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Neither of us were commenting on the details surrounding his father’s death. Remmi didn’t know any of that, and she wouldn’t if it were up to Trace.
“She’s in mourning, reaching out to who was receptive.”
“That makes me worried that Marco was receptive.”
“Not me. He’s always had a thing for her.”
I ignored Trace as he turned to observe me again. “Since when?”
“Since forever. He took her to prom.”
“That was a pity date.”
I shot him a look. “That wasn’t a pity date.”
“Are you serious? You’ve known all these years he had a thing for her, and you never told me?”
“She’s always had a thing for me, so no. Why would I?”
“What? You and her?”
I scowled. “I never went there. Nor would I. Your sister is, one, your sister, and two, like a sister to me. A bratty, young, ‘somewhat materialistically spoiled because she’s not spoiled in the getting-love-and-attention way’ kind of sister. I’ve cleaned up more of her messes than you.”
He relaxed a little. “That’s true. You have.”
“You’re welcome, by the way.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
“She is your sister.”
He groaned. “That’s true.” A pause. “Thank you.”
“What’s the plan going into this meeting?”
He gave me a look this time. “I thought I’d let you handle it while I sit back and observe.”
I smiled, liking that a lot. “Excellent.” It was time to make some people bleed. We were leaning into our strengths. I liked hurting, and Trace enjoyed analyzing.
We were the West and Walden Mafia family. If I were Nicolai Worthing, I’d be scared.
I couldn’t wait.
CHAPTER THIRTY
ASHTON
Nicolai Worthing was a smug prick. That was my opinion when we’d first met, and it remained today. We went in. He was already outside his vehicle. His men were spread out. He’d picked a place where he would be vulnerable if we chose to take him out then and there. But I didn’t believe that. He’d never let himself be as open as he was. I had no doubt he had a sniper set up somewhere.
Because of that, I had sent Avery a text to come.
He was an hour out, so we stalled as long as we could. We couldn’t stall any longer.
As we got out of our vehicle, our men spreading, I got a text.
Avery: Ten minutes out.
I almost whistled. He must’ve been speeding and beyond to make that time, but it was Avery.
I tucked my phone back in and walked the distance toward Nicolai.
He grew up in privilege, and he dressed like it. Three-piece suit. He probably got his shoes shipped direct from Italy, and he had a smarmy look with his hair combed to one side. I’m sure females thought he was attractive with his boxy-looking face, but I just saw a punk when he looked at me.
He was still smirking as I approached. There was a single flicker of emotion when he noticed Trace was staying back. I’d be the one leading this meeting.
“Ashton.”
“Punk.” I grunted.
Irritation flared over his face, tightening his features, but he covered it almost right away. Not as quick as I would’ve assumed. That told me he was slipping a little from the hold he thought he had.
“You walk into a meeting and insult me?”
“Save it.” I started walking around him. He and Trace didn’t know each other, but we did. I knew his cousin—not Justin, another cousin. I’d done coke off her stomach at one point, and Vivianna had spilled a lot of secrets about her various cousins. Nicolai had never been mentioned, not because she didn’t know him but because he’d been an afterthought. How he’d sprung up with so much power and how quick it had happened, I had doubts about whether he was the real front man or if there was someone behind him.
“I know you. You forget that,” I added.
His mouth went into a flat line. Yeah. He hadn’t forgotten.
“I assumed this meeting would be done with both you and Trace West.”
“No. He’s given me the reins here.” I stepped closer to him, getting into his space. “You know, since it was me that your men tried to kill. Since it was me that killed your men instead.”
“I never gave them an order to do that.”
I moved back, studying him. “So who did?”
His mouth tightened again. There was a little tic right behind his eye. It pulsed before he blinked, and it was gone. “I’ll be doing an investigation into who sent that order, but I reached out. I put myself at the disadvantage to show you that I did not send those men.”
My phone buzzed again.
Avery: Two minutes out.
“I have a theory that you’re not as vulnerable as you’re making us think, but we showed up because while you apparently haven’t got a fucking clue, we do know who sent the order to your men.”
He went still.
He really didn’t know, and that tic was back. He was pissed.
