Page 71 of Under His Watch

His jaw slid as he clenched his teeth. “We are interested in speaking with representatives from your father’s organization about?—”

“No. Don’t try that bullshit with me. I am his second in command. It’s not my father’s organization. It’sours. Anything you want to tell him, you tell me. I won’t let a piece of shit like you waste his time.”

“We would like to discuss the parameters of a potential agreement.”

“Speed it up,” I warned. I’d had enough with the filler.

“Mr. Giovanni is interested in a lease for a piece of property associated with your organization’s portfolio. They would like to collaborate on a collective use of the land for distribution of their products.”

We had so many properties I couldn’t keep track of them all, but knowing this schmuck was talking about the gun routes the Devil’s Brothers MC was interested in setting up, I had a decent idea of what areas they were likely looking at. Regardless of what lease or property they wanted, the answer would remain the same.

“Fuck no.”

Elliot frowned. “What?”

“No. The Constella Family will not do business with any Giovanni or Devil’s Brother.”

He shifted in his seat. “I would like to add?—”

“Add whatever the fuck you want. Our answer will remain a no.” Taking one step closer to loom over him, I warned him further. “Do not bother us. Anyone who fucks with the Constella Family will lose. No one gets what they want from us. No one ever wins.”

The bastard smiled, almost sniggering as he chuckled. “It sounds likeyoudon’t win either, Mr. Constella.”

I arched a brow, humoring him with this illusion that I could be patient for him.

“I heard that you lost a few men recently. Three well-respected and prominent soldiers.”

I breathed through my nose, counting down from five to temper my reaction and hide it altogether. Of all things for him to say. Of all places he wanted to take this conversation, that shouldn’t have been it.

“I heard that you got them killed.”

Fury built within me. He was trying to taunt me, like he had any fucking upper hand. But I kept my cool. Being with Tessa had helped me get over my guilt, and I knew deep down that I hadn’t directly caused those men to die. I hadn’t been at fault for Mario turning traitor on us in that incident and setting us up.

He knows a lot more than that.If this asshole could toss out details like that, he had insider information about much more. This lawyer wasn’t just a player with the Giovannis and the Devil’s Brothers. He was included in more than the basics to know about Mario leading three Constella soldiers into that trap.

I stared at the spineless bastard, knowing one thing had changed.

Killing Elliot hadn’t been an option before. To do so would be a strike against the Giovannis and Devil’s Brothers, and we had to strike well, not rashly.

Now, though, I understood that Elliot Hines wasn’t just an associate. He was part of the planning process. He was a confidante.

And they all need to fucking die.

They would, starting with his piece of shit who dared to taunt me about my failures.

No more waiting. No more being cautious for all the ripples that might fan out as unwanted consequences from a murder or hit.

Elliot Hines’s days were limited. As soon as I updated my father about this conversation, I would strike.

As I stared him down and let him panic with my silence, he seemed to grow more and more frustrated. Twisting his lips as though he struggled to keep his words in, he glowered and scowled.

“Stop fighting with my clients,” he warned. “Don’t interfere with their plans.”

Their plans are fucked, dumbass.

Because they wouldn’t live long enough to see them pan out. Not if I had anything to say about it.

After one last long look of malice, I turned and left without a word.

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