Page 2 of The Apprentice
“Mr. Killough has me here to make a deal with you, Christopher. You know the terms.” I pursed my lips and rested my whiskey tumbler on the arm of the chair, holding it there.
Cunningham laughed and dropped his booted feet onto the coffee table, dislodging dirt onto the pristine wood.
I gritted my teeth so tightly I thought I’d break them.
“Listen, boy, is Killough here? I want to talk to an adult, not a child.”
As far as insults went, I’d heard worse. Sure, I was twenty-six, but I wasn’t as useless as Cunningham thought. I had more experience than a lot of men my age in the mob.
Daire placed his tumbler on a console table and stepped forward to offer his protection, but I held up my hand, stopping him in his tracks. He lowered his sunglasses on his nose and gave me a pointed look, but I was already aware of his desire to break Cunningham’s neck for disrespect. I needed to do this alone.
Sloan gave us a job to do, and I wasn’t going to disappoint him. Not again. One day the Company would be mine, and if Sloan thought I wasn’t capable, he would give it to someone else... likefuckingConall, Sloan’s favorite little pet.
I would cut off my balls before I let that happen.
I leaned forward and took a deep breath to keep calm. “You will listen to me right now,Chris. You are in our house, so you will respect me. You know exactly who I am and what I can do.”
Cunningham shook his head and snorted. “Just because you’re Killough’s nephew doesn’t mean you get my respect. Earn it.”
“Fine.” I smirked and glanced at Daire.
We didn’t have to like Cunningham to do business with him.
“You want me to earn it, then here’s how I’ll do it. Let’s make a deal. We know about the drugs you’re running across the border. You paid the cops in Mexico well, but you’re having trouble getting the product past border patrol. Your last load was seized, am I right?”
His expression turned sour, bushy eyebrows furrowing. “Maybe.”
A spike of delight shot through me. “Then, this is what we’re going to do. You scratch our back, we’ll scratch yours. You can use our trade route to get into the US.”
He snorted. “Boy, New York’s too far for me to be sending my coke. It’ll be hit by the time I get it to Texas.”
“Not that route.” I leaned back in my chair and took another sip of my drink, letting the smooth liquid slide down my throat. “Florida is ours. It’s easier to get your product through there than risk the border patrol near Mexico. The men in Florida are on our payroll.”
“For now.” Cunningham’s grin returned. “You see, I’ve been hearing stuff about your Miami setup. Apparently, you’re not the only one with connections there. The Reyes Cartel has already offered me a deal,friend, and I like what they’re offering. What are you prepared to give me?”
I stiffened. Thiago Reyes and his band of pricks again. I had no idea why Sloan was letting them test his limits. If I was in charge, I would’ve destroyed their hopes and dreams in Miami already, but Sloan did everything for a reason, even if I didn’t know why.
“We would take thirty percent of your product.”
Cunningham’s laughter echoed through Sloan’s office. “Reyes only wants ten.”
Reyes wouldn’t stoop as low as ten percent.
Shooting to my feet, I glared at Cunningham. Anger sent a burst of heat through me, igniting my insides with a raging fire. My grip on my tumbler tightened until my fingers hurt. “I wouldn’t push your luck if I were you. Reyes won’t be in Miami for long, trust me.”
Cunningham’s smile grew smug again as he dropped his dirty boots to the floor and stood. He was taller than me, but not by much. “Now, don’t go pitching a hissy fit, son. Y’all are here to talk business and that’s what we’re doin’.”
“We’re done,” I growled out, raising my chin. “If you wheel and deal with Reyes, you will lose a lot of money.” I stepped in closer, aware of Daire right at my back, lending me support. “Get out of our home and don’t come back unless you’re on your knees begging for a second chance.”
“That won’t happen. The Killough Company is losing its touch.” Cunningham shook his head, baring his teeth at me in a crooked grin before tipping his hat. He stalked through the doorway, and his men were waiting for him on the other side.
I watched him go, anger still stirring in my gut until it became unbearable. I hurled my tumbler against the wall. The glass exploded in every direction, but I wasn’t done. I spun around, picked up a vase of fresh flowers that sat on the coffee table, and threw it. The vase hit the wall to my left and shattered, sprinkling glass and water all over the hardwood floor.
“Motherfucking redneck.” I curled my hands into fists and stared up at the ceiling while breathing through the rage that had me in flames.
Daire turned me around and laid his hand on my shoulder, mouth pursed and thoughtful. His sunglasses were back in place, hiding his eyes from me. “What has Sloan taught you?”
“Patience,” I said between breaths. “But fuck Cunningham.” I uncurled my hands. “Fuck him and the horse he rode in on, Daire. He disrespected us and had the balls to bring up Reyes. FuckingReyes. Sloan needs to kill both those pricks.”
