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Even if it breaks my heart to teach him that lesson.
CALLUM
Warehouse Fire: Three Structures “Total Loss” Says Fire Chief
The headline leaves me grinning in grim satisfaction, a grin that widens once I begin scrolling through the fiery images taken overnight. Damn right, they were a total loss. I'm not playing games here.
Tucking my phone away after perusing the headlines, I head to the kitchen for a fresh coffee. The breathtaking image of flames against the night sky plays at the edges of my memory and warms my heart. I'll be looking through those photos again before the end of the day, no doubt about it. What must Jack have suffered when he realized there was nothing he could do?
How did you like it, you bitch?
My heart stutters on entering the room, lighting me up with hope for a brief moment before I'm disappointed.No Bianca. No Tatum.Not that either would speak to me if they saw me. It doesn't mean I can't hope to catch sight of them and maybe exchange a word or two. They'll both come around eventually, Bianca most likely first. I'll lose my fucking mind if she doesn't.
It was one thing to be without her when she was at Charlie's; when I knew better than to try to approach her. I have no doubt the man would have pulled a gun if I set foot on his front porch. It was my own personal torment, asking myself what she was doing, where she was, or if she was safe.
I don't have to worry about that now, with her here.
It was hard before, but now it's worse. Her proximity means I must concentrate harder than ever to stay away from her. The amount of self-control it took from me last night not to kick in the bedroom door, throw her over my shoulder and bring her back toourbed where she belongs, was excruciating. It would've been so easy to tie her down the way I did before– even told myself she liked it and had convinced myself that's what she's trying to get me to do now. That all she wants is for me to assert my dominance the way I did initially.
It's a nice little fantasy, but I couldn't give in the way the old Callum did. Giving into my baser instincts would only make things worse. I need to deal with it like a logical person would, not a psycho, even though my love for Bianca is borderline psychotic. Unfortunately, this means I've hardly slept the past week, but I've had plenty of work to keep me busy.
Moroni is lucky he lost nothing more than a trio of warehouses last night. The time I need to fill, combined with my murderous attitude, could very well leave him with nothing by the time this is over.
“Did you see the headline?” It's the first thing Romero asks when we cross paths on the way to my office. He can't pretend the news didn't thrill him, and I wouldn't ask him to. He may shy away from showing that side of himself, but we both know the beast is lurking right below the surface.
I shake my head, clicking my tongue in mock sorrow. “I did. They're saying it's a total loss.”
“Did you confirm the payment went through?”
“I did. Our firebug friend will be pleased.”
“He'll be even happier once we move to 'phase two' of the plan and need him again.” Setting my coffee down, I open the document we compiled between us. I can check off step one now, knowing the warehouses have burned to the ground and all the items inside along with them. It's low-level, and I know it won't hit Moroni in the wallet as hard as it will hit his pride. He can afford to lose pallets of stolen goods, electronics, clothing, etc. This was less about money and more about sending a message.
He wants to play dirty? I'm already in the mud, waiting for him.
“I have a few things to discuss with you, but Costello called me directly this morning and fucked my plans.” When I look up from the checklist, Romero's wearing a sour expression. I'm used to nothing less when it comes to Sebastian.
I need his shit like I need a hole in the head. “I don't have time for an impromptu meeting. If he's not happy with our offer, he can cry about it while sucking my dick.”
“He was fine with that. He said there's been a change in plans–sounded almost manic.”
“A change in plans? These aren'thisplans to change.”
“He's probably worked up because those warehouses were supposed to go to him.”
“Considering nothing's set in stone, he's crying over spilled milk.”
All Romero does is smirk, lifting a shoulder. “You can tell him that when he gets here. I'll stand back and watch.”
“He's young and will soon realize it was nothing except a strategic move.”
“I agree, but you can be the one who explains that to him. Nothing I say to him will leave much impact.”
“Fine, fine.” I wave a hand, hardly giving a shit what the kid thinks he's owed. Considering he hasn't done anything yet to earn what he believes should be his, he has zero room to complain. “And we're fully manned, otherwise?”
“We have double the guards on duty at the club, at the restaurant, at the warehouses, and all of them are working six-hour shifts to ensure they're fresh in case something goes down.”
It doesn't feel like enough. We knew when we went into this that Moroni would be chomping at the bit to get back at me, however, having men working in shifts at my various businesses doesn't leave me feeling secure. “I'll ask Sebastian to provide additional men to keep an eye on things.”
