“Something like that.” A pang of guilt thrummed through me for even pretending to turn my back on my friend.
Benny laughed, and the sound grated on my nerves. “I never thought I’d see the day when Ty Keller, the great alpha wolf, would cower before Castro. He must have you pretty scared, huh?”
My fists clenched at my sides as I fought to control my temper. “This isn’t about fear, Benny. It’s about survival.”
“Survival?” He scoffed, shaking his head. “You’re weak, Ty. That’s why Castro targeted you in the first place. He was sure you’d fold under pressure.”
“Is that what you think?” Venom dripped from every word. “Do you really believe I’m just going to roll over and let Castro destroy everything I’ve built?”
“From where I’m standing, it looks that way,” Benny said smugly. “Honestly, you’re no threat to Castro. You’re nothing but a pathetic little bitch.”
“Keep pushing me, Benny. You’ll find out just how much of a threat I can be.”
“Ooh, big words from the little wolf,” he taunted, clearly not taking me seriously.
“Enough.” Hiram stepped forward. “We didn’t come here to argue. Ty is offering you a chance to break free from Castro’s grasp, to save yourself before it’s too late. It’s your choice whether you take it or not.”
Benny’s gaze flicked between us, considering. Then with a dismissive snort, he said, “I’ll stick with my plan with Castro. We’ll take you all out, one by one. Starting with Liam.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure, Benny, boy. Watch this.” My finger hovered over the phone’s screen. I pressed the send button, and the text message went flying off into the ether.
Moments later, on cue, Benny’s phone rang. He glanced down at the screen and paled, his expression going from shock to anger and confusion. “What did you do?”
“Let’s just say your world is about to change,” I said cryptically, my pulse thundering.
“Enough of this shit,” one of Benny’s men barked, drawing his gun and aiming it our way. Time slowed then as everyone present reached for their weapons.
But Hiram was faster. In a fluid motion, he whipped out his own gun and pressed it to Benny’s temple. The room held its breath, the tension thick enough to choke on.
“Everyone stand down,” Hiram said, cold and steady. “Or old Benny here gets a bullet through his skull.”
Benny’s men hesitated, glancing between their boss and us. Ultimately, they lowered their guns, not wanting to risk Benny’s life.
“Smart choice,” I said, smirking at the fear that flickered across Benny’s eyes. It wasn’t often that the tables were turned on him, and I relished the power it gave me. “Now, listen closely. If you don’t cut your ties with Castro right now, there’ll be more where this came from. A lot more.”
“You think you’re some sort of mob boss now?” Benny spat, his bravado returning, despite the barrel of the gun still pressed to his head. “You’re out of your league, wolf boy.”
I smiled at that. “No, I’m not a mob boss. But I have three of them in my corner, and they’re more than happy to help me make your life a living hell.”
“Three?” Benny scoffed, his brow furrowing as he tried to call my bluff. “Liam, Hiram, and who else?”
“You’ll find out soon enough,” I said, keeping my cards close. Let him wonder and worry about who was backing me. It would only serve to weaken his resolve.
Benny’s fury radiated off of him like heat from a bonfire. His nostrils flared as he bared his teeth. “Fine,” he spat, the word like a poisonous dart aimed straight at my chest. “I’ll pull out of my deal with Castro. Don’t think that’s going to change anything. I’m one of many who’d love the chance to take Liam out. I promise you that you’ll regret it.”
“Thanks for the warning.” I forced a smile onto my face. “If you think we’re going to back down, you’re sorely mistaken.”
“It’s your funeral,” Benny sneered, and the room crackled with tension as our gazes locked.
“Let’s go,” Hiram said, barely audible. He still had his gun trained on Benny, but he was just as eager to put some distance between us and the volatile mobster as I was.
Before we turned to leave, I took one last look at Benny. He was full of hatred, but it held an undertone of fear. Though I hated to admit it, that fear was contagious. I worried about what lay ahead for my pack, for Liam, and for myself.
We’d won this round, and I had to believe we had the strength to keep fighting, no matter how long the war dragged on. My pack was my family, and there was nothing I wouldn’t do to protect them, even if it meant stepping into the dark world of mobsters and criminals.
As we walked away from Benny and his seething anger, a strange mixture of relief and apprehension washed over me. Relief that we’d managed to sever a key alliance between Castro and Benny, and apprehension because our problems were far from over.
“Ty,” Hiram muttered. “You did what you had to do.”
