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There were times I hated her with a passion because she knew me too well. However, in knowing all my darkest secrets, she knew how much I adored playing rather dark and devious games. “Fine. I’ll consider it.”
“I hope you do before you wake up one morning and you’re planning your will.”
“Morbid beast.”
“Just looking out for my girlie. Remember, Friday is right around the horizon. When you find your courage and take a leap of faith, call me. Otherwise, I’ll consider you an old maid.”
Her laugh made me shake my head and as she walked out of the door as if she owned the entire building, I lifted my middle finger once again. Apparently, it was becoming my salute.
Yet I couldn’t help but grin.
God, it was wonderful to have best friends.
CHAPTER 3
Valerio
Threats.
I didn’t appreciate them, nor did I allow them to go unpunished.
After all, I wasn’t a nice guy under most circumstances. When you dared point your finger in my face, accusing me of lying and my firm of stealing, all hell tended to break loose.
That’s exactly what had occurred, the rage I tried my best to keep buried inside flaring to the point I was almost frothing at the mouth. I usually wasn’t known for my vicious temper tantrums, but James Spinnaker had plucked my last nerve.
That’s why I currently had my hand wrapped around his throat, his body lifted to his toes and his back against the wall.
“What did you fucking say to us again?” I hissed through clenched teeth.
“Whoa. I think we all need to calm down,” my brother Braxton said as he flanked one side, my other brother Gage the other.
Fucking thank God it was Friday afternoon.
If not, I might need to jump off the roof of the building.
“Braxton is right. I’m certain Mr. Spinnaker didn’t mean anything by his ridiculous accusations,” Gage said. “Did you? Sir?” His disdain was evident.
James was red-faced from the amount of pressure I was using. Soon, he’d be choking. Why was it that I suddenly didn’t care?
Maybe because the man and his son had been pushing our buttons for over six months, acting as if their insistence on making bad choices on risky stock was our fault.
Bullshit.
So I squeezed until I was pretty certain his lips were turning blue.
“You will never, ever accuse us again of stealing from you, James, dear buddy. If you do, I will have you tossed out of our firm so fast your head will spin. Then I’ll make certain to have you blackballed.”
I wasn’t going to share with him that my brothers and I used rather brutal tactics in ensuring our clients were kept in line, such as extortion and blackmail. But only when necessary and only for the worst clients.
I’d be damned if this man didn’t qualify.
“Do. You. Understand?” I asked, lowering my face closer to his. There was much benefit in being much taller than the normal man and I often used it to my advantage.
Damn it. He acted like he was going to continue defying me.
“Hey, bro,” Braxton huffed, sliding to where I could see his face. “He ain’t worth it. He’s like pond scum, determined to use cheap tricks and money laundering to make a fortune.”
While there were times the three of us sparred as any family did, we also had the ability to read each other’s minds, which worked well in these scenarios.
