“This has turned into a rather sensitive situation.”
“Sensitive how? What the fuck are you rambling on about, Robert? Is it a fucking gold mine or what? Time is money, and right now I have another potential situation brewing and I may need your skills, if you know what I mean.”
“What’s that about?”
“Feds. Seems they’ve suddenly grown an interest in my financial investments overseas, and coincidentally, Broderick’s lawyers sent a letter accusing me of blackmailing him. I thought you scared him enough?”
“I thought I did, too. So that’s what you need my expertise in? You need me to get rid of him?”
“We’ll discuss particulars when you return. Dixie Chix isn’t going anywhere so why not just head back to Austin in the morning? We’ll go over everything.”
“Well, Pierce, I think once I tell you why this situation is so sensitive you’ll understand. I just think you should not jump the gun here when I tell you.”
“Robert, just spit it out. What the fuck?”
“The dance hall Dixie Chix is incredible. It’s worth owning, and it’s owned by seven women.”
“Seven women? Shit. Then I guess this will be a piece of cake. I ain’t never met a woman who was better than me in business, nor any man for that matter. Is that the sensitive part?”
“No. One of the women is someone we know.”
“Okay, you’ve got my attention. Who is it?”
“Juliana.”
Robert listened, waited for the yelling, the obscenities, anything that indicated that his boss heard him. He was about to repeat himself when Pierce spoke.
“I’m getting on a plane. I’ll be there by morning. You get her, bring her back to the hotel, and wait there for me.”
“I won’t be able to do that.”
“Why the fuck not? She’s mine. I thought she was dead because you never found her and she didn’t return home. She was so young and naive. How the hell did she survive? My God, what does she
look like? Is she beautiful? She’d be about twenty-two now.”
“She’s involved in a relationship.”
“Who gives a fuck? You take care of him, and that’s final.”
“It’s not a typical relationship, Pierce. This town, Delite, is unique to say the least.”
“You’re rambling again, Robert. What kind of relationship?”
“She’s fucking two guys.”
Robert pulled the phone away from his ear as the yelling and anger penetrated through the line.
“I told you that this was a sensitive situation.” Robert told Pierce about the ménage relationships, the owners of the dance hall, and the locals in the community.
“So we start blackmailing her suppliers. Start with the liquor suppliers then the board of health and fire inspectors. It’s a fucking hick town in the middle of Texas. How difficult can it be to start fucking with her friends and co-owners to make Juliana submit? Oh crap, wait a minute. I just got an idea. I’ve got plenty of businesses like this one. I don’t need it, but I will need some leverage to get Juliana out of there and to come back home with me. You said her friends are close and that she has two lovers?”
“Yes, Teddy took a shot at one of them and hit him in the shoulder.”
“Good, very good. She’ll know that they’re accessible. We’ll threaten their lives. She’ll give in quickly. I’m still flying out tonight. I want to see this place. I want to walk in there and see her face when I arrive. Tell me, Robert, how lovely is she? It’s been so difficult to find others.”
“I’ll send you some pictures that Teddy took.”
“Send them right away. I’ll call you when I arrive. My Juliana will truly be mine in a matter of days.”