Page 100 of The Gangster King

So I need help.

“You committed to this?” Connor asked.

“Yep.” I nodded. “The day I learned we were moving women and kids around the world, I knew something had to change. RIP Papa, but his death has gifted me with a free will I never had when he was alive.”

Braxton watched me, and I realized he doubted me more than the others. No doubt because he saw me with my father and at the warehouse that night.

But did he pay close enough attention?

“Why do you think I walked away when you went to inspect the shipment?” I asked him.

Braxton ran a hand through his hair. “I wondered. I didn’t want to read into it and make you a good guy in my head, but I knew something was off.”

I glanced at my sister. “Did you know? Did you know we were doing that shit?”

“No. Not until that night,” Gianna replied, shaking her head in disgust. “I hate it, Dante. Please, you have to stop it.”

When I first boarded the plane, we’d hugged, and I’d taken a look at the rock on her finger.

“Congrats, sis. But goddamn you.”

She’d smiled and shrugged, but she looked happy, so I shook Braxton’s hand.

“I am, Gianna. Nothing has moved through the business since Papa died. But the financial impact is huge—” I’d held up my hand when she started to react. “I know that sounds fucking disgusting, but like any business we have costs. Salaries to pay, people to feed, bills to pay. I’m trying to work out how we pivot and not have everything fall over.”

“He’s right,” Connor said. “It’s the most deplorable way to make money, but this is highly dangerous, and you need to protect the innocent as you adhered to moments ago.”

I knew he’d understand. I appreciated his pragmatism, and it was then I started to think these men might just be the help I needed.

“It is an enormous risk.” I stared out the window as we flew through the skies to California.

Thoughts of how much danger I was putting my mother, Adelina, and even Gianna in by doing this.

But those innocent women were no less important, and I couldn’t live with myself if I followed in my father’s footsteps. The argument that I was new and putting that arm of the business on hold with our customers would quickly run out of steam.

“First, you need to stay out of prison,” Braxton said. “We’ll help you, but we need something in return.”

Of course they did.

The fact he owed me his life seemed to have disappeared from his memory. But could I really keep threatening him now he was my fucking brother-in-law?

I’d lifted a brow in question.

“We need information on the other families.”

They wanted me to be a snitch. The worst kind of man, as far as the families are concerned. My father would be turning in his grave. Yet, he was happy to take women and children, starve them, and sell them to people around the world as slaves.

I know which one is worse.

He didn’t.

But I do.

When I nodded, Braxton grinned. “Looks like you’re one of us now.”

“Calm the fuck down. I only wanted a ride,” I replied, but my lips twitched.

My sister married a good man. We may come from different worlds, but in the few hours I spent with him and the Dark Kings, I knew if things were different, we might even be friends.

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