Page 62 of Destruction

Hollis told me about their conversation the other night, and I hate that there's nothing we can do to slay the demons in Roman’s mind, aside from being there to catch him when he falls.

I am much better at the physical than emotional stuff, but over the years, I've tailored myself to be what my lovers need. And now, that goes for Benjamin. It was… unexpected, but not unwanted.

I've never been one to deny myself pleasure. And Benjamin gives me so much—physical and…the dreaded emotional. Playing with him is as fun as it is when Jude challenges me, just in different ways.

Joel is waiting by the front door, and he straightens up from where he was leaning against the wall. “Benjamin's driver let us know that he made it inside the Martelli mansion.”

“Good. I still hate that they didn't allow me to accompany him. We could have headed to the meeting from there.”

He snorts. “Yeah, sure. I doubt Ignacio would have let you leave, had you shown up on their property, with Benjamin looking the way he does. There wasn’t any chance they would have let you go unscathed. Roman would have killed you if you were late for the meeting because of some petty posturing.”

I sneer at the bodyguard as we make our way out to the car. “I don't appreciate you being the voice of reason.”

“Someone needs to be,” he says mildly.

I roll my eyes as I slide into the backseat. We decided it would only be Joel and I going to the meeting—not counting the people in charge of transporting the weapons to the drop—as we don't want to put the gang on edge even more than they already are.

The mid-sized Jamaican gang might not have a foothold in our territory; thanks to Petrov, the Martellis, and us being in the area, but it would be remiss of us to discount them.

That they happily shell out money for our weapons is telling of the firepower they have behind them.

No, it's better to not spook them anymore than necessary.

The drive is long, as we agreed to move the meeting from the usual place to a neutral territory near the gang's stomping grounds. The move makes sense with the police breathing down our necks, but there were plenty of other places we could have done this that were closer to Amato territory. Nevermind, as long as we all walk away with what we want, nothing else matters.

Joel takes longer than necessary to scope out the situation when we get to the industrial park they chose as our meeting place, before opening my door. I keep my expression smooth, since we're in mixed company, but he knows me well enough that I'm sure he can tell I'm not impressed.

“Mr. Mason,” the gang leader says. “Wasn't sure you'd actually show up.”

“We're early. Not only that, we've never broken our word before.”

He narrows his dark eyes. “But you have been rather inconvenient recently…”

I give him an indulgent smile. “I mean, if you want to run the risk of being arrested, I'll note that for next time.”

That earns me a huff. “You're lucky your product is as good as it is. I would hate to shop around…”

Shrugging, I gesture to the driver of the truck, giving him the signal to prep for the transfer. “If that's what you want. I can guarantee you won't find a better deal, no matter who you go to.”And if it's the Martellis…well, I think it's safe to say, we can negotiate with them, if need be.

“Shall we get this over with?”

The leader nods and snaps his fingers, then one of his lackeys hands him a phone. A few seconds after he types something on it, my own phone buzzes.

HOLLIS

Payment received.

Giving the signal for my men to open the truck door, all hell breaks loose.

Cop cars come screaming from either direction as people rush out of the surrounding buildings.

In the chaos and confusion, as the gang members—except the leader and two others—try to scatter, while my men move to secure the product, Joel shoves me back against the car when I pull my gun.

“Are you crazy?” he hisses.

“Fucker sold us out.”

“And we'll deal with that later. If you go down for weaponsandmurder charges, Hollis will fucking kill me.”

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