Page 18 of Red Retaliation
CHAPTER
11
Red
“WHAT THE FUCK is going on?” Liam folds his arms across his muscular chest to face me off. “Is what I’ve been told correct, or is this some kind of sick fucking joke?”
I calmly return my brother’s glare. I was half expecting a standoff, but it might not have been quite so difficult if I’d told my brothers myself. I was planning to inform them how I’d decided to use Arianna’s presence to our benefit, but after her revelation, I got sidetracked. What she said about the rings puts a different slant on things and it won’t be easy. My brothers playing their face about her remaining here for longer than one night makes things even worse.
It’s hard enough waiting for confirmation, or not, that we have someone on our payroll that we trust; that we handpicked to work within the firm who is betraying us. The truth of that, I expect to be in front of me before this day is out.
I glance at my watch. There’s several hours yet before the cut-off time for my men to deliver the money from the dealers for the latest supply of Class A.
Then, that money has to be counted.
And then counted again...
Onlythenwill I know the truth.
After that, I’m left to decide what to do about whatever is discovered.
And when...
None of this extra stress helps my already overwrought brain.
I stub out my cigarette in the crystal ashtray and glare at Del. He couldhave waited before opening his trap to my brothers about my plan.
Reading my mind, Del raises his hands in apology. “I thought they knew. Sorry.”
“Well, we didn’t,” Oscar mutters. “But we do now. For fuck’s sake, Red. This isn’t what was agreed!” He tugs at the knot of his tie. “Holding that slut here for the foreseeable future without consulting us isn’t acceptable. We have the right to be part of decisions that affect us all!”
I bristle at the word “slut”. I had my initial thoughts about Arianna and may have uttered a few choice words myself, but that was before I saw a different side to her. After disclosing what she’d done with Roberto’s rings, much to my displeasure, I hold a grudging amount of respect for the woman. I hate to admit it, but I do. Her affecting my cock the way she does means jack shit, but feeling like I need to protect her -wantto protect her - is unfamiliar. Although I can’t explain it, I don’t want my brothers using words like “slut” and “whore” in relation to her because, much to my surprise, I believe those things are the opposite of what Arianna is.
“Nothing to say?” Liam barks. “No explanation? We have as much right as you to have a say in what goes on, yet, like Oscar says, you’ve made a decision that affects us all.”
“I think you’ll find thatI’mthe boss, Liam!” My fist slams onto my desk. I’m surprised the glass top withstands the force, but I guess that’s what I paid for when I shelled out thousands for this kit. “Irun this fucking firm, and all of you fuckers would do well remembering that!”
My gaze swivels to that of my other brother, bypassing Del, who has the decency to look uncomfortable with what his mouth has caused. Maybe I’ve been too lenient by including my brothers in the day-to-day running and decision-making of the firm, but I won’t be spoken to like a lackey. Neither will I apologize for what I see fit to do.
“Where’s Steve?” I bark. “I called this meeting to discuss the unexpected issue regarding a thief in our midst. I need everyone here and expect them to be in attendance when I tell them to be!”
“He said he was running late,” Oscar says dismissively.
I purse my lips, unimpressed. I haven’t got time for my men to go swanning off here, there and everywhere. “I decide what’s important, no one else. And I don’t do late!”
“We told you we didn’t want that woman here, Red.” Reverting to his initial gripe, Liam leans forward. “She cut her husband’s dick off, for Christ’s sake! She’s messed up in the head!”
My hands clench into fists, fast losing patience. I don’t have to explain my reasoning. The majority of the time Ichooseto, but this time is different - mainly becauseI’mnot sure of my reasoning, except that it’s all-consuming. As for Arianna being messed up in the head, I’m not so sure. She’s said little about her marriage to Roberto, but I get the impression the wanker didn’t treat her well.
A flicker of fury ignites, my mind scrolling through things that sorry excuse of a man could have done to warrant pushing a woman to such an action, and I like none of the forming scenarios.
Was the man a serial cheat or worse? Whatever lost him his nether regions, perhaps I should weigh up whether Liam has a point. I may not get involved with women further than in the sack, but my cock still works and I would like to keep it attached. “It’s hardly a great loss ridding the world of more Bristonis,” I mutter, downplaying my uncertainty.
“For fuck’s sake!” Liam rolls his eyes. “If you fancy screwing the bitch, then do it! You don’t have to keep the whore here for that! Take her up a fucking alley, shag her and then chuck her back where she belongs. We don’t need the shit she’ll bring by being here, Red, so get her the fuck gone!”
Lurching across the table, I grab Liam before he sees it coming. Heshouldhave seen it coming, considering I picked him up on his behavior with women in the club the other night. “I don’t like disrespect to women,” I snarl. Resentfully releasing my brother, I move from behind my desk to pace the room, pausing at the nest of tables holding the decanter. It’s early, but I pour myself a large whiskey, regardless.
A nerve tics just below my eye as I tip the whiskey into my mouth and turn back to face the room. “Being as wearein this position by Arianna coming to us, we have no choice but to play our hand. Keeping her here while we do that gets us the best result - a result not previously open to us from the two firms who have always been enemies, albeit silent ones.”
