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“You’re right,” Bowie agreed. “I guess I’m just nervous.”
“Rightly so, but I’m telling you to give Bruno and Victor a chance to tell their side of things,” Carter said.
“I’m willing to give them both a chance, but if they don’t want to change things up, I’m not sure what I’ll do,” Bowie said. He hated the idea of having to go to ground and possibly take Eden with him. She had nothing to do with his business, but the Gluttony family wouldn’t let her live now that they knew that she was with him.
They got to the restaurant and found Rock Greed standing at the entrance. “Hey,” Carter said. “Good to see you again, Rock.” Rock grumbled something back and shook both of their hands.
“They are both in there and they brought half a dozen bodyguards with them. Was that part of the plan?” he asked. “Because if it was, no one told me to bring a few of my guys.” He looked Carter over as if he had been wronged and Bowie decided to take lead before the two got into a fight before their meeting even got underway.
“We agreed to no guards,” Bowie said. “Let Carter go in to remind them of that before we call your guys in. Maybe they’ll all wait outside.”
“As if that’s a better option,” Rock grumbled.
“It’s the only option we have,” Carter said. “You two wait here and I’ll be right back.” Carter disappeared into the restaurant, leaving Bowie alone with his brother-in-law. He and Rock had never been friendly, and Bowie hated forced conversations more than anything else in the world.
“How’s Darcy?” he asked.
“She’s worried that this is all going to be for nothing. If the Gluttony family doesn’t stop coming for the Wrath family, I’m going to have to take her someplace safe.”
“Understood, but hopefully, we’ll find some way to negotiate peace in there,” Bowie said, nodding at the building.
“Agreed,” Rock growled. “How’re things with you and Eden?” he asked.
“Great, actually,” Bowie said. He was sure that he had a goofy grin on his face, but that was something that he couldn’t help. Whenever he thought about Eden, he smiled like a loon. “She’s been living with me for the past couple of weeks since we got back, and I have to say, I love having her in my space.”
“So, things are serious then?” Rock pushed.
“Um, I’m not sure,” Bowie lied. “I mean, I guess it all depends on how today goes. I won’t ask her to move in with me, permanently, unless today goes well, I wouldn’t do that to her—put her in danger and all that.”
“I get it, but there are ways to have a family and still be in this crazy syndicate world. I didn’t believe it at first either, but your sister showed me the light.” He had heard about his sister’s plan to marry Rock and take over as head of household for the Wrath family. It was an elaborate plot cooked up by Darcy and foiled when she developed feelings for Rock. She had convinced him to marry her as a business proposition, but then, they went and fell in love and the rest was history. She gave up the head of household position to Bowie in exchange for never speaking to anyone in her family ever again. But now that their father was gone, all of that could change. He could see Darcy again, and not go against orders. Bowie was the one making the orders and he wanted Darcy and her family back in his life.
“Thanks for saying that, but I just need to see how today goes. I won’t put Eden in danger,” he insisted. “I care about her too much.”
“Hell, I’m betting that you’re in love with her, but I get it. You’re a good guy, Bowie. I just hope that today works out for all of us,” Rock said.
“They have agreed to lose the guards,” Carter said, coming out of the restaurant. He was followed by six big, burly men dressed in black. They screamed mafia and Bowie almost wanted to laugh.
“I guess they don’t care if the whole world knows that they’re mafia; traveling with these guys, they stick out like a sore thumb,” Bowie joked.
“Hell, Gluttony, and Sloth would take out a fucking billboard announcing that they are mafia if it was allowed. They don’t give a shit who knows,” Rock said.
“Let’s go in,” Carter said, “and let’s try not to cause a fight, Rock.” Rock grunted something about Carter being a pussy and followed him into the restaurant. Bowie spotted Bruno Gluttony and Victor Sloth sitting at a corner table. They look like they’d rather be anyplace else but here, and Bowie felt the same way.
“Gentlemen,” Carter said. “I think that you’ll remember Rock Greed and Bowie Wrath.” They stood and shook hands, a good sign for a change. Usually, when families weren’t in alliance with each other, they didn’t shake hands. Hell, they didn’t acknowledge each other’s existence. It was easier to kill a man who didn’t already exist. It made things very impersonal, and the syndicate members of the old ways liked things that way—impersonal.
“Thank you for agreeing to meet us,” Bowie said.
“I was sorry to hear about your father,” Victor said.
“Yes, my condolences,” Bruno added. Bowie stared him down and he sighed. “I’m not my father, Bowie. He called for the hit on your father and that’s why I’ve agreed to this meeting.”
“Let’s sit down before we get into all of this,” Rock ordered. “I need a drink.” He called the waitress over and she took their drink orders and disappeared.
“My father is out of control,” Bruno admitted.
“Both of our fathers are,” Victor added. “That’s why we agreed to meet with you three. We’re hoping that you can help us. We want to take over our syndicates and join your alliance.”
“And why should we believe you?” Rock asked. “I might be the only one here who knows how your families work. I’m old school—or I was before meeting my wife. The old ways don’t die easily. Do you really think that you can oust your fathers and take over their positions as head of household? And if you somehow pull that off, how will you convince the rest of the family members to follow you?”
