Page 1

Annoyance radiated from Cassius as he eased his foot off the pedal of his black-on-black Rolls-Royce Ghost, in no hurry to return to the one place he’d spent so much time trying to escape.

His nightmare started with a phone call earlier in the week from Lena Vasquez, a federal agent he’d built a rapport with since moving to Brighton Bay. She couldn’t give him the details he wanted, but had been kind enough to let him know that one of his smaller companies was on the radar for a federal fraud investigation and at risk of being seized. Without asking, he knew it had to have something to do with his family’s long-time illegal dealings.

The Farina family typically ran cash through a maze of companies that mainly existed on paper. One business paid another for services, the second loaned money to a third, and the third sent it overseas. By the time the money returned to the system, it looked clean enough to pass as profit, investment capital, or payroll. Money laundering was how they kept such strong ties with politicians, businessmen, and even law enforcement.

It was a foolproof routine that had allowed the Farina family to fly under the Feds’ radar for years—until someone used one of Cassius’ shell companies as part of his family’s financial dealings, which apparently raised an immediate red flag. After Lena’s call, Cassius traced the deposits back to the source and, as a result, there he was, back in Whiskey Creek to find out what the hell was going on.

The irony of the 360 would be laughable if he were in a humorous mood. In fact, if the night didn’t go as smoothly as he hoped, he might shift from merely irritated to outrageously murderous. But before he went from zero to massacre, he wanted to see if all his worrying was for naught. So, his first stop was Sinsation, his family’s long-standing business and a Whiskey Creek staple, to get a feel for the crowd and staff and hopefully start piecing together what was happening. The best way to observe without interference was to see for himself what was happening before anyone caught wind of his presence.

Arriving at the club, he exited his vehicle and stalked toward the doors. The club was just as much a part of his family history as it was the reason his family was now under heavy legal scrutiny. And the moment he strolled through the doors, he could see why.

What was once a speakeasy for the sophisticated had turned into a rambunctious den of foolery, overrun with a crowd that didn’t fit the intended demographic. Moving through the unusual crowd, he reached the bar and sat, observing his surroundings. A smirk touched his lips when he locked eyes with a familiar face.

Flagging the bartender, Cassius ordered a drink as the person stood and made their way to where he sat, claiming the empty seat next to him.

Minutes passed, and it wasn’t until after Cassius received his drink and took the first sip that he spoke.

“I see you’re still everywhere you aren’t supposed to be.”

Mars, the man at his right, where he’d been for most of their lives, chuckled deeply. “I can recall a few times where being where I wasn’t supposed to be saved your ass.”

“More times than I can admit,” Cassius conceded. “How’d you know I would be here?”

“It’s my job. For you to assume I wouldn’t know is an insult to my skill set.”

Cassius snorted. “I see you’re still as sensitive as ever.”

“And I see you’ve forgotten what happened to the last nigga who negatively addressed my emotional stability.”

There was a brief moment of tension before both men’s faces broke into smiles. “It’s good to see you, bruh,” Cassius extended his hand.

“I wish I could say the same,” Mars replied solemnly, slapping hands with him. “Not that I’m not happy to see you, but you being back means you’re wrapped up in the bullshit you’ve worked your ass off to get away from.”

Cassius shrugged. “What can I say? I was born with this shit in my blood. It was bound to take root at some point.”

Cassius and Mars had both grown up in the same lifestyle, although on different ends. Cassius was a former enforcer and the son of Armond Farina, the current Boss of the Farina crime family. Mars had been bred to be a made man from the time he was able to steadily hold a Glock. It wasn’t a life either of them had chosen, but they navigated the ups and downs as brothers, forming a nearly impenetrable bond.

“So, I take it the rumors I’ve heard are true,” Cassius continued, heat flooding his veins as he glanced around the room.

“Give or take.”

“How bad is it?”

“How close are you to putting someone in the ground?” Mars raised an eyebrow, making Cassius laugh. “‘Cause that heavily affects my answer.”

With a shake of his head, Cassius finished his drink. “I hadn’t planned to make an example out of anyone tonight, so we’re good.”

Mars nodded and tapped his knuckles against the bar top while flagging the bartender so she’d return to where they sat. After ordering a drink, he sighed heavily before revealing all he knew. “Let the Family tell it, everything is fine. But behind the scenes, shit is fuckin’ chaos. Two Bosses retired, leaving a power vacuum. Your pops and Severo are working around the clock to keep things from crumbling, but they can’t be everywhere at once. Smaller factions are forming to make power grabs, and it’s making shit messy. And no offense, but with so many years of peace, none of the bosses are on top of things like they used to be.”

Cassius snorted. There was no offense taken. He was well aware that years of complacency had his father moving recklessly, and that Armond had become lazy and off his game.

Feeling the weight of the responsibility that he never wanted resting heavily on his shoulders, Cassius took a deep breath to mentally prepare himself for the impending war he knew was coming.

“The world turns...” he initiated the saying he and Mars coined when they were children.

“But we’re set in stone,” Mars finished as they slapped hands. “Where do you want to start?”

Before he could respond, Cassius’ phone vibrated in his hand, distracting him. His eyebrows furrowed as he quickly scanned the sparse message from his father.