AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes, very. Honey is doing amazing.”
“Why are we talking about my sister-in-law?” Crue asks as he enters the room. Crue is Dawson’s best friend, and their wives are sisters. So sweet. I really don’t care; I’m just attempting to be pleasant.
“And the lovely Rya, how is she?” I ask Crue, thinking of the fireball criminal lawyer he took for a wife. She’s one of the best lawyers there is. I’m hoping one day I can get her on my team as well. And if my intel is correct, she’s due to deliver their firstborn any day now.
“Stunning as usual,” Crue says, taking a seat next to Dawson.
“That she is,” I agree.
“Considering my lack of free time, I’m assuming you haven’t called us both for no reason,” Crue says, adjusting his black dress shirt.
I’m reminded why I tolerate their companionship, because they don’t fuck around and get straight down to business.
“River Bently, aka the current pain in my ass, who for reasons unsaid I can’t immediately kill, is inserting himself into the city and dealings for his guns on the East Coast.”
“You called us in to discuss River?” Dawson asks, but he doesn’t seem entirely surprised.
“You don’t seem surprised. Is that because, by chance, you gave him entry into my auctions?” I drop my chin onto the back of my hand as I stare at him. But Dawson is one of the few men who don’t become uncomfortable under my cutting glare.
He casually shrugs with a charismatic smile. One I’m sure that melted his sweetheart. She and I are opposites.
“Some of us have friends, Anya, and I owed him a favor. Regarding business, he’s good at what he does. And being in business with him has provided a long-running profit for you and your brother, if my information is correct.”
Motherfucker. How did Dawson know about the supplier before I did? But I’m not surprised. I’m not even mad, really, that Dawson gave him access to my auction, considering it’s in the contract. And Dawson’s right; I’m also certain River would’ve found another way in no matter what.
“Have you dealt with him?” I ask Crue.
“I’ve had dealings with him in the past. He’s easy to work with, and his guns are always top quality. And, as Dawson said, he’s good at what he does.”
The problem I face is the agreement River’s put in place to pay off my brother’s interest. If I have to go with him for two business meetings, then we look like a united front. People come to me for meetings, not the other way around. And if River and I are associated, then people will assume he’s bought into our territory. I need to weigh the options as to which offers the greatest gain. Either I bring him in and permit him free rein to do business dealings for a cut or I dispose of him permanently. But I don’t want to tarnish our name by not honoring a business deal.
Dawson breaks me out of my thoughts as he says, “He’s been asking a lot about you.” He seems to be looking for some kind of reaction. When I don’t give him one, he adds, “He’s paid you?”
“He has,” I say bitterly. Sure, the fucker gave me a million dollars for a conversation, but due to unforeseen complications, we have surpassed that stage. Not that I would tell either of these fuckers that.
“And that means…?” Dawson lets the question hang.
“I may let him in,” I say, hating every bit of it. I’m literally backed into a corner. Not one I intend to stay in for long. But considering putting an outright hit on him is out of the question, I need to be cunning in other ways.
Despite my hatred for the man, there may be a lot of money made if I play my cards right. And that’s the one thing that I’ll put above my indifference of a person. What money can I make in the process?
“From what I’ve heard, it’s been well over one million that he’s paid you. Someone even mentioned ten million.”
Gossips. The lot of them. Dawson and River have probably spoken, but I’m not the least bit curious about what, especially if it includes me.
“Buy-ins are getting more and more expensive.” I smile.
“Keep it clean. We don’t need unwanted attention,” Crue adds.
I scoff. As if I’m going to let any man tell me what to do. And it’s slightly hypocritical of him to say that. “That’s funny coming from you. Did you not shoot your wife’s boss in the head?”
His jaw tics at the reminder. It’s not like he can kill him again, but with the look in his eyes, he would if he could.
“He took videos of my wife. Of course I did,” he says simply.
“So you’re saying, if it comes to a loved one, then it’s acceptable?” I sarcastically ask.
“Speaking of loved ones, where is Alek?” Dawson inquires. It’s a hard slap back into reality. “Not that we don’t love dealing with you, Anya, but it’s been months. Where is he?”
