Page 47 of His Stakes (His Obsession 2)

Gino’s mouth twisted in disgust. “Your father was always overly fond of that boy, and I never understood why. First born or not, he always seemed a little fucked up in the head, if you ask me.”

“You read him well,” I told him. “Mario and I haven’t had any kind of a brotherly relationship since we were kids. However, my relationship with him isn’t what I wanted to discuss with you today.” I paused. Took a breath. I had to handle this just right, or I would lose one of my best possible allies. I decided that being straight up with him would be my best chance. “I believe I’m more qualified to take over the family business.”

“I agree,” Gino said with no hesitation. “You’ve basically been doing that for the last few years, anyway. Ever since the incident with the cartel when Mario disappeared.”

So my brother shooting my future wife in the head while my cock was inside of her was known as an “incident” now. “Yes,” I told him, my expression carefully blank. “At least here in Texas.”

He took a sip of his drink and smacked his lips with appreciation. “This is good.”

I smiled and gave him a nod.

“So, what is it you’re asking of me?”

“I have reason to believe that the only way I’m going to get my father to relinquish control of the business to me is if I force his hand. And to do that, I’m going to need the backing of the other families. Especially yours.”

“You want me to take your side against Luigi.” Gino wiped his brow with a handkerchief he pulled from his pack pocket. “Get me a chair, would ya?” he asked his closest son. A folding chair was produced, and he lowered his ample weight into it, then took a sip of his drink as he wiped the sweat from his head again. “What you’re asking for Luca, is war between the families.”

“I’m hoping it won’t have to go that far.”

“But knowing your father, which I do, it will. Hell, I’ve known that bastard since we were boys with scraped knees and missing teeth.” He took another drink, then another, as he thought over what I’d just told him. “What will I get out of risking my life and the life of my boys?”

“I’ll cut you in on the new deal I’m working on with the cartel.”

“Drugs?”

“Money laundering.”

“From drugs?”

“Is that important?” I told him.

He thought about it for a moment. “No, probably not.”

“Maria’s brother is my contact there, the woman my brother killed. We’ve stayed in touch over the years, despite my father demanding otherwise.”

“Do you trust him?”

“I do. Implicitly.”

“And all I need to do is have your back when you take the family business out from under your father?”

“That’s it. And for your loyalty, I’ll reward you graciously with a monthly cut of the proceeds from my new arrangement with the cartel. Let’s say…fifteen percent.”

Predictable as always, Gino told me, “Let me have a moment to discuss this opportunity with my boys, if you will.”

“Of course.” Turning away, I joined Tristan on the other side of the platform.

“Do you think he’ll go for it?” he asked me.

“I do,” I told him with more assurance than I felt. “He’d be a fool not to. All I’m asking him to do is stand with me when I dethrone my father. There’s very little risk for him and a lot of money to gain.”

Always the devil’s advocate, he said, “But like he said, he’s known your father since they were kids. Will that be enough to make him switch loyalties?”

“I guess we’ll find out.”

“He’s ready,” Tristan said with a nod over my shoulder.

I walked back as Gino’s sons returned to their places around him, and waited to hear his demands. Because, like any good businessman, Gino was fond of negotiating.

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