Page 8 of Wicked Tricks

“I’ve come here to ask you to find a different place for your men to gather.”

“Oh really? Because Diana and my father had this deal for years. We use Lilith’s as a point of operation for our business, and The Family offers protection for yours.”

I scoffed again, “what protection? We protect ourselves, and lately, we’ve needed protectionfromyour family.” I said, pointing at Robert and his stupid fucking nose.

His eyes flickered briefly to Robert, then back to me.

He put this hand to his mouth, and I noticed his lips - forcing myself to not notice how attractive he was, or his biceps through the rolled up sleeves of his t-shirt.

This man did not appear like a mob boss, or the head of the largest crime operations in Melbourne, maybe even Australia. It was jarring to me, how out of place he looked, even amongst his own men. He looked so casual, his expression a mixture of amusement and boredom.

“This is coming from Diana?” He asked after some silence.

“No, this is coming from me.”

“So it’s not because you guys are actually working with the Redline Angels? It’s not because having us around makes it hard for you to operate with them?”

I frowned, “what? N-no-” I stuttered and I hated myself for it.

“Because,” he interrupted, “that would make a lot more sense. Why else would you be here, asking me this?”

“To protectmyfamily.”

There was silence again as he seemed to deliberate. He looked straight at me for a long time, trying to see through me.

He sighed, leaning forward, “no.”

“What?” I snapped.

“No.”

“Yes,” I crossed my arms, pushing my shoulders back and standing my ground.

He chuckled, deep and darkly again. He leaned back and laced his fingers behind his head, causing his sleeves to ride up even more, his arms flinching as he flexed.

“OK, amuse me. What makes you think I would say yes to your demands? Did you really think you could win this game?”

I chuckled and shook my head. I could feel the anger bubbling within as he watched me, like he was laughing at me inside.

Leaning down, I pulled out the gun that was tucked tightly between my calf and leather boot. Before his men even noticed, I had closed the space between us. I slammed the glock onto the desk, aiming the barrel towards him.

His smile dimmed, but only a little.

“Oh baby,” he looked up at me with a smirk, “you really thought you could walk in here, all alone, and threaten me?”

I knew it was a dangerous play, but the tone of his voice made my stomach flutter in a way that I didn’t want it to. Every man in the room pulled a gun and had it trained on me, but we only watched each other.

Waiting for someone to make a move.

Antoni held up a hand, signalling them to wait with an amused look on his face - foolishly assuming that I wouldn’t shoot him.

“Is this really how it ends?” he said.

“No,” I smiled, “not even close.”

He laughed at me again, only adding fuel to the fire already raging in the pit of my stomach, and he threw his hands in the air.

“Do tell me then,” he said, with wide eyes, feigning fear and continuing to mock me.

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