Page 135 of The Heir
"There's no eligible, or of age women in my family, Luca," I clip, interrupting him.
Luca's head tilts, and the room falls into an eerie hush. He looks over at a security guard to his right and chuckles before turning his eyes back to his. He leans forward, placing his elbows on the table and steepling his fingers together.
"I've seen how valuable your brother is to King Dynasty. He's pulling record numbers, unheard of financial gains for your business, and well… I find myself in need of a person who possesses that kind of talent. I need access to your family, Hendrix. This is the price you will pay for me saving your wife and your daughter."
My stomach drops.Fuck.
"Luca, I-"
"It's Mr. Scogmiligio,"Luca says in a warning tone, effectively placing me back in line. The line that tells me that I owe him. Anger rises swift, because I'm not one to be jerked around. Mafia or no mafia.
"Don't fuck with me. You will not give me a privilege to turn around and take it back because it makes your dick hard," I breathe, feeling heat crawl up my neck. In my peripheral I see Joaquin turn his head to look at me out the corner of his eye, but he stays silent. "I don't care what the hell I owe you, or who you are. I'm not to be played with,Luca."
The air becomes so tense that I almost choke on it as amusement flits his features before settling into an impassive expression.
Joaquin speaks up, his mouth in a thin line. "Mr. Scogmiligio, you don't have to involve him. I will marry whoever you need-"
"I don't need a wife. I need civilian influence. I need status. Thingsyoucannot give me." He points a finger at me. "Buthecan."
The breath stills in my lungs as all the men train their guns on Joaquin. "Enough!" I shout, clenching my hand into a fist, trying to still the trembling.
Luca grunts. "I see theKingin King Dynasty holds up quite well," He turns dismissively back to his papers. "If you want your friend to walk out of here alive, then you will assure me your brother's cooperation within my ranks as my financial advisor. I need to solidify my businesses in and outside of the mafia, and I need your brother to do it. End of."
The blood drains from my face. "Luca, take me. I'll do whatever you want-"
His eyes raise to mine in a lazy, unhurried movement. "I need your brother, Hendrix. Not you."
I scrub a hand across my mouth as my mind races to find a way out of this.
"And if he doesn't deliver, I'll take Melody."
Aw fuck.It's the final nail in the coffin.
Firmly seeing there's no way out of this, I take a deep breath. "On one condition," I say, standing up.
As far as I'm concerned this meeting's fucking over.
Luca's brow arches as he snorts. "You've got quite the pair of balls, my friend." He holds up a hand to the guard behind him, who's moved his gun to point at me instead of Joaquin. "Why are you so trigger happy, Blane? Calm down." He turns back to me and nods. "I'm willing to hear it."
His man turns his gun back to Joaquin and I place my hand on Luca's desk, leaning into his space. "He stays in New York. He does all business from the outside looking in. I don't want him on the inside atall."
"Well, he's gotta be on the inside a little bit, my friend." Luca gives me a wry grin.
"You know what the fuck I mean,"I growl. "Keep him far away from the going ons of whatever the fuck you all involve yourselves in. If he's to be a financial advisor, then that's it. The first time I get a phone call that Mason's been shot or targeted by your opposition, I will systematically dismantle you to pieces and rip your head off myself."
I'm only part way bluffing that I can. I just have to be willing to bet that Frank's got the power to help make that a possibility if needed.
He frowns. "You got a deal, my friend. He can stay in New York."
"And the rest of it?" I grit out.
He heaves a deep sigh. "The rest of it will be up toMason.If he wants to involve himself, I will not stop him."
I nod, turning and stepping around the chair dismissively. "Let's go, Joaquin."
"We're not done, Hendrix King," Luca calls after me, but I keep walking, not even sparing him a backwards glance. Leaving him chuckling behind me.
Back in New York I part ways with Joaquin and have my driver take me straight to Mason's new penthouse. I stare stoically at the deep blue paint of his foyer, turning to face him when the door opens. He's got a pair of sweatpants on, no shirt, and is barefoot with a perpetually pissed off look on his face.
