Page 29 of Taunting Tarran
Carlos leans back in his chair, the leather creaking beneath him. His dark, sunken eyes bore into mine, pulling threads of memories I’d rather leave unravelled. ‘You know, you look a lot like your father,’ he says, voice gruff but steady. ‘Welcome home. I hope you’re both staying for the games.’
I swirl the last of my wine, the ruby liquid catching the dim light before I toss it to the back of my mouth in one go. ‘I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,’ I lie.
Carlos nods once, sharp and deliberate. ‘Our clients need to see you’re capable – capable of stepping up, maintaining the standards your father set. Your absence these past years...it’s caused unease within the family. If it weren’t for your father holding us all together, who knows where we’d be.’
A knot tightens in my chest, coiling like a snake ready to strike. ‘Carlos, you know I don’t want to be involved,’ I say.
He leans forward, elbows braced on his knees. ‘You don’t have a choice,nene. Not anymore. If you don’t step up, all our heads will be on the chopping block. This year marks the 50thAnniversary of Wilderness Warfare, and the clients – our clients – are expecting something big. They need to know you can deliver.’
I press my lips together. He’s right, in some ways. But knowing doesn’t make the noose around my neck feel any looser.
The clients he speaks of are an elite group, among themhigh-ranking government officials, esteemed diplomats, and influential magnates. Their reach extends far beyond the boundaries of the reserve, with connections that penetrate the highest echelons of political and economic spheres. These clients are titans, with the financial clout to orchestrate mergers, manipulate markets, steer the global economy, and they come here to have fun.
Carlos storms across the room like a caged predator, his hands tearing through his hair in restless frustration. ‘Those damn Albanians,’ he spews, spittle flying. ‘They’ll be here tomorrow.’
I stand firm. ‘Sal and I have it under control, we’ll take the van.’ The words feel hollow. Walking away wasn’t an option. The Albanians didn’t just settle scores – they erased them, bloodline and all, and neither Sal nor I fancied becoming mincemeat.
He pauses. ‘We need to keep a close watch on them.’
His eyes narrow, ‘And then there’s the auction this weekend. I’m getting too fucking old for all this shit.’
‘Sal will be meeting them at the port. We’ll be making the exchange, and coming right back. I have it all in hand.’
‘You need to be on your A-game. This is your chance to show them you’re ready to take the reins.’
Sal quietly steps out as Carlos and I continue our heated discussion. His bouts of silence speaking volumes.
‘We have some big players arriving soon. We can’t afford anyfuck-ups.’
‘I’ve never seen you so worried, Uncle.’
‘Because, Angel, they’re coming for The Butcherbird.’ His expression darkened as he leant in close towards me, his voice taking a more ominous tone. ‘You know that little whore you helped escape twenty years ago!’
Confusion washes over me, but my expression remained steady.
‘Oh?’ I pour another glass of wine. ‘You found her?’
Tarran.
He sighs, shaking his head as if he couldn’t believe why I was so calm.
‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it? Your father fell in love with a girl. Well, I use the word “love” loosely.’
‘Is she here?’ I ask, dreading the answer.
‘Soon! I have confirmation she’s in tow.’
My stomach drops, my hand clasping the glass so tightly it takes all my effort not to shatter it between my fingers. ‘My father did the same?’
Carlos’s lips twist into a cold smile. ‘Yeah, only he got her pregnant, and he almost lost everything because of it. We got you though! I had to save this family, but I was younger then, and I’m too old to go through all of that again. When Maribel rang, I couldn’t believe our luck.’
No, no, no.
‘Come,nene.Let’s see the pigs.’
My mind races to piece together the implications of Carlos’s revelation. The legacy of my father, the looming threats fromclients and now her.
‘How are the pigs? I ask, my voice casual as we step into the cool air to join Sal.
