Page 63 of Run, Little Rabbit

I couldn’t risk losing Echo. I’m about to rip her family to shreds, and at the end of it, I want her to choose us. That takes more planning than going to war. Going to war is easy. Making Echo believe she belongs with us…that’sgoing to be difficult.

But I knew something she didn’t. Something even her father didn't know, and if necessary, I'll use it to win her over. And if she doesn’t come with us, I’ll take her by force and keep her in the basement until she sees things my way. I’m not above using force to get what I want.

However, the men are pushing back. They don’t like waiting. I don’t blame them. They’re simple creatures, fuelled by anger and violence, which are great virtues in traditional thugs, but they lack the patience required for true warfare.

I’ll give them something to attack, something to keep them occupied and buy me a little more time to plan my end goals. “Niki, put on the big screen.”

Usually, I love the way he fights against my orders. That small twitch under his left eye as he suppresses his defiance, but today, it just pisses me off.

He does what I say though, walking to the opposite side of the meeting room to turn on the large screen that spans the length of the wall.

The meeting room is more like a small conference room. There’s a large table in the middle of the room, made of dark mahogany, with seven chairs down each side and one at each end. Naturally, I sit at the head of the table, Niki to my right and Angel to my left. The heads of the smaller factions that make up my organisation sit in the other chairs. The only one empty is the one opposite mine, and I know who I want sitting in it.

The walls are dark, and there’s a large oval light hovering over the table and casting a soft yellow glow. It makes the room feel intimidating. Close.

Angel frowns at me, and I can feel his gaze burning against my face. I have to ignore it because if I don’t, I’ll end up punishing his ass in front of everyone.

The screen bursts into life and shows a selection of properties that make up a portion of the Quinn portfolio. Warehouses, casinos, small houses. They’ve all been vetted, and I know most will cause Rory Quinn a headache if they’re destroyed, but they won’t cause too much turmoil in the surrounding areas. This is about hurting the Quinns, not everyone else.

I turn to Lev, my chin propped on my hand. “Pick one.”

The brute looks at me confused. “What?”

I sigh. All brawn and no brains. “You want to destroy something, pick one.”

“Max,” Angel starts, but I don’t let him finish.

I whip my head towards him and fire a frosty stare his way. “Do you have something you want to contribute?”

He purses his lips, weighing the decision to challenge me in front of the men or not. I can feel the eyes of every single one of them staring at me. I can’t look weak, and I can’t let Angel openly challenge me, even if he thinks he’s right to do so.

“The casino would be the best option,” Angel says flatly.

Oh, my boy is pissed, and it sets off something inside me. Something that burns like fire.

Niki raps his knuckles on the table, grabbing my attention.“Stop being an asshole.”

There’s an audible gasp from the men. I’d made learning sign language a requirement for those that work for me, and most of them knew the basics or at least enough to understand Niki's instructions. They also probably knew more curse words than actual words.

Rage burns through me like a hot knife. “What did you just say?”

Niki’s mouth curls up into a smug grin. “Stop. Being. An. Asshole.”

He signs the sentence deliberately slowly, that smug grin widening with every word.

“Lev!” I bark without looking at him. I can’t take my eyes away from Niki. He looks so carefree for someone who’s about to get punished.

“Yes, Boss?”

“Pick one of the properties and destroy it. I don’t care which. Just make sure there are no unnecessary deaths.”

“You got it.” Chairs scrape against the floor as all the men leave, and still my eyes remain fixed on Niki. Anger rages through my veins, hot and potent.

I wait until the last man leaves and the door closes softly before rising slowly from my chair. “Angel, can you give Nikita and me a moment alone?”

Niki’s grin turns feral. “Let the angel stay.”

“Nope. I’ve seen that look in Max’s eyes before. I amnotstaying to watch him rip you apart. I’d rather remember you as you are now, Niki,” Angel says solemnly as he rises from hischair. “Besides, if I stay, I think he’ll punish me too, and my ass is already sore. Been nice knowing ya, Niki.”

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