was wheezing at this point and while it was too dark to see, I had a sense he was red in the face.
“The choice is entirely up to you. We do live in a free country.”
“Amen,” Kane said from behind me.
Of course, the fuckhead couldn’t say anything. As the car alarm continued to go off, I realized my patience level was getting worse and worse.
He stopped fighting me, which allowed me to remove my hand, but instead of shooting his kneecap or worse to teach him a lesson, I pulled out the cutter for my cigar. Ronin had no understanding of what I was prepared to do until it was too late. I shoved his pinky into the implement, pressing the sharp edge against his skin.
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!” he howled, the shimmer of a streetlight allowing me to see the intensive fear in his eyes. That’s exactly what I wanted.
I could tell Kane was shocked by my actions, the brutality something he hadn’t seen in a long time. I grinned, cocking my head slightly, taking in a whiff of urine, which was more pleasurable than I’d remembered.
“Let me make certain you fully understand my position, Ronin. I am not a man to be fucked with by anyone. You will not indulge your wild fantasies by coming into my world in any way, shape, or form. If you do, you will die and I assure you it won’t be painless or quick. If you dare try and attack my family, I will break every bone in your body before draining every drop of your worthless blood. And if you so much as dare attempt to thwart a single business activity, your entire family will face the ultimate price. Get out of my town.” I pressed the cutter down slightly all over again, the man practically foaming at the mouth.
But I spared him, allowing the full use of his hand, freeing his arm and patting him on the shoulder.
