Page 42 of Goldflame

I always wake up gasping, sheets soaked with sweat, the phantom pressure of his hands still crushing my windpipe.

“Julian?”

I blink, realizing Lorenzo’s staring at me from across the polished mahogany table. So are the others. Waiting.

“I said, what’s your decision?” Lorenzo repeats.

What the fuck?I don’t need him to mediate.

“Sorry, is this your business?” I shoot back at him.

He looks away, shutting his goddamn mouth.

“I need a boat,” Francis says to me.

“I know.” I was listening to that much at least.

“And—”

“I know!” I snap at him. “Will the two of you shut up for a fucking second so I can think?”

The members all exchange glances, probably thinking about how my father would have this matter resolved by now.

I glance down at the table. I can do this. I just need to… give it some thought.

The DeMarco’s main business is drugs. The Consortium gets a percentage of profit from all member’s businesses in exchange for being members, which comes with a lot of perks. The main benefits are power and support. Yeah, everyone loves the parties and lifestyle, but when shit goes down, they have immediate allies in other members to save their asses.

The Castellano’s primary business is human trafficking. And?—

I remember something my mother shared with me.

Since I don’t know that woman’s name, I just look at her and start talking. “Wasn’t someone in your family recently picked up by the Feds for child porn? Sergio?”

The woman pales. “No! Not Sergio. Sergio is not like that. But… yes. A different cousin.” She glances around the table with a frown, probably upset I aired her family’s dirty laundry.

I glance at Olivia Marlowe, whose perfume stench has been bugging me this entire time. “Use your connectionsto get her cousin out.” I turn to Castellano. “In exchange, give Francis a boat.” Finally, I look at Francis. “Will you shut up now?”

The rest of the members laugh while Francis gives me a hard frown. He nods.

“What do I get?” Olivia asks. “My family is still pissed off at yours for taking Victoria from us. She was my sister. Unless you’ve forgotten.”

My temples throb.This bitch.

I slam my hand on the table. “There’s no proof we killed Victoria, and yet your family retaliated by killing myfather.”

“We have proof.”

“What is it?”

“Footage.”

I want to laugh. Considering I know Aurelia killed Victoria, I know this bitch is lying.

My mother’s words drift through my head,“You must show them the strong leader you are. They must fear you.”

I’m starting to see, more and more, how she’s right. They must fear me or challenges like this will just keep happening.

Slowly, I stand from my seat and walk around the table to Olivia. She looks up at me coolly, as if she has the upper hand and doesn’t fear me at all.

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