Page 20 of Savage Union
"Don," Dante's voice crackles through the speaker, tight and anxious. "It's Rina. She's tearing papers on your desk. She's gone fucking mad in your office, and I can't do a damn thing about it. You said?—"
"What?" My voice drops colder than the wind, my blood beginning to boil under the fury already simmering beneath my skin. "She's doing what?"
"I can't stop her. You told me I couldn't touch her, and it's about the only thing I can do to stop her from destroying all the documents in your whole fucking office."
I run a hand through my hair, the tension in my body ratcheting higher. This isn't the kind of problem I need right now. It hasn't even been twenty-four hours, and she's already testing my patience. I don't need Rina throwing a tantrum while half a million in weapons is missing. Somehow, she knowsexactly how to push my buttons and make me feel like I'm losing control.
"Get her under control, or I swear to God, you won't take another breath," I snarl, my voice low but laced with a deadly edge.
"But—" he starts.
"You have one hundred and fifty pounds on her. I don't care if you have to tie her up. Don't let her tear another fucking sheet, or it's your fucking head." I shove the phone into my suit jacket. I turn back to Rafa and Marco, who are watching me with carefully neutral expressions.
"You can't let her bait you," Marco says, his tone steady, almost too reasonable. "The docks are a bigger issue right now. We can't afford distractions."
Marco's right. I've got bigger fish to fry. I grit my teeth, staring out at the empty containers. Half a million dollars missing. I can't let Rina's defiance pull me off track.
"We need to deal with who took the shipment," he says.
"What do you want to do?" Rafa asks.
"That's a fucking stupid question,” I snap. I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself.
"I know that you want to know who took the shipment," Rafa says, unfazed by my outburst. "My question is, how do you want to go about it? People are already on edge. It will be open season if they think someone could steal from us."
"Rafa is right," Marco adds. "We need a carefully crafted plan to investigate."
"Who knew about the shipment?"
"Just Rafa and me," Marco answers.
"Did The Commission know?"
"No."
"Good. Get a list of names from the sender and everyone who has worked here for the last six months. Make it a year. I want toknow everyone's financials. Weapons don't just walk themselves out off the pier. I also want ears on the ground to see if anyone has purchased the weapons."
"What do you want me to do?" Rafa asks.
I face him, meeting his eyes directly. "Stay out of this one. You're not ready for what's coming next."
Rafa doesn't argue. He nods, his brow furrowed in concern. But I don't need him getting mixed up in this. He isn't ready for the darkness I'm about to unleash.
"You know, we could use him. He is good with financials," Marco says the moment Rafa leaves.
"You saw it. There was hesitation in his eyes. I know this is not the life he wants for himself. For now, I want him as far away as possible. Because if my enemies succeed, he will take my place."
"I would think that is reason enough to keep him here. He has to learn how to run the business if you are absent."
I run my fingers through my hair, trying to calm the storm brewing inside me. "I've given you my order. Rafa is to stay away until I say otherwise."
"Understood," he says.
My cell phone buzzes before I can take a step toward the warehouse. I glance at the screen. Dante again. I'm annoyed. He's my fucking enforcer. If he can't handle Rina, then what good is he to me?
"How hard could it be to fucking control her?" I mutter before I can stop myself.
"What?" Marco asks.
