I nodded, taking a drink of my water.
“And if it’s not?”
Meaning ‘And if Damon is there?’
Then we handle it. But before I had a chance to answer him, I saw Michael jerk back as water and ice cubes spilled onto the sleeve of his jacket. “Jesus Christ…”
The girl hurriedly lifted the pitcher back up, bowing her head in apology.
“Iz-vee-nee-tye,” she gasped out in a small, scared voice. I glanced up at her, unable to see her face hidden under the hat. She pulled the container away and set it down, grabbing a napkin and trying to wipe off his sleeve.
“Just…” He snatched the towel away from her. “Leave it alone. And take this away.” He handed her his glass and the wet linen, immediately turning away and dismissing her.
She bowed her head again, hurrying off to hide herself somewhere behind me where the serving table and her cart sat.
I stood up, walking toward the doors to the patio and looking out. “If everything isn’t how it should be,” I said, “then I’ll handle it.”
“Just you?” Michael stood up and made his way toward me.
“You take care of Rika,” I told him. “And Will.”
The business I had with Damon was private.
Michael leaned in, speaking low. “We all need to face him, especially Will. He’s floundering without Damon.”
“Damon tried to kill him,” I bit out. He’d tied a cinderblock to his ankle and threw him in the fucking ocean.
“Yeah.” Michael nodded, meeting my eyes. “His best friend tried to kill him.”
“We’re his best friends.”
“Damon and Will were always closer,” he said. “Just like the two of us are closer. Will needs D
amon. You know he’s spiraling. He needs to face him. So, let us all find the son of a bitch and give him a warning he’ll never forget.”
“You want him in the same room as Rika, too?”
Michael ran his hand through his hair and exhaled. That was a no.
“You take care of everyone else, and I’ll take care of The Pope,” I instructed. “He’s no less of a threat to Rika than Trevor was.”
And we both knew how Michael had handled his brother. The idea of doing the same to Damon—someone who had been a friend—made my stomach roll, but I would do what I had to do. To keep my friends safe.
And to keep Damon’s goddamn mouth shut.
I turned and walked back to the table, remaining standing. I spotted Will outside the doors making his way toward us again, hopefully having calmed down.
“Enough of the fucking waiting,” I told Michael, picking up my glass and taking another drink. “Let’s take care of loose ends.”
“Yeah, speaking of waiting,” Will chimed in, stepping through the door. “Where is this guy? This assistant we’re supposed to meet?”
I watched as he opened the doors to the hallway and called out to someone. “Hey?” He backed up, letting the man, Hanson, come into the room.
“Yes, sir.” He looked to Will in question.
“Where is this assistant we’re supposed to be meeting?” Will asked. “We don’t have all day.”
Will probably just wanted this over with so he could get away from Michael.