“You fear losing your money. Your real money is in the drug business. You needed to move weight, and I had the ships and aircraft to help you do so. All you had to do was use this front to deliver my seafood. I provided the boats and the space. You provided the workers. Workers who I’ve been treating ten times better than you have for over ten years.”
I tilt my head to the other side. “You see how I don’t need you?”
I lift my gun and shoot the guy to my left, blowing his brains out. He slumps against the table. I pick up the other gun and aim to my right side.
“Move and you’re next,” I say as Gio and Jace hold their guns to the heads of the others in the room.
“Gustloff, my funky friend. Do you know what those contracts said?”
“Fuck you.”
“No, you fucked yourself. You signed everything over to me that night. The contract stated it would all belong to my family and me in the event of your untimely demise. I own everything.
“With you gone, the guys can sleep at night, not having to worry about getting pinched by the Coast Guard and my pilots can relax knowing that they don’t have to smuggle for your foul ass anymore either. So, fuck you.”
With my arms crossed in front of me, I pull the trigger on the guy to my left and my right before uncrossing my arms and taking out the other two. Two shots go off behind me and I know Jace and Gio have taken care of the other two, leaving Gustloff panting and knowing it’s his turn next.
“I was told to give you a message,” Gustloff growls.
“So, you were set up for slaughter.”
He shrugs and grunts. “At least you’re getting what’s coming to you and your family.”
“Go on, give your message.”
“You’re all going to die—”
I put a bullet in his head and two in his chest before he can complete his final word. I stand and holster my guns and button my suit jacket.
Jace opens the door and Mitch enters. I move past Mitch and nod.
“Clean this shit up. Then shut this shit down for a deep clean. I want it up and running within a week, not a day longer. Keep the guys working on the boats. We’ll use McGee’s warehouse to process and handle deliveries for now. I’ll cut a deal with him for the favor,” I say.
“And the drugs?” Mitch asks.
“Bury them with the slob. Find my money. It’s in this room,” I say and leave the way we came.
Gio clasps me on the shoulder. “Take nothing he said to heart. I’ve got this handled.”
I grunt. “I figured.”
Chapter 30
Total Jerk
Lizzy
“Lizzy?”
I look up from my tablet and smile. “What’s up, ladybug?”
Bella gives me a sleepy smile and scoots closer to me on the couch. I lift my arm so she can snuggle under it. I’ve been working on emails and invoices that Dante noted for me to handle. There are also a ton of supply orders I need to push through for him.
I’ve been busy all evening. Not that I’m complaining. I’m actually loving my new assignment. Bella always has stories to share about her new friends at school when she gets home, and I’ve fallen in step with Dante’s busy days.
I don’t sleep much, so I’ve been getting content in on those sleepless nights and during my scheduled downtime. I smile as I realize how well it has all fallen into place.
“Do you miss me during the day?” Bella asks.
I look down at her and smile. “Of course, I do. It’s hard having to work so hard without my best friend.”
“I’ll have to tell Daddy not to work you so hard. We need you around here. I don’t want you to quit or leave.”
I wrinkle my brows and sniff at my armpits. “Do I smell bad? Why are you always trying to get me to leave?”
She giggles and wraps her arms around me. “I’m not trying to get you to leave. I want you to always stay.”
“I don’t know. I mean, I like it here, I don’t plan to leave, but you keep saying things that make me think you want me to go.”
She giggles some more. “Lizzy, stop it. I want you to stay. I love you.”
My heart swells. I love this kid too. I move my tablet to the coffee table and wrap her in my embrace. “I love you too, ladybug.”
“I like it when you call me that. Can we go skating again this weekend?”
“I’ll have to check with your dad first. If he’s okay with it, we can go. You’re getting so much better. You’ll be trading your wheels out for roller blades in no time.”
Her eyes brighten. “I can’t wait to get big, so I can skate like you. I told all my friends at school about you. They think you’re so cool. I do too.”