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None of us say any more on that subject.
“Look, gentlemen, I’m going to go straight to business. I am looking to branch out my import business, and Mr Holt and I are joining forces on that. However, we find that we need more… room to grow.”
Okay, so he’s not skirting at the edge of the law anymore, he wants to dive straight to the other side—smuggling.
“Only, the one person that has the ability to give me more room at the seaside is… a Ghost. All I have is a name, no face, no contact, and it’s not enough to get in touch with the man.” Liam flickers his eyes to his son before he comes back to me, then Madds.
Jonathan Rees.He controls the other half of the docks that Ryan doesn’t have access to.
“We would also like to make a deal on transport, as we heard he holds the rails as well. It would be a long-term business. Profitable for… all parts.” Holt swipes his gaze between all of us.
The cargo trains are controlled by him as well. That means that these two are looking to expand beyond Queenscove. What exactly do they plan to smuggle in?
“What’s the cargo?” I finally ask.
“That’s none of your business,snake,” Holt all but spits at me and in unison all three of us rise, Madds is behind him in three steps, and I in front of him in two, my hand at his throat. The air in the room shifts, the lights appear dimmer, and the asshole’s body twitches, as he forces himself to stand straight. He can’t move, not with the beast behind him and a fucking venomoussnakein front of him.
“You’re a motherfucking cub in this jungle, Holt. You haven’t learned the rules, haven’t lived here long enough, and definitely haven’t earned your fucking place.” I wouldn’t usually get quite this heated, but it’s a combination of what happened out in the ballroom and the motherfucker’s insolence. “I don’t fucking tolerate insults.”
“Ryan, shit… gentlemen, my apologies…” O’Rourke says, but I don’t turn. I’m not sure where he found his balls, but he better shove them back in their hiding spot before we rip them off and shove them up his fucking ass.
“Maybe… this was premature,” Carter speaks as a matter of fact.
“It is definitely premature for Ryan to speak before thinking.” His tone is cold and stern.
“No,” Carter interrupts. “Maybe this meeting was premature.”
I step back, looking at the old man. Holt may hold more dirty business than him, putting him in our field, but he’s never controlled any of that shit until now. O’Rourke though, he’s skirted the law for long enough to know how the game is played. The only reason he hasn’t jumped fully to our side until now is because he’s been aware of how to play the system to his favor. His mafia is a different brand from ours, but it’s still mafia. He knows how to treat people to his benefit.
From the corner of my eye, I can see Madds grab Holt’s shoulder hard enough that he winces, but this time around, he keeps his mouth shut.Snakeis not far away fromSerpent, but one is a derogatory term and the other a title.
I am no snake. I have never deceived, never cheated in the life games we play. People fear us because they know exactly who we are and what we are capable of. And one of our tricks is to never allow them to believe that we give second chances, especially when we are disrespected. Either they repent, they die, or they simply cease to exist in our line of sight. In this situation, dying is not yet an option, as we need something from them, from Holt.
As Finn and Carter step closer toward the door, we hear a grunt. We turn and find Cillian looking straight at his future brother-in-law, a scowl deepening every wrinkle of his freckled forehead. There’s something about that man, a brand of madness that I’ve only ever recognized in his sister. And I’ve had the pleasure of seeing what she’s capable of.
“I spoke without thinking.” The asshole finally opens his mouth. I can see how much it hurts him to submit. I revel in it. We all do. “I apologize.”
I turn straight to O’Rourke.
“You need to make a deal for access to the docks and the lines. What are you moving, when do you want to start, how often, and how many? No one will even acknowledge a meeting without knowing the reason for it. Not that I can guarantee a meeting, or that I can reach him.”
I can reach him.
“Rounds and dust. In about three months. The pattern will change, between one and two weeks. Two to four containers at a time. To start off with. We just need to make sure we spread them thinly first. Test the territory,” Liam responds without hesitation, and I make a mental note.
“We’ll be in touch.” I nod, before I turn and walk toward the door behind the others.
“Wait. You haven’t named your price.”
I turn just enough that I can see him when I look over my shoulder. “I’ll tell you the terms of the pact once I am assured I can grant your request. Have a nice evening.” I walk away, the door slamming on its own behind me.
I don’t miss his booming voice through the thin walls.
“Boy, you will learn your fucking lesson too soon and it will be too harsh if this is how you think business is done! We fucking need them if you want this shit to work! You have no fucking leg to stand on! Your business may be old, but you’re goddamn new and you suddenly think you’re the big kahuna?! Sit in your fucking place and learn how it’s done!”
“Old man…”Holt says something else, but he’s not loud enough for any of us to hear. Safe to say, from the way Cillian just rasped his name, it wasn’t good.
We walk away, back into the ballroom where the lights have dimmed, turning into a nice party. We absorb the gazes everyone gives us as we head toward the exit, willing one in particular to hit my skin.
