Page 57 of The Merciless King

“Enough with the bullshit,” he says loudly, and even Dante reacts. It’s only a blink, but I notice it. “You need money, and we need a middleman to connect us with the European trade.”

“Then let’s do this.”

“We have a shipment ready to go, and if you can get us a bigger figure than the Argentinians are offering, then it’s yours,” Salvatore tells me.

Now it’s my turn to blink.

“Carry on.” I nod, interested.

“I will give you two hundred million dollars for your exclusive commitment to the Baldassare business for the next two years,” Frank says. “If you can provide at least five billion dollars’ worth of trade in Europe this year.”

I nod really, fucking slowly, as if contemplating it.

It’s half the money I told them I owe. That means they assume I can come up with the rest.

“What numbers are we talking for this first shipment?”

“Sixty.”

“Tell me about the stock.” I know what the answer is before they reply.

We have a shipment ready to go.

“American. Under twenty-five,” Salvatore says coldly. “Blue-eyed blondes.”

Fuck.

It could be Amy. I wasn’t prepared for such a visceral reaction as vomit rises in my throat. I swallow down hard and force myself to not kill these motherfuckers with my bare hands.

Dante is quiet and I wonder how much he is involved or if he’s got less power than one would assume.

I find him studying me as I look his way.

“We had a buyer cancel their order, so we need to move them,” Frank said, “fast. I need this stock moved this week.”

Stock.

Like they are animals.

I lift the almost empty glass of water in front of me and throw it back and try not to shake as I place it back on the table.

It’s Amy, it has to be.

Pushing down my hope and rising emotion, I meet Frank's stare and lick my lips as if contemplating the opportunity instead of imagining his painful death.

“I’ll make some calls.”

“Give me some names of people you’ve worked with. We need to prove you are who you say you are,” Dante says. “Then let’s meet back here in three hours.”

I stand, wiping my mouth on the napkin and toss it on the table.

“Be very careful about the decisions you make in the next few hours. And do not leave the grounds.” Frank orders me.

Fuck that.

I slide my hands into my pockets, confidence pouring from me.

“Mr. Baldassare, if we are to be business partners, I need to make one thing clear. I do not work for you. I am not one of your soldiers, and I am not someone you can control.” I darken my stare, knowing a bullet could come my way at any time. “Ever.” I glance at all three men. “Do your research. I will make my inquiries. If this doesn’t work out for both of us, I will say my goodbyes to Gianna, and you will never see me again.”

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