Page 99 of Vicious Arrangement
It’s almost one a.m., and I’m thinking of getting ready to pack up work and go to bed when my phone buzzes. It’s Devon.
I’m still digging but I have some initial stuff for you. I’ll continue and send my report when done. Thought you should know. This Aaron’s mixed up in some bad shit.
Me:Bad? How?
Devon:He owed a lot of money to some shady people with strong ties to the mafia.
Me:Good work, consider a hefty bonus in this as given.
Fuck. Fuck. Mafia?
I don’t screw with anything like that. Are some businesses I deal with affiliated? Probably, but as long as no one’s breaking the law or being overt, I’ll do that business. I’ve cut ties before when the mafia’s presence got too much to ignore.
It’s business. And it’s New York.
Anything with me would be a legit branch, mostly, a moneymaker. But they have more opportunities, so I never get strong-armed and Grandfather certainly didn’t. We’re powerful and rich, and they have other fish to have fun with in the waters of the city.
But my chest tightens. We’re related by blood and accident, and while I don’t owe him, I don’t like it. Having someone related in deep with unsavory types for money is trouble I don’t fucking need on my doorstep.
If there’s more dirt, and there will be, it’ll come through tonight or tomorrow, so I pour another drink and take a swallow, weighing my choices.
Maybe I should have gotten back to Asher, but it’s too late to contact him now. He’ll either be sleeping or neck-deep in work. Either way, I’m not bugging him over something I should be able to deal with, and besides, I know what he’ll say. Get the information and then just hand it over to authorities or whoever and wash my hands of it.
And he’d be right.
I’m going to.
But first, I need to make sure I know why Aaron reached out, other than what I already suspect, money. If there’s more, then I need to know.
I call him, and he picks up immediately. “Well?—”
“Let’s cut to the fucking chase,” I say, taking another swallow. “What is it you want? I’ve done my research, and I’m guessing you’re not trying to build bridges with long-lost family. Actually, I don’t think you’re interested in playing family at all.”
“Of course I am. I just found out I have a brother, one I’m eager to get to know, to spend time with, so I don’t want anything other than a chance to get to know you and your family.”
My mind snaps tight on that last one, and white hot heat scorches me, and I have to clench my fist on my thigh to stop hurling the glass at the wall. “Cut the bullshit and tell me what it is you want, or this is the very last time you’ll speak to me, and if you try and come near me, I’ll slap a restraining order on you so fast your head will spin.”
There’s a long silence, and Aaron sighs. “Fine, I need money. A lot of it.”
I start laughing. “And you think I’ll give it to you? A stranger or as good as? We’ve never spoken before. I never knew you existed. So why the fuck do you think I’d give you money?”
“Because we’re family.”
Is this guy insane?
Family’s a lot more than shared DNA. Family often has nothing to do with blood. Look at mine.
“Not going to fly. We’re not family. There’s common DNA, but that’s it, nothing more. So I ask again, why the fuck do you think I’d give you money?”
“Because I can take everything from you.”
“You’re not a Templeton.” A surge of glee rises in me. “So you don’t get a dime.”
“You’d think, wouldn’t you? But not only did your mother put our dear father’s firstborn as sole heir to her fortune and all it entails in life and death, but your name wasn’t mentioned. And guess what? I’m the firstborn.” He laughs.
I close my eyes, temples throbbing. “That isn’t how it works.”
“Maybe not, but I’ve a copy of our father’s will and the one he stole belonging to your mother, to keep her compliant, my mom said. To stop her ripping him off.”
