Page 42 of Take Me (Dark Odyssey 5)

I hate weakness of any kind and I hate accepting that my father actually got to me. Truth be told his words cut me deep. They actually did. I won’t lie, I haven’t been thinking straight since.

Vincent’s face softens and he glances at Salvatore who looks enraged. Both know what my father can be like. In one sentence they know he’s not like theirs. Their father was one ruthless boss, but he valued his each of his sons. Not one of them have ever come to me and said shit about him.

Vincent runs a hand over his graying temples and sighs.

“Christian, you can’t allow your father to get to you,” he says.

I straighten up in the chair and give him a small smile. Not of humor.

“It’s okay. I’m not looking for sympathy. I know how things work and I should have called you. I just wanted to see if I could have a handle on the problem. clearly I couldn’t.”

“You listen to me.” Vincent points at me. “Your father is not in charge of the business. I am. I say what goes and if people don’t like it, they can go fuck themselves. I don’t give a fuck who it is, my thoughts are the fucking same. When we’re dealing with a bastard like Falcone it’s all hands-on deck because we know it’s not just him in the mix. I never expected you to take him on yourself. It’s not that you didn’t have a handle on it, the problem is it’s not something you can do by yourself or even with your guys.”

I nod understanding. “I get it, and thanks. Thanks for coming.”

And thanks to Georgiou for sending them.

“Don’t thank me for that. We have to figure out what we’re gonna do next.”

“I’ll look through the files maybe I’ll get a name or a lead on the cop, and the location of the transit.”

“I’ll help you with that,” Salvatore offers, and I nod. “It’s good to know the guns are still in Chicago and they’re not moving for a few weeks. That gives us time to locate them.”

“Yes,” Vincent agrees. “We need to find out where Falcone is keeping them. But I want cop too.”

I think for a moment and an idea comes to me they probably won’t like.

“What if we start with the cop. The police,” I say. saying the words don’t feel quite real. I try to avoid cops like the plague because I’m always doing serious illegal shit with the money and paperwork that could land me behind bars “We don’t know where to find Falcone, or the guns but we know cops are involved and we know where to find cops. I think we need to start there.”

Vincent sighs and Salvatore bites the inside of his lip.

Vincent nods his agreement. “We need to be careful. Cops and feds are territory I’d rather not cross, both have been in our fucking faces over the last year but you’re right. We know where to find cops. So that’s the easiest place to start.”

“I’ll get on to it today,” I promise.

“Cool. I think I’ll call in Gibbs to help, he should be back from Sicily by now. More hands less work, the sooner we put down these fuckers,” he answers, and I nod, feeling a sense of assurance at the mention of Gibbs.

He’s a PI we’ve used a number of times in recent years. That guy can get shit on anybody.

“Agreed,” I answer.

“Then let’s do it,” Salvatore says.

“You two,” Vincent says pointing to me and Salvatore. “Focus on this. I need this to take priority. Precedence over everything else. You understand me?”

He’s talking about the club. His gaze settles on me. Of me and Salvatore— who has a wife—it’s me who’s likely to go off fucking around at the club.

Again, I think of Lilly. I’ve never had anyone at the club before to hold my interest the way she has. I could be away for days. What would have happened to her in that time?

I’m the fucker who was planning to make all kinds of money off her and now I don’t want anybody else to touch her but me.

At the same time, I don’t want to get close and she is one doll who could entice me to break my rules.

Salvatore cuts me a glance, noticing my hesitation.

“I understand,” I answer quickly. “I’ll get Georgiou to look after the club,” I suggest, and Vincent nods his approval.

This morning I was in a state of flux because I never expected to be so taken with a woman I just met. The same flux takes me now with no clear answers on what I should or shouldn’t do.

---