Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
He looked at Dante next. “You agree with this?”
Dante remained quiet for several seconds, his eyes on the bonfire, his legs crossed. “It doesn’t matter whether I do or not. I’m outvoted.”
“I still want to know your answer,” he pressed, like he picked up on the tension between the two of us.
Dante gave a sigh. “I know my daughter cares for him…so no.”
I wondered if that was really his answer or if he was being diplomatic because his vote didn’t matter anyway.
The man gave a nod then clapped his hands against his thighs. “Then our business has concluded. Hopefully you can find a supplier to fulfill the demand.”
“And hopefully you can find a client who can move product the way we can,” I said. “It’d be a shame for all of that to go to waste.”
The men rose from the chairs then left the terrace, moving between the buildings to the entrance of the villa so they could pile into their cars and drive off.
We sat there, rigid in our seats, our muscles stiff from the cold. Minutes of silence passed.
I texted Scarlett because I’d promised I would. Meeting is over. I’ll head home soon.
Her message was instantaneous, like she’d been staring at her phone, waiting for my dots to appear. Thank you.
Dante was the first to speak. “Well, that was a shitshow.”
“They’re bluffing,” Theo said. “We can always find a way to make more product, but they can’t sell in this territory without being butchered. They’re walking away from a lot of money solely out of pride—and that’s fucking stupid.”
“Doesn’t matter if it’s stupid,” Dante said. “If this isn’t a bluff, it’ll set us back a year.”
“They’ll cave,” Theo said simply.
“And if they don’t?” Dante asked.
“We’ll shoot Axel in the head,” Theo said sarcastically. “Problem solved.”
Dante gave a sigh.
“I agree with Theo,” I said. “It’s a bluff.”
“A stupid bluff,” Theo said. “Like we’re going to really shoot you.”
“It’s not about Axel or revenge,” Dante said. “It’s a power play.”
“Which is a game,” Theo said. “And I don’t play games.”
“Then we wait for them to contact us,” I said. “In the meantime, we find an alternative. Who knows? Maybe we’ll find something better than the partnership with the Colombians.”
Theo rubbed his jawline. “That gives me an idea.”
“Let’s hear it.” I could go for a cigar right now. It would be perfect in this evening chill.
“We pursue an alternative, whether it works or not, and when the Colombians come back to us, we say we’ve already found a new supplier. The only reason we would take them back is if they offered a better price. And then we bring them back to their original fee.”
I released a short laugh. “Fuck, that would be hilarious.”
“And stupid,” Dante said. “You just said you don’t play games.”
“They made their power move,” Theo said. “And I’ll make mine.”
“If that happens, we should just take the deal,” Dante said. “Get back to our old lives.”
“These guys would have killed you if Axel hadn’t shown up.” Theo sat up and pivoted in his chair, staring down Dante on the other side of me. “Did you ever think of that? That they would have tortured you until they got everything they wanted and then killed you? They would have raped and knocked up your daughter with a Colombian baby—”
“Don’t.” Dante looked at the bonfire, his face so hard all the veins in his temple and neck popped out. “Fucking don’t…” His fingers tightened into a closed fist before he rested it against his lips.
I turned to Theo and shook my head slightly, telling him to back off because I could feel Dante’s agony through the air, feel his combustive rage and his profound terror.
Theo listened and gave a nod. “They crossed you. And you should make them pay, Dante.”
When I walked in the door, it was nearly two in the morning—but she was wide awake.
On the couch in her little silk shorts and one of my t-shirts, she looked exhausted from staying awake long past her bedtime, but she also looked happier than I’d ever seen her. Relief swept across her eyes, and she took a deep breath as she finally allowed her body to relax. “I’m so happy you’re home.” She left the couch and came to me, diving into my chest like it was a mattress and a pillow.
My arms circled her, and I held her close to me, my hand sliding up the baggy shirt to feel her skin against my fingertips. I held her there for a long time, letting her rest her cheek against my chest for as long as she needed.
She pulled away. “My father’s okay?”
I nodded.
She breathed another sigh of relief. “How did it go?”
She’d decided to leave the business, so I wouldn’t concern her with the details that didn’t matter. “Fine. Did you make me something?”