Page 23 of Redemption

“Yeah, I know. Dad was the one who sent me out here to get you.”

“He has no patience.” I pull the sleeves of my suit down as I walk toward the house with my brother.

“Hey,” my brother says as he grabs my arm to stop me from walking into the house. “You doing okay? You… this is the worst I’ve—”

“I’m fine,” I say as I grip the back of my neck. I know Grayson and Liam both worry about me. They are older than me, they both thought they would be doing what I am doing. But that’s not how the cards played out.

Grayson hesitates before answering. “Just… you know I’m here if you need me.”

“And what would I need you for?” I bite.

Grayson scowls but doesn’t say anything. Instead he walks into the house without me.

* * *

My father wasn’t happy to find out about the Renzetti family when I told him last week. A look crossed his face I haven’t seen before. I have no idea what it means and what it has to do with the Renzettis. I know The Partners don’t ever negotiate with the mob. There’s been some bad blood between them over the years. Which would make sense why they targeted us and our shipments.

I stretch my legs out as my plane lands in Bari, Italy. There is a shipment of weapons being delivered tonight and I want to make sure they land in the right hands. I don’t usually do this. We have other men who take care of sales and trades. Dean Arrington is in charge of weapons, his son, Roland, the one that is usually here for trades but with the threat of the Renzettis, I want to make sure that everything goes smoothly. These weapons will never be in our hands. A simple purchase from Libya will be delivered and an hour later a sale to the Spanish cartel. We have guards everywhere and men on our payroll at every major shipping port along the Mediterranean.

I step off the plane and make my way out to the waiting car, Mario tight on my heels. We are silent as we make our way to the harbor and drive near the pier where our shipment should be. We both check our weapons before getting out of the car then walk in the dark to the shipping container.

It’s after eight, the night mild with a cool breeze. Workers are busy loading freights off a ship, the noise a welcome distraction for the deal.

Dimitri, one of the men I trust the most out of the associates with The Partners, nods as he sees us approach. “They are lifting the cargo off the ship now. There was a delay,” he says in his thick Russian accent.

“How long of a delay?” I look at my watch. “The cartel will be here in less than an hour.”

Dimitri points to the transport being lifted overhead. “That’s it. The serial numbers match what the Libyans said.”

I nod. “I’m going to take a walk around the harbor.”

“You aren’t usually here. It’s usually Roland. Is there something going on?”

I shake my head. “No. Just following orders to supervise.”

“I’ll keep all eyes and ears open,” Dimitri says, understanding me.

I give him a curt nod and signal for Mario to follow me. We make a round around the harbor as the freight gets moved to its designated location. My eyes are peeled but nothing seems out of order. It’s like any normal day at the docks. Trucks in and out, men shouting, nothing out of the ordinary.

We make our way back to Dimitri. “Why was there a delay?” I ask him.

He shrugs. “I couldn’t get much out of the men working. Something about the crane. A malfunction of some sort.”

“A malfunction?”

He nods.

“Why didn’t they use another crane?”

“I assumed it was in use.”

I clench my jaw as the irritation grows. “Did you see it in use?”

“Yeah, there was another ship at the dock a few hours ago. By the time that load was finished they had this one running again.”

I relax slightly.

“I checked for foul play. Don’t worry, Kilian. I know what’s been going on.”

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