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I decide to reign in the sarcasm, at least until he’s done explaining. I sit up in my chair.
“Yes, I heard. I’d like to know why before giving my reasons for refusal,” I state.
He doesn’t look surprised at that, his emotions carefully blank.
“The reason I’m sending you to New York is because we have a particular problem, only you can handle. That problem, is Katerina Mincetti.”
I feel a whoosh in my lungs at the sound of her name. My heart speeds up and it takes every ounce of my strength to wipe my expression clean but my father sees my reaction anyway. He frowns disapprovingly.
“What has she done?” I manage to say.
“The question should be, what has she not done? My sources have informed me that since coming into power and taking over her father’s organization, she has begun to revolutionize some things.”
Katerina became boss? I didn’t know that. Then again, I make it a point to stay away from any news in relation to her. Still, I can’t help a twinge of pride that she actually succeeded. She got what she wanted. I hope she’s happy. I also wish to God that she isn’t.
“Anyway, she’s being quiet for a year or two but it seems one of her plans of action involves extortion and blackmail. Particularly some very powerful people in D.C in order to gain some control over them.”
“Seems like a solid plan,” I shrug, unsure what he wants me to say. Her family has a mafia crime syndicate. I’m sure extortion’s the least of what they do. And my father is in no place to judge. “What are you worried about, dad? She would never touch our family.”
I say that with complete certainty. Katerina could never do anything to us. We’re her weakness, just as she is ours in a way.
“Of course not, she’s not stupid,” my father says a bite to his tone. “But she is going after Senator Davies, who is extremely close to our family. We have an alliance. Come after one, come after all, sort of thing. Which is why we need to put a stop to her plans. New York is a crime hub and there’s no stopping mafia activities over there. But this Mincetti girl seems intent on leaving her territory and encroaching on ours. I won’t allow it.”
My breath leaves me in a rush. “What do you want me to do, father? I hear the problem but if you think I’m in any way capable of proffering a solution, you’re delusional.”
His jaw clenches. “You’re in a much better position than any other person,” he states. “But that’s not the main reason I would have you move to New York. The expansion that’s happening, the branch we’re about to open, there might be a wrench in our plans.”
“Let me guess, Katerina?”
For someone who can’t attack us outright, she sure is involved in a lot of our problems. Makes me wonder if it’s intentional, although that doesn’t seem much of her style. My father shakes his head however.
“This has to do with Colton Industries actually.”
I arch an eyebrow at that. Colton industries is our company’s biggest rival and the bane of my father’s existence. Legend has it that the CEO of Colton and he used to be best friends, until he stole some of the tech he worked on with my father and used it to launch his own company. Legend is probably true. And seeing as they’ve made a big name owing to their actions, I hate them on principle. Colton is also based in New York.
I wonder if my dad opening a branch there is to spite them. They’ve never crossed into each other’s territories before now.
“There are rumors reaching me that they plan to launch a similar product that we do a week before us.”
My eyes narrow. “You mean the product I’ve been busting my ass on the past couple of months?”
“Exactly. As is their usual behavior, they must have managed to find a way to steal a data and pass it off as their own. I want it stopped, through any means possible.”
“And how would you have me do that?” I question.
“Eduardo Mincetti has a twenty percent shareholding in the company. Not surprising that Colton would consort with criminals. Anyway, the Mincetti’s are close to the family, which means Katerina Mincetti would be your best chance of getting in. You’re skilled, Xander. I’m sure you would be able to put a wrench in their plans to launch the product. You just need to get close enough to do it.”
“What are you suggesting I do, father?” I ask through gritted teeth.
“I don’t care what you have to do. Use her, manipulate her.”
That makes me chuckle. “You think she’s someone that can be manipulated? She’s fucking brilliant, she’ll see this coming a mile away.”
“Like I said, Alexander, I don’t care what you have to do, as long as you do it.”
My jaw clenches so hard, I’m surprised it doesn’t crack.
“No.”
