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“That’s fine. I have to wrap up this last meeting anyway. Floyd Griffin thinks he deserves a seat these days.” We shared a laugh.
“And you’re allowing the audience?”
“Just to hear how stupid his reasonings are. They’re too new of a threat to have any hold. I’ll probably offer him a place within our ranks, but he won’t be getting a seat.”
“The only way to gain one of the six seats is to kill someone who sits there without an heir to follow.”
“Exactly.” I could hear the smile in his tone. “Think of the fun I might have if he tries to go for me.”
An unnerving pain shot through me in concern. “Do you need me there?”
“No. Augustus is meeting with us to make sure the truce is honored. It just gives me warning that a murder attempt might come up later during our stay here.”
Hating this, he needed to tell me sooner. Though, I took pride in his call to Augustus. The man would honor the code from having his seat for so long. “Just be careful. I’ll text the information for you to give Draven, and I’ll get the gift card for the schmuck handled. Tomorrow, I’ll figure out just exactly who Emilia Carmichael is when I gain access to her home.”
***
Tony
After my chat with Costas, I knew the news of today would be hard for Dray to hear. Having to be the one to deliver it didn’t feel like a kind gesture, but he needed to know. He’d also learn my plan to handle it once we got him out.
After calling the manor, I had the servants try to put his sister on the phone, but she wouldn’t come. When they were close to her door, I heard the broken sobs coming through. Her adolescent body had been violated not only in a physical manner but a cyber one too. We dealt with bullies in school, but I’d hate to have every mistake I ever made recorded to be mocked by others.
No wonder the suicide rate kept climbing. This world was a brutal thing to survive and endure, especially for one so young. Climbing out of my car, my meeting went as expected with the young gun trying to make a name for himself. Augustus was the one to laugh at the naive boy when he demanded a seat at our table, the highest of any in our criminal world.
Letting him know the only option to gain a seat was to kill off a successor with proof, he tried then and there. Clearly, Augustus and I reminded him how a treaty worked, and dirty play would forever disqualify him from our circle’s hierarchy. He’d have no place because we had honor between each other. As established seats, we weren’t in the desperate state he cornered himself in.
Heading inside the prison, I knew I had a lot to catch up Draven on. Passing through security with my identity always concealed felt like the easy part of all this. The mess kept growing, and I knew it would fuck with Dray’s mind without putting it at ease.
Going to the meeting room, we only had a short time left for a visit because I had to come so late. Rushing inside, I hoped Draven picked up on the haste from the hour on the clock. Taking my seat, I never picked up my phone until I saw him enter from his side. It didn’t take him too long to join me.
I could’ve had Costas deliver this news in passing while working but never would I. With something this sensitive, it needed me. It called for love and equal rage to tell my lover. He sat down and took the phone, checking over his shoulder.
“Everyone keeps giving me looks today like they know something I don’t. It’s driving me nuts.” His words had me closing my eyes in grief for what he was about to face. He noticed before I could correct my features. “What have you come to tell me?”
“Before I tell you, just know Costas has done damage control. He also tracked who did it, and we’ll have ourselves a hunt the moment you’re out.”
“Tony,” he growled.
“Alexander had fail-safe in place. Once that little vermin died in here, it must’ve tipped someone in the outside world off to do it. Alexander had Gustav upload the full video of her rape for the world to see online. Too many have seen what she went through, how she cried for help…” I couldn’t stomach saying the rest to him.
No words came out of his mouth as I blinked back my emotions. They were hovering too close to the surface because she had been like a sister to me too.
“He’s dead,” Draven tried to let his anger out through his words, but I could see how the monster in him struggled. His wrath sought someone to kill for hurting his family.
“I’m keeping our goals quiet for now, but Costas is planning with me. For now, the video is down. It’s not like it would be enough to get you out anyway. Even with vengeance, you killed him after it happened instead of following the law.”
“I did what was necessary,” he yelled at me.
“You did what we all would do, Dray, but have you thought about how she is now during your stay? I can’t get her to take my calls, and I’m updated by the staff that she won’t leave her room. She barely eats enough to survive, but I’m here trying to get you out! I can’t be there for her, and I don’t have anyone equipped for it! I’m losing my mind because I feel like I’m failing you both!” After letting it all out, Draven looked at me directly. He saw the strain of this situation for the first time because I couldn’t mask it.
He finally noticed how unhinged I’d grown. He could see me slipping into insanity, and he knew something needed to change. “Tony, I’m sorry. I never thought about all the things you’ve been handling while I’m in here.”
Nodding my head, I wiped a stray tear as a random woman gave me a funny look from across the room. Too bad she didn’t know I killed people for less in my line of work. “Just promise me you won’t do anything stupid in here? We already have targets on our backs, and you’re a little more vulnerable away from where we have protection. I don’t care how strong you are or how many men you can take on. It takes someone poisoning your food with something they paid a guard for. It’s a nick of a shiv against your jugular.”
“Tony, you need to stop with the worst-case scenarios. I’ve managed this long, and Alexander has no one in here anymore. Let’s just work on getting me out, and we’ll avenge my sister once again.”
“Together,” I demanded.
