I clenched my jaw as I waited for my punishment. There was one coming.
“You will no longer be at the club when Danica is working. You will not be alone with her at all. You will start taking Lauren out on dates and treating her like your girlfriend. You will give her attention and spend time with her. You’ve been thinking with your dick lately, so fuck Lauren and leave Danica alone.”
“Jesus, you’re treating me like I’m a child.” I rolled my eyes and poured a glass of whiskey. If I was going to agree to Dad’s dumb terms to get him to leave, I was going to need some booze to numb my brain.
“You’re acting like one,” Dad huffed. His face turned somber, his lips forming a hard line as I guzzled the amber alcohol. “I know you’re not used to having boundaries, Kane. You’re not even used to following orders. Bobby was always good at this diplomatic bullshit. You’ve always been better handing out punishments.”
Don’t remind me. If I could go back in time and make it so Bobby was never on that motorcycle, and those biker fucks had never caused him to crash, I would. For many reasons, but one being this. I was terrible at his job. I wasn’t built for it like he was.
I poured another glass as Dad’s eyes hardened. “But Ineedyou, son. I’m losing my grip among the men. I can feel it. A lot of them are wanting to venture into other territories aside from contract killing and the drug trade. They want more than I can give them right now. If I lose this deal with Arlington, I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Fuck, this sounded more serious than he’d let on in the past. I knew that he wanted to expand in Castle Grove, but I figured it was just his greed talking.
“The MC continues to grow and recruit new members. Young, eager to please their president. What the fuck do I have? A second-hand who’s keeping secrets from me. IknowDante was involved with Pete in that trafficking shit. I have a son who was supposed to take over now in a wheelchair and can barely speak because I couldn’t protect him. The threats to our family are the highest they’ve ever been. I can’t worry about keeping tabs on you while trying to control my own men.”
“I get it Dad.”
“No, you really don’t. If I can’t get Arlington on my side andkeephim there, I have no doubt he will find someone else to fill the role. Ethereal will be shut down, no one will contract us for any work, our suppliers will cut us off. The MC will move in on our turf, and who knows what Dominguez has planned. I know they aren’t satisfied with running guns. They want more. They all do. We have the upper hand if we have city government officials on our side. I need it.Weneed it,” he corrected himself.
“Lauren and I have an arrangement.”
“What?” Dad’s eyebrows shot up and I tried to hide my annoyance at the entire conversation.
“She doesn’t want her dad on her back, and I’m sick of you being on mine, so we agreed to put on a good show for the public. We’re on the same page now. We’re going to do what we have to to convince Arlington we’re together–and that she’s not shacking up with a biker–but that’s the extent of it. You don’t have to worry. Your deal is set.”
“That would make me feel better if I knew you weren’t infatuated with someone you shouldn’t be.”
“Infatuated? Do you know me at all?” I scoffed.
“I do. That’s what makes me worry. Not only will this interfere with your responsibilities, but with Danica’s as well. If she fucks up, loses focus on her tasks, Dante will–”
“Fuck Dante!” I barked. “He’s the biggest piece of shit in this town and you kiss his ass. He’s an abusive, sick motherfucker.”
“Kane–”
“No, Dad! Tell me what he fucking has on you because I know you don’t want him around. How can you let him get away with what he does?” My blood pressure skyrocketed again, erasing the calm I was feeling for a moment.
“She could get hurt. If she second guesses her instincts because of you, if she develops feelings for you and hesitates on a job…that could get her killed. You know I’m right, son. I love that girl like my own, and I would hate for something to happen to her.”
“Something alreadyhashappened to her, but you’re too fucking blinded by self-preservation to see it,” I gritted, tossing my glass back and downing the rest of the booze. “You can play dumb all you want. Place the blame on Dante because she’s his daughter and he makes the rules for her. But you’re just as responsible for what she’s been through.”
I was projecting a little, because I felt full responsibility and severely guilty for what happened to her at that masquerade ball–but what about all the other times? Dad’s hands were just as bloody as Dante’s. He may not have given the order, but he’s watched it happen over and over again, reaping the benefits and not giving a fuck the destruction it caused.
“Don’t you get what I’m saying?” Dad shouted, the skin around his eyes wrinkling as he glared at me. “That fucker has the power. He’s been making deals behind my back for years. He ramped it up once your brother got hurt and I was spending my time away from things. I’m trying to get control back but that can’t happen without my son backing me.”
“I thought he was your best friend, your second in command.”
“That asshole’s been undermining me our entire friendship. He’s got enough dirt on me to send me to prison for the rest of my life. Someday you’ll understand why I need to tread carefully with him, Kane. He’s not to be underestimated. He’s built connections and relationships in this town and beyond. I don’t know what he’s up to, but I intend to find out and make him pay if he’s double-crossing me.”
“Why don’t you just kill him?” I inquired. I’d love to be the man for that job, although I’d have to fight Dani for the opportunity.
“Because I don’t know for sure. He’s got a lot of loyal men in our ranks and if I were to kill him without solid evidence, they would turn on us. They would leave and join the MC or Dominguez or some other gang. I only have a few people I can wholeheartedly trust, and I hope you’re one of them. I’m tired of fighting you on this. It’s time to grow up and take this shit seriously.”
I inhaled a deep breath and held it, trying to squelch the rage that simmered under the surface of my skin. Dad was under stress–I got that. What I didn’t get was putting all his eggs in the Arlington basket. Who’s to say that fucker wasn’t double-crossing us? Maybe Arnold was using us for muscle while cutting deals with the MC or even Dante. They were quite friendly with each other at dinner the other night.
”Iwill. I have it handled. Lauren and I will be going out Monday. I’m picking her up at her house when Arnold will be there to see it. I’m going to bring her to the club this week so she can post to her social media. We’ve got it covered, Dad. You’re worrying for nothing.”
“I hope you’re convincing. We’re all out of other options.” He turned to leave but stopped before he got to the stairwell. “My order still stands when it comes to Danica. Stay the fuck away, Kane. For both of your sakes.”