Page 18 of Bound By Her

She shook her head. Those kinds of thoughts were not helpful.

Focus.

Bryson spoke to his father in Romanian, “The bitch is all in her head. She can’t decide.”

Adria snapped back in Romanian, “Watch your tongue, before this bitch teaches you some manners.”

It was clear her ability to speak the language shocked him, but he recovered quickly, saying in English, “I’d like to see you try.”

She cocked her head to the side, saying, “Be careful what you wish for.”

Callen cleared his throat, and Adria moved her focus to him. A plan formulating in her mind. If Bryson was part of this deal, there might be a way for her to leave with all her hard work intact.

“I can see that we are getting off track. Allow me to counter your original offer,” she said.

Callen leaned back in his chair, enjoying his cigar. “Please.” He gestured for her to continue.

She needed to give him an offer that would leave himno choice but to refuse. Once he refused her counter, they would be able to move on from this mess citing irreconcilable differences, and she could leave this meeting with her land.

And there was one thing that she knew a family head would never part with. “Your son Bryson,” she said.

The cigar dropped from Callen’s mouth. “Excuse me?” he said.

“It’s no secret between the families that he is arrogant, self-centered, hot tempered, and not fit to lead,” Adria said as a loud crack rang out from the center of the table. She had no doubt Bryson was throwing some sort of fit, but her eyes didn’t leave Callen’s.

Her heart raced in her chest. She was playing with fire. It was common knowledge among the families that she was a Dominatrix. Gender wasn’t an issue for her, but she had a propensity for men. To offer Bryson in exchange for the property was a risk. But she had to believe that there was no way Callen wanted it bad enough that he would sell his heir to be her sex slave.

Bryson threw a plate across the room, shattering it on the far wall. Eric moved closer to her, and Callen’s men circled. But Adria continued to focus on Callen. Bryson didn’t scare her.

“Enough!” Callen yelled, and the room fell silent. “Sit!” A chair scraped on the floor, followed by a string of obscenities from Bryson.

Adria and Callen looked at each other as she watched him digest her offer. “You are proposing something ridiculous in order to get out of this contract. It won’t work. The Triune will see right through you,” Callen said.

The Nine had rules. One was to follow Triune’s decrees. As head of the order, the Triune families were the final say in all disputes. Cosa Nostra, Cahill, and the Red Scorpions had been the top three families for nearlya hundred years. The second was inter-family or inner-family violence was not allowed without sanctions.

In prohibition days, there was a lot of family fighting. The Triune put a stop to the mayhem. Nowadays, there were enough outside threats to keep most of them busy. But any tension or friction between families caught the Triune’s attention. Repercussions were swift and effective. And third, sealed family deals were binding.

Callen thought that the Triune would think that her proposal was a blatant attempt to cancel her father’s deal. But Adria felt it was a viable offer. When Luca died and Bryson became next in line, people were worried. The Nine were superstitious, and to them, Bryson wasn’t born to lead. That, paired with his inability to keep his temper under control, meant the Triune would see the logic in her offer.

“Incorrect.” She laced her voice with a false sweetness. “Your son has been a wildcard for a few years. What were once whispers behind closed doors are now full-blown conversations. People are concerned about the balance when he takes over.”

“That’s a lie!” Bryson shouted, apparently itching to prove her point.

“Quiet!” Callen’s voice boomed, and Adria’s skin prickled at the anger in it. Callen acted like a person, but he was not a person. He was a ruthless killer. A monster, and his facade was cracking.

She continued, “It’s possible they might see it as ridiculous, but it’s more possible they will see it as an opportunity.”

“How so?”

“Your boy requires training and discipline to lead. No one blames you. He is clearly a bad apple. Sell him to me. I’ll mold him into someone unrecognizable. Someone fit to lead. You finalize your dusty deal with my father and Igain clout and favor with the Triune. Not to mention the contacts I’ll gain at his auction.”

Anticipation hummed along Adria’s skin. She was close to shutting this deal down.

Bryson tried to stand up, but two of Callen’s men held his shoulders. Before he got himself more worked up, she pushed further, “Providing training and discipline is my area of expertise,” her voice was like velvet, “something I am especially good at.”

Crossing her legs, she lit her own cigar. “Frankly, it would be a waste not to try,” she said.

Adria let the statement hang. What she said was true, she was the best stable trainer in the country. Selling Bryson at auction would bring people from all over the world. Money aside, the contacts she would gain, the power, the wins for her were unmeasurable. And that was why this was a perfect offer. Bryson would never agree to it, no matter how much he wanted this deal, and Callen would never give his son to her, but she had painted it as a plausible counter.

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