Page 81 of Desperate Needs

“Start talking then,” he said, and I was impressed by how unaffected he seemed when I knew he was seething inside. Just like I would be if I were him.

“Okay, let’s begin with why I did all this.”

“I don’t give a fuck why?—”

“I think you're gonna wanna listen, because after I’m finished, we’re going to discuss my plans to marry Clementine, plus the proposition I have for you concerning the Callahan Protection Group.”

“Alright.”

“Good. Now, how would you like to buy the Group?”

“Buy it? Not make you a partner?”

“Nah, I don’t need to be a partner here. I will have to negotiate places for my teams, but other than that, you can kick me right out the door after we sign.”

“I'm listening, Callahan. But while you talk, why don't you let my people analyze that virus that let you in the door now?”

I grinned. He was a wily old fuck. His office was big and imposing. Designed to make the guy sitting in my chair tremble and quake.

But I was not scared of Josef Aziz. His daughter, on the other hand, scared the piss out of me.

“Nuh uh.” I told him.

“Not until the papers are signed but if you like, you can log into your database, and I'll give you a little tour of what I learned just so you can be sure I’m being honest.”

“Fine. But I’m bringing one of my personnel in,” he rumbled.

“Fine, me too,” I told him and texted Balor to come in.

“How many fucking passes did you make?” Josef snapped when Balor came in three minutes later.

He’d been unobtrusively sitting at an empty desk in the front room. Just like I’d asked him to.

“Just these two,” I said, and he pointed at his desk.

Grinning, I motioned to Balor who dropped his pass there, and I did the same. It didn’t matter.

I could always make more. But I had no plans to break in again.

“Okay, show me what you got, Callahan. Then I’ll let you know if I think you’re good enough to court my daughter,” Josef demanded.

I nodded, and for the next week and a half, that was exactly what I did.

Chapter 33-Clementine

The Viper’s Den was lit tonight.

I knew Uncle Nico had recently renovated, but holy fuck, whoever he hired had done a really fantastic job.

Still, this week had sucked, and all I wanted to do was go to the family farm in upstate New York and pet Sprinkles until I felt better, which honestly might not be ever.

The hurt I felt at Connor’s betrayal was just so raw. Like an open wound weeping down to my soul.

I thought he wanted me.

Believed he was interested in me.

But that was all just part of the lie. He wanted access to Sigma International to put my father in a bad spot, and I was stupid enough to give him that access.

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