Page 37 of Collide

I knew I had been distracted since meeting Riley, but that was only aweek ago, Theo had been dead for nearly three months. Of course I’d been fucking distracted from focusing myfullattention on running the organization, Theo wasn’t just my brother, he was my best friend and the only person I trusted with my life, I lost a part of myself the night he died.

I hadn’t grieved for my brother, nor would I. Death was inevitable inour lives, especially with as many enemies as we had. Instead, I focused my attention on trying to find the cunt who killed Theo, and I had vowed to leave no stone unturned to do so, but every trail I had followed so far had led to a dead end.

It was fucking infuriating.

Despite hunting the murdering fucker, I had still been overseeing mybusinesses. Drugs were still being shipped in from my contacts in South America and being pumped out onto the streets quicker than ever, my weapons factory was running smoothly, and the legitimate businesses I had a hand in were consistently turning over a profit. To me, that didn’t look like I had lost focus on the organization.

My employees, whether criminal or legit, were loyal to me, I rewardedthem well for their continued loyalties and service. I made sure they had roofs above their heads, food in their bellies, and weapons to protect themselves. They got a fair wage for their services but more importantly, they were under my protection and no one dared fuck with them.

Except me.

They knew the consequences if they tried to fuck me over, or at leastI thought they did. Perhaps keeping Nicky alive and sending him back out on the streets with both hands missing wasn't a message enough.

I ground my teeth together and felt the tension in my jaw. My crewhad it good, for fuck sake, but if they wanted to tip the apple cart, then so fucking be it. Maybe a timely reminder to show who was in charge wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

"Well then, I guess we need to show them that my focus is exactlywhere the fuck it needs to be," I said to Danny and watched as a malicious grin spread over his face.

Danny was just as brutal as me when it came to dealing with cuntswho didn’t play by my rules. In fact, sometimes he was more savage. That’s why he was my head enforcer. He had a whole team who worked directly for him but everyone knew if Danny paid you a personal visit, you wouldn’t live to tell the tale. Nor would your family.

"Conroy fucked up letting Nicky into the gang and not watching himproperly. He knows he is responsible for every member of the crew he hires, and this is the second time he has fucked up,” I said to Danny, reminding him of the time several years ago when Conroy allowed a younger member of the gang to be robbed for the stash of cocaine he’d been carrying.

He had only managed to redeem himself by finding the prick who haddone the robbery, getting the stash back, and blowing both the robber and his gang member’s brains out before I had been made aware. He’d been on warning ever since and although years had passed and Conroy hadn’t fucked up since, I had a long memory and I only ever allowed one mistake to be made.

Sometimes not even one.

“I’ve heard rumors that his second is making a name for himself, achap called Ernie,” Danny replied and finally relaxed back into his chair, the tension no longer plaguing him. “I’ve seen him at a couple of meetings. He’s got a good head on his shoulders and is an avid supporter of yours even though he has never met you. Apparently, his dad used to work for your dad so there is family loyalty.”

I nodded my head, considering the next move. I liked having peoplework for me where there was a family history. They would have been brought up knowing that the Wolfe family ran Hollows Bay, and if you wanted to get anywhere in life, working for my organization was the way to go.

"Bring Conroy in, and tell Ernie he has earned himself a promotion," Isaid to Danny as I stood from my chair. I didn’t need to say what needed to be done with Conroy, Danny would know what to do with the man and I trusted him to make it as painful as possible. “I want the word out that if anyone dares question my focus, they will find themselves in my basement dealing with me.”

Danny's face contorted into a wicked grin, and I knew he'd be takinggreat pleasure in bringing Conroy to meet his fate. He’d never been a fan of the man.

"I also need someone to bring Jane Timpson in." I scribbled anaddress down on a post-it note and handed it to Danny.

He raised an eyebrow, giving me a confused look. "Who the fuck is she?"

"She's going to be the kids' new tutor," I told him as we both stood,ready to go about our business for the day.

Jane was the only teacher in the city who could fluently signAmerican sign language. She also had a shit load of debt which she was incurring on a daily basis, trying to pay for a top end care home for her mother, who had been diagnosed with dementia. A debt that would be paid when she started working for me.

"And does this chick know she's coming in?" Danny asked, theamusement back in his voice.

"What do you think?" I replied, returning his smirk. His laughterfollowed him out of the door and I couldn't help but let out my own chuckle.

Sometimes it was fucking awesome being the King of this city.

Chapter 12

Riley

“Wehavesomethingtoattend to,” Kai said after the maiddisappeared back down the hallway we had come from. I didn’t reply, just stared blankly at him, trying my damned hardest to keep my emotions in check.

My heart was hurting like nothing I had ever felt before at having tosay goodbye to Angel, not knowing when I would see her again, and I kept trying to remind myself of why I had agreed to this preposterous agreement.

To give Angel a better life.

But walking away from her, I wasn’t so sure about my decision now.

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