Page 28 of Tamed

“Don’t give me that tone, Caleb. If there’s something—”

“There’s nothing. I’m getting an update tonight about any bullshit the Hamiltons are planning. All you need to do is a keep an eye on Fox.”

I’d spent the past couple of days reaching out to a few of my less…legal sources. Even though I was legit now, I kept an eye on the empire I used to own, that I’d dismantled years earlier when I put that life behind me.

But since bad shit like that doesn’t stay dismantled and whenever there’s a power vacuum there’s always some prick who wants to fill it, I stayed in command. A silent partner, making sure Old Nick’s old guard stayed down where I put them.

All except Livia, one of Old Nick’s exes, whom I’m put in charge of what was left of his empire. What she had was a mere shadow of the world I’d once ruled, and even though everyone else thought she was the boss now, she knew who the real boss was. Me.

I’d contacted her to give me any details on the Hamiltons current plans, because she had an inside contact, and if anyone knew their movements or their intentions it was her.

“What update?” Ten demanded. “From who?”

“Livia,” I said. “She’s got a couple of contacts. She’ll have an idea of what they’re up to if anything.”

He stood there, his whole posture rigid, his gaze narrowed. He knew Livia.

She’d been nice to us the day we’d been hauled before Old Nick because I’d tried pickpocketing one of his men and failed. I hadn’t known back then my dad had worked for him, that he was part of the reason my mother and sister were dead, and maybe if I had known, I wouldn’t have tried stealing from him. I certainly would have tried killing him.

Anyway, at that point we were just two sixteen-year-olds, trying not to shit themselves with fear as they were dragged by the scruff of their necks by two enforcers into that club that was Old Nick’s office.

Old Nick had been a hardliner and we would have been beaten within an inch of our lives if not for Livia. She’d tutted and fussed around us like a mother hen, making Old Nick let us off with a warning. Then she’d slipped us some money for food. She had a good heart, did Livia.

“I see.” Ten’s voice was absolutely neutral. He disapproved of me still holding the reins of my old empire. Then again, he’d always disapproved since his morality was less fluid than mine. But mine had had to be fluid back then. When you were in survival mode, morality was a luxury you couldn’t afford.

We’d had many a discussion over the years about it, and I’d told him that I couldn’t leave a power vacuum and better the devil you know, etcetera, but he didn’t understand why I had to take responsibility for it.

He wouldn’t. He hadn’t taken that empire by force, and he hadn’t expanded it. He hadn’t turned it into the biggest crime network in New York, and reigned supreme over it for years.

But I had. I’d built it and when I’d gone legit, I’d taken it down. And it was my responsibility to make sure it stayed down. Plus, retaining those old contacts had come in handy on several occasions, this being one of them.

“Yeah, I’m sure you do,” I said. “She’s got a man in with some of Hamilton’s inner circle. If he’s got designs on Fox, she’ll know about it.”

That muscle in the side of Ten’s jaw leapt again, and he put a hand on the back of my chair, gripping it tight. “They must know she’s in your pocket. What makes you think they’ll tell her anything?”

“They don’t know,” I corrected. Livia and I had always been very careful to make sure no one knew that she regularly passed on information to me. “No one does. Jesus, Ten, do you really think I’m that stupid?”

His expression didn’t even flicker. “I’m trusting you with—”

“I know what you’re trusting me with. Believe me, I’m well aware.” I held his gaze, let him see the conviction in it. “She’s safe. Nothing’s going to touch her, I promise you.”

The knuckles of Ten’s hand were white where he gripped the back of my chair. “I should be looking after her myself.”

So that was his problem. He was feeling guilty. Well, I got it — he was her father after all and protecting her was his job — but in this instance, having me be responsible for keeping her safe had been the right call.

His relationship with Isabel was already fractious and she didn’t need his worry making him even more of a rigid prick than he already was. Better to have her pissed off with me than with him.

“I understand,” I said flatly. “But you know letting me handle this is the best way. It’s better for Isabel and it’s better for you.”

Finally, Ten let out a breath and his hand dropped from the chair. “I suppose it is. But I must kept in the loop.”

“And you will. Tonight though, you need to relax.”

He scowled. “About tonight. I don’t—”

“Yeah, and I’m not taking no for an answer.” I folded my arms. “You’re wound tighter than fucking piano wire and not only is that not good for father daughter relationships, it’s also not good for you.” I eyed him critically. “When was the last time you got laid, for example?”

His blue gaze became distinctly chilly. “My sex life is none of your business.”

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