Page 77 of Extradition (Mobsters + Billionaires 1)
“We are, actually,” I say, trying to keep the shiver out of my voice. “We’re voting this afternoon on all five measures. Vote however you want, but this is happening. And once we get the go-ahead, if I find that you are working against me in the background, if I can’t make the deals I need because you’ve called in your old cronies, if you make somebody wait even an extra day for health benefits, you’ll pay for it. This is not the day, and I am not the one.”
Joe catches my eye, his look pure intent. Pointing at me, he grins as he mouths Alpha.
I shake my head and point to myself. Rand, I mouth back.
He bites his knuckle, and I cannot wait for him to destroy my ass again tonight.
My father catches our little exchange and disgust plays out across his features. “You are my greatest disappointment.”
“Why, Father? Because I want to take care of our people while making a shitton of money?”
Sneering, he grits out, “When you let them win, they lose respect for you. You have completely lost the upper hand, and this company will descend into chaos, you mark my words.” With a shaking hand, he wipes the spit from his lips. “And when they find out you’re fucking the guy from the docks? Good luck.”
A sliver of fear rolls through my belly, but Joe squares up and my father takes a step back. Leaning in, his eyes black pools, Joe’s words sound like murder. “If you’re thinking of outing your son, don’t. Don’t do it. I promise you will not like my reaction.”
My father takes another step back, though it hurts him to do so. “Are you threatening me?”
Joe closes the distance. “I am absolutely threatening you. Just like Rand, I learned at the feet of my father. The most important thing he taught me, Mr. Wolfe, is that there are a great many things worse than death. And when I’m protecting Rand, I am capable of all of them.”
Just as my father opens his mouth to retaliate, Ford bursts into the room, looking ecstatic as he carries a donut in one hand and a coffee in the other. “Joe, Rand, did you see what the market did after your post? Holy shit, we’re going to make so much money.”
He’s wearing a pair of perfectly tailored bright-blue chinos and a white linen button-down with a hot-pink kerchief tied at his neck and is so perfectly unaware of the power struggle he just walked into. I send a helpless look to Joe, whose face cracks into a wide, genuine smile.
He pats my father’s arm before answering Ford. “I saw it, buddy. I might even buy some bit dollars, or whatever you call them.”
Ford turns to me, utterly pained. “Rand! What are we going to do about him? He’s practically prehistoric!”
My father looks like he’s about to swallow his tongue, but he refuses to say anything in front of the one board member who sides with me one hundred percent of the time.
I shrug, dizzy from the switch. “You know, he’s teachable, our Joe. Maybe you sit down with him after this vote and show him the basics.”
His eyes light up. “Yes! I am so excited about this afternoon. God, I love money.”
Joe laughs, and Ford shoulder-bumps him. “It’s not just the money, Joe. I promise.”
“Mm-hmm,” Joe says, turning his grin to my father. “You billionaires are only ever worried about the one thing.”
Ford pouts. “I’m telling the truth! I can’t wait to see what happens when employees begin to thrive. I bet it’ll be something special.” Turning to my father, his green eyes sparkling, Ford continues, “I know this has been a tough negotiation, but you have got to be so proud of Rand’s leadership. He’s gonna take the Wolfe family name into the next millennium.”
We turn to my father, who pastes on an approximation of a smile. “It’ll be something.”
The rest of the team joins us and are equally jazzed by the numbers we’re seeing. We have a bit more back and forth between the old guard and the new, but by the end of the hour, we’ve flipped enough board members to win the day. All five measures pass, with my father abstaining from the vote.
I wish I could be in a more celebratory mood, but one look at my father tells me that he’s not done with me. Not by a long shot.
