“There’s a new proposition on the table.”
I pour two fingers of Basil Hayden into the crystal tumbler, adding one ice cube, and savoring the flavor before I turn to face Ru. “I wasn’t aware we were taking any new propositions.”
He shrugs, lighting up the end of his cigar and puffing. “We aren’t. But I’m a businessman, and this one has massive potential.”
His voice is muffled as he speaks around the roll of tobacco, but years of soaking up his words as gospel make him easy to understand.
Roofus—known to the world as Ru—is the only person in my life worthy of my trust. He saved me from hell, and I’ll never be able to repay that debt. But the courtesy only extends to him, which makes it difficult when he decides to bring new people into our operation.
He’s grown reckless with age.
“One day, your inability to turn down potential will get you killed,” I tell him.
His eyes narrow. “I have no intention of dying and leaving my legacy to a Brit.”
I smirk. All of this is mine anyway, he just doesn’t like to say it out loud. Doesn’t want to admit the student has surpassed the master; that he only holds the reins because I allow him to. It’s been the truth since the moment my uncle’s blood spilled under my hand eight years ago—the day I turned eighteen. I gutted him like the worthless fish he was, then used the same blade to cut into my steak at dinner, daring anyone to question why my fingers were stained with red.
Ru may have the title of boss, but it’s me they all fear.
Setting my glass on the edge of the desk, I sit down in one of the wingback chairs. “Your mortality is not something I particularly like to joke about.”
Sometimes I truly believe Ru thinks he’s untouchable. It makes him sloppy. Makes him trust too easily. Allows people to get too close. Luckily, he has me, and I’ll slice my knife deep into the belly of anyone who tries, reveling at how the life drains from their eyes while their blood drips into my hands.
I guess when you’ve experienced the things I have, you learn quickly that immortality is only granted through people’s memories.
Ru leans forward, resting his cigar in the ornate ashtray on the corner of his desk. “Then pay attention. We have someone who’s interested in being a new partner.” Ru grins. “Wants to expand our distribution. Run our pixie to new corners of the universe.”
“Fascinating.” I dust a piece of lint off my suit jacket. “Who is it?” I ask, purely to appease him. I have zero interest in bringing on someone new. We’ve been using our current drug runner for the past three years, and I vetted him personally. Watched him sweat through his clothes while he watched our pixie dust get loaded on the plane, hidden inside crates of lobster. Sat next to him in the cockpit through the entire flight, twirling my hook blade through my fingers as he pissed himself from the nerves.
If you want to ensure someone’s loyalty, you have to make sure they understand why you deserve it. And I’ve made sure that people understand the end of a blade hurts worse when the person wielding it enjoys causing pain.
Ru wipes his hand over his mouth. “You’ve heard of NevAirLand planes?”
I freeze in place, the blood in my veins icing over. I’m quite sure I’ve never mentioned that name to anyone, especially Ru.
“Can’t say that I have.” My jaw tics.
“Well, you must be the only one.” Ru laughs. “The owner, Peter Michaels, just moved here.”
My heart slams against my ribs. How could I have missed this? “Oh?”
Ru nods. “He’s looking for a new adventure.” He smiles, his slightly crooked teeth gleaming. “It’s only fair for us to welcome him in properly, let him know how things around here work.”
My hands twitch with the rage that spikes inside of me whenever I hear Peter Michaels’s name. I reach out and pick up my tumbler, my grasp tight around the crystal as anticipation blooms in my chest.
How fortuitous that the man I long to kill is serving himself to me on a silver platter.
“Well, I think this sounds like a wonderful opportunity.” I smile.
Ru picks up his cigar. “I wasn’t asking your permission, kid, but I’m glad you’re on board.”
“So, when do we meet with him?” I sip from my drink, trying to tame the quick beats of my heart.
“I meet with him tonight. Alone.” He narrows his eyes.
My gut clenches. “Let me go with you, Roofus. You shouldn’t meet him alone.”
Ru sighs, running a hand through his ridiculous bright red hair. “You’re too intimidating, kid. I need this meeting to be friendly.”
Can’t argue with him there.
“At least take one of the boys.” The thought of Ru alone with Peter Michaels sends a chill up my spine.
Ru blows a ring of smoke in the air.
I lean forward, knuckling the top of his desk. “Roofus. Promise me you won’t go alone. Don’t be foolish.”
“And don’t forget your place,” he snaps. “I run this, not you. You answer to me. How about you show your gratitude and, for once, just do as you’re fucking told?”
My teeth grind at his tone, and if he were anyone else, I would thank him for the reminder right before I cut out his tongue. But Ru gets away with a lot of things that no one else does.
I first saw Ru when I was thirteen—two years after I was shipped to America to live with my uncle. Reading in the library, I heard a commotion down the hall and went to investigate the noise. Peeking through a crack in the office door, I watched, mesmerized, as a large man with olive skin and dyed red hair loomed over my uncle’s desk, threatening him within an inch of his life, a gun at his temple and menace bleeding through his thick Boston accent. It was awe-inspiring, truly. I had never seen my uncle cower before anyone. It was usually his favorite pastime to see others fall to their knees for him.
As a politician, it happened publicly often.
As a person filled with rage and perversion, it happened in private even more.
So, I found this mystery man enthralling, and took to following him when he left, desperate to emulate his power. I suppose you could call it obsession, but I had never known anyone like him. Had never seen someone command obedience from a man who ran the world.
I wanted to know how to do that too.
But, at thirteen, I hadn’t mastered the art of being undetected, and Ru knew I was stalking him all along. Took me in and taught me everything he knew. Introduced me to the streets of Bloomsburg and kept me sane through the nightmares that plagued my sleep.
So, I’ll defer to what he wants, because there isn’t a single soul on this planet that’s taken care of me the way he has.
There was once, but that was long ago. Another lifetime, really.
“You’re right,” I say. “I trust your judgment. It’s everyone else’s I don’t.”
Ru laughs and opens his mouth to respond, but a knock on the door interrupts.
“Come in,” Ru grunts.
Starkey, one of our younger recruits, pops his head in. “Sorry to interrupt, boss.” His eyes slide to mine, widening as he quickly looks away. “There’re a few girls trying to come in with fake IDs. Making a hell of a time for us downstairs.”
“You come up here to bother us with this shit?” Ru snaps. “What the hell do we pay you for?”
I grin at Ru’s temper and walk to the security cameras, looking at the one aimed over the front entrance. Just as Starkey says, there are three girls, one of which is currently screaming in our bouncer’s face. Pathetic. I continue my perusal, my eyes locking on the beauty standing off to the side.
My stomach tightens as my gaze trails along her body in a tight blue dress. Her arms are wrapped around her middle, her eyes darting back and forth between the bouncer and the cabs that line the street.
Annoyance snaps in my chest with the fact I can’t see her as clearly as I’d like. But I see her enough to know she looks uncomfortable. Innocent. Definitely doesn’t belong in a place like this. And for some reason, that shoots a thrill straight to my cock, making it thicken and pulse as I imagine all the ways this place could defile her. There are not many people that inspire a reaction from me. A life of not reacting has bled into my skin, hardening into an impenetrable shield; nothing allowed in or out. Just an empty shell with a single purpose.
The fact this girl has tweaked my interest even a modicum amount has my curiosity piqued.
“Let them in,” I interrupt, my eyes still on the brunette beauty.
Starkey stops rambling, his eyes shooting to me before landing back on Ru. “Are you sure, I—”
“Did I stutter?” I ask, turning to face him. “Or maybe it’s the accent that gets in the way of you understanding?”
“N-no, it’s just—”
“It’s just,” I interrupt. “Clearly, you’re in need of some guidance on how to handle the situation. Or have I misunderstood your reasoning for bringing this trivial issue to our attention?”
Ru smirks, leaning back in his chair.
“No, Hook. You didn’t misunderstand.”
“Hmm. Then it’s a problem, to be sure.” I nod. “Tell me, would you agree that we need to fire whoever is working the door?”
“Um, I don’t,” Starkey starts.
“After all, if he lacks the ability to control a group of females, how can we be sure he’ll handle anyone else?” I cock my head.
Starkey swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I… They’re—”
“You see,” I continue, slipping my hook blade from my pocket and flipping it open. “Subduing a woman is all about control.” I walk toward him, twirling the stainless steel between my fingers, the intricate brown design of the handle sliding against my skin. “A delicate weaving of power. A give and take, if you will. Supplying them with the absolute pleasure of your dominance.”
Stopping in front of him, the knife pauses as I grasp it in my palm. “Clearly, our bouncer this evening possesses more of a submissive gene.” My free hand reaches out, straightening his tie. “I understand how difficult it must be to recognize the same trait within yourself.”
I lean in close, allowing the tip of my blade to rest against his throat. “Be a good boy, Starkey, and let. Them. In.”
“Yes, sir,” he mumbles.
Patting him on the shoulder, he spins and rushes out the door.
Ru points at me with his cigar, amusement lining his eyes. “And that is why you aren’t coming to this meeting.”
I smile, straightening the cuffs of my jacket. “That’s fair. I’m off to the main floor, anyway. I have a bouncer to make disappear, and a sudden appetite for something pretty.”
Ru chuckles. “Just make sure they’re legal.”
Grabbing the door handle, I pause. “Ru?”
He grunts.
“Make sure Peter knows I’m so looking forward to meeting him face to face.”
