Lorenzo shrugs. He won’t say if he thinks it’s a mistake. Not unless I ask him.
“Blade, I’d like you to speak again with your men who did the drop. I want to know exactly what was said.”
“Of course, sir.”
I wave my hand in front of my face like I’m swatting at a fly. “We’re done here. See yourselves out.”
Blade stands, but Leo remains seated. Lorenzo and Anthony don’t budge, but that’s to be expected.
Leo clears his throat. “I think it would be wise to let me be the one to talk to Nikita.”
I tilt my head as I look at Leo. My fingers curl over the desk’s edge. “Oh?”
Blade slowly sits back down.
“You have to understand, I’ve dealt with these people for decades. I was there when your father made the initial negotiations with Petrov. They trust me. I have their respect.”
And I don’t.
“I don’t care about their respect or their trust. As far as I’m concerned, we’re barely benefitting from their business as it is. We stop selling to them and we effectively eliminate the competition on the streets.”
“And we start a war,” he says, his tone authoritative. I wish I could kill him.
“I’ll feel out that possibility when I speak with Nikita.”
Leo sighs.
“Maybe Leo’s right.”
Again, I glare at Anthony.
He flicks his gaze between me and Leo. What a peacekeeper. If he wasn’t such a fucking pushover, he might be the one to do the negotiations.
“Hedoeshave more pull with Nikita. We all know Nikita doesn’t care for you, and it’s probably the reason for his reluctance to continue doing business with us. He’s held a grudge against you ever since—”
“Anthony,” Lorenzo interrupts, and I’m thankful for it. If Anthony finished that sentence, I’d have to punch him for it.
Anthony moves his gaze to Lorenzo.
“Would you please shut the fuck up?” Lorenzo asks, more like demands.
Anthony slouches in his chair and shuts his mouth. I get a glimpse of him when he was a child, sulking after being scolded by our father.
“There’s another thing that gives me greater influence with them.”
I sigh and bring my eyes to Leo yet again, crossing my arms over my chest as I do. I’m getting impatient with this. “What’s that?”
“My son is marrying one of their girls.”
I narrow my eyes.
What?
Leo waves his hand as if to dismiss the idea, yet he goes on. “The girl’s father is one of their dealers. A low-level associate, no one big, but still.” He shrugs. “The marriage does tie me to them. It might help our dealings with Nikita.”
I just stare at him a moment. I don’t know whether to be enraged or confused.
“What kind of debt did this man owe you?” I finally ask.