Page 144 of House of Payne
“His family comes from old money,” Katia replies. “He’s used to having to take extreme precautions.”
It’s why getting an audience with him has been nearly impossible.
We’ve had every mayor in our back pocket since we started this business.
Mayor Mullins shouldn’t have been this hard to convince, but after he announced he was running for senate, he became very unpredictable.
I hate having to deal with men who become single-minded in their pursuits.
I’d love to send Carlisle just to see how he’ll react, but I also know I can’t afford any missteps after the debacle at the docks. There are too many eyes on us, too many unknown variables, and I can’t shake the feeling that I haven’t seen the last of Lance and Michael.
Those two morons are planning something.
There’s been radio silence since last night.
I clear my throat. “We need to send the mayor a clearer message. Let him know he can’t fuck with us.”
Katia smiles slowly. “I can take care of that.”
I nod. “Good. It requires a more delicate touch. I’m counting on you to—”
The door to the office bursts open, and Carlisle rushes in, bleeding above his right eye. “Boss, you’re going to want to take this.”
I step away from the table. “You know how I feel about interruptions.”
Carlisle stops in front of me and holds out a phone. “I know.”
I snatch it out of his hand and give Carlisle a withering look. “What?”
“Is that how you usually answer the phone?”
I switch the phone to my other ear. “When I haven’t had the pleasure of a fucking meeting, it is. Who the hell are you?”
Why does Carlisle look like he’s taken a few hits on the way here?
It’s not like him to be caught off-guard.
“Do you see your little watchdog? That’s just an example of what we’ll do if you don’t listen.”
I laugh. “I don’t know who the fuck you are, but I don’t respond to threats. Whatever the hell this is, you’re in way over your head.”
“I don’t think so.” The voice is distorted, but I can hear the amusement. “Unlike you, we know what we’re doing. Now shut up and listen.”
I motion to Katia, and she inches closer. “You have five seconds to tell me who you are, or there will be hell to pay.”
“We’ve got leverage to keep you in line, so I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Leverage? What is this, a shakedown?”
“Something like that. I can see we’ve got your attention. Are you ready to listen, or will I have to mess up her pretty face?”
I blink. “Her?”
“Your little plaything,” the voice continues. “It would be such a shame. Maybe we’ll find another way to punish her. I bet she likes it rough.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
The voice says something else, but I don’t hear him. I yank open the nearest drawer and pull out a notepad. Then I rip a piece of paper off, jot down something, and hand it to Katia. She scans the paper and gives me a quick look. A moment later, she charges out of the office.
