Page 72 of Beast: Part Two

“Actually, Walter, I think I’m interested in this conversation,” Franklin says, never taking his eyes off Priest.

“Are you sure?” Walter asks, turning to Franklin. “We can have your security toss their asses out.”

Seth chuckles and Many snorts. People that are not in the killing business have no sense of awareness. If Franklin’s security could have kicked us out, we, one, wouldn’t be here, and two, they would be standing here. Although Walter doesn’t seem to recognize this, I think Franklin does.

“It’s alright. Besides,” he says pulling out the chair across from Priest. “I don’t think they would be much help now.”

Walter hovers around the table.

“Move the fuck on,” Seth growls to Walter.

The man nearly trips over his feet trying to scurry away. Once he’s gone, we get down to business.

“Is my security dead?” Franklin asks.

“No,” Priest replies. “Not at the moment.”

Franklin doesn’t speak as if he’s taking that information in. “You do realize this place has cameras from the front entrance all the way to the golf course.”

“They have been on a loop since I pulled into the parking lot.”

Franklin smiles. “And I’m assuming there are more of you somewhere around here?”

This time Priest smiles. “You have a sniper aimed at your head. But I assure you, the time it will take his bullet to travel to your skull, one of us could already give you a third eye.”

Franklin’s face never changes. The smile remains. “Obviously you don’t want me dead,” he shrugs. “If you did, I’d already be bleeding.”

“You are correct.”

“Then what do you want, Mr. Priest?”

Priest takes a second before speaking. He leans forward in his seat, unbuttoning his coat jacket. “Let me formally introduce myself. My name is Nathaniel Priest Otella. These are my boys, Many, Seth, Hawk, Beast, and Zel, who you won’t be seeing.” He points to each of us as he says our name.

“So, this is about Corbyn’s excommunication order?” For the first time, the smile fell from Franklin’s face. He seems shocked more than anything else.

“Yes,” Priest answers. “We need you to withdraw your signature.”

Franklin laughs. However, we don’t join him.

Holding up a hand, Franklin says, “I’m sorry. I’m not laughing at your request. I’m laughing because I wasn’t even going to sign that bill. It took some convincing. But now I’m glad I did.”

“Why is that?” Hawk asks.

“Because now I see the importance of partnership.”

Once again, we knew that this was what we would need to offer up in order to get the EO dropped. Maksim and Phoenix said as much. Even O’Cleary proved this point.

“What do you want?” Priest asks.

“Access,” Franklin says.

Unlike O’Cleary who only wanted a single favor from us, Franklin seems to be a lot smarter. He sees the importance of having an ongoing partnership with us. Can’t say that I’m excited about it, but I’m smart enough to know that a partnership with one of the richest men in the world was beneficial.

“We have limits. There are some things we will not do.”

“Women and children?” Franklin questions.

“Children definitely. Women if necessary and for a valid reason.”

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