Page 53 of Reckless Promises

Stepping into my office with Brandon, everyone else waits outside, and I feel like I can finally relax. Brandon and I haven’t been close in years, but genuine friendship still exists beneath the surface. Even with everything that’s changed—his father passing from cancer, mine from his overgrown ambitions—he’s a friendly face. And here we are now, taking over the roles we once told each other we would refuse.

At least Brandon has managed his way through seemingly unscathed. Unlike many of the men out there tonight, Brandon married for love. He and Cassidy were childhood sweethearts, and they were lucky that their family businesses aligned.

I’m pretty sure that’s why Brandon always looks happier than half the men in the room. He might be weighed down by obligation like we all are, but his wife is someone he chose to have at his side.

“Fresh drink?” I walk over to the cabinet behind my desk and pull out a bottle of scotch.

“Holding out on us, I see.” Brandon takes it, reading the label before handing it back to me. “Hiding the good stuff in here.”

“Better than wasting it on shitheads like Joseph Moreno.” I pour us each a drink and hand him his.

“Don’t I know it.” Brandon takes a sip and drops into the chair on the other side of my desk. “Fuck, that’s good.”

I sip mine, letting the smokey liquid rest on my tongue for a moment before swallowing it down. It’s impressive scotch, but no amount of alcohol is going to settle my nerves when my angry bride is up in our room likely planning what artery to nick while I sleep tonight.

“So, you said you were shifting directions.” Brandon kicks an ankle up on his knee and sits back. “I’m guessing this has something to do with what happened to your father at my dock.”

“Yes and no.”

“I wasn’t aware the deal had gone bad.” Brandon swirls his scotch around. “I’d have intervened had I known.”

“I know.”

Brandon might not be clean, but he doesn’t like drawing heat to his business. My father being gunned down on his dock wasn’t a good look. And if I had to guess, he’s been feeling the aftermath of it since.

If Brandon had known the deal had soured before the shipment arrived that night, he would have let my dad know out of self-preservation alone.

“Then tell me what you’re after, Cillian. As much as I’d like to think we’re here to catch up on the new players atthe playground, that’s not it. You’re planning something. And I need to know what that means for my business.”

I smirk, resting my elbows on the desk. “Like I said at the auction, I’m aware you and my father had a deal, but I’ve looked over his assets and have decided to switch directions.”

“Keep talking.”

I’ve piqued his interest because while our fathers weren’t able to see the future for our families, Brandon is like me; he understands the bigger picture. Which is why, as I’ve planned this out, I know he’s someone I need on my side to make it happen.

“You’ve been accepting certain shipments for the Bardots and Rocheforts for years.”

Brandon nods.

“I’d like to cut them off.”

“And kill half my business?” Brandon hitches an eyebrow. “I know you didn’t pull me in here to tell me that.”

“I want to help yougrowyour business.” I tap my scotch glass with my index finger and take another sip. “But to do that, I need to take them down.”

“Take them down as in?”

“I’m going to turn Gabriel and Sascha in.”

It’s either that or I kill them both. And while that would be much more satisfying, it would just leave me with two dead traitors and a new generation who will no doubt take the helm. The only way to truly destroy a family is to rip it out at the roots—legally.

“You’re talking about turning them over to the Feds?”

“I’m talking about letting the system work for our benefit.”

“Yours, you mean.” Brandon points at me. “You might want revenge, but I’m not sitting back while my business becomes collateral damage.”

“You know me better than that, Brandon. I wouldn’t let that happen.”

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