Page 74 of A Game of Secrets

I skid across the car park pulling on the hand brake, sending gravel flying in all directions. I say nothing on my way in and I know from the look on my face the men know not to ask. I take the stairs three at a time to Silas’s office to find Cole waiting with two glasses of scotch already poured on the desk. I stride over and throw back the drink and pour myself another and repeat the action. I hiss through my teeth as the alcohol burns a path down my throat.

“He’s fucking us right under our noses,” I say, turning to Cole. His face is vacant as I continue but I can see the anger flickering behind his eyes. “After his last fuck up, when he held off on a shipment and spouted that shit about it being better for the club. I gave him a warning, told him Silas wouldn’t stand for it again. That even though he was blood, he would still be punished the same to set an example to the rest.” I reach for another drink but hold back and light a cigarette instead, needing something to keep my hands busy. “I’ve just been to the yard, he’s three days behind on a delivery. AK’s and handguns.” I take a deep pull on my cigarette letting it fill my lungs before exhaling slowly.

“Cunt,” Cole spits, necking back his own drink and shaking his head as he paces the room. “He must be selling for his own profit,” he half accuses, half questions.

“Nobody would be fucking stupid enough to double cross us,” I laugh.

“What about the Irish?” He asks, snapping his head up.

I think about it for a minute then shake my head. “No, Costello wouldn’t write his own death sentence. Not now he knows we’re interested in his sister.”

“But that’s just it isn’t it,” Cole shouts throwing his hands in the air, “he fucking hates us and the fact we’re in Lucille’s life. This would be his perfect revenge, his way to infiltrate the club.”

I shake my head while he tries to convince himself that that’s true. “No, I don’t think he has anything to do with it.”

“THEN WHO?!” Cole bellows, fisting his hair.

Before I can say anything else, there’s a quiet knock at the door. Cole looks at me and shrugs his shoulders having as little of an idea as to who is stupid enough to interrupt as me. I swipe my hand across my face and puff on my cigarette as I open the door. I’m caught off guard, slightly expecting to see either Felix or maybe Enzo, but instead a nervous looking Crystal is standing before me. I open the door wide enough so that Cole can see her too then give her a questioning glance.

“I’m really sorry to interrupt but I saw you come in and I think there’s something you both should know,” she says quietly, looking back and forth between us and picking at her nails, a nervous habit I’ve seen her do over and over before she performs.

“I’m shocked and intrigued at what it is you think would be important to us sweet Crystal,” Cole purrs intimidatingly from over my shoulder.

I see her tremble slightly then she squares up her shoulders and raises her chin in an act of confidence. “It’s about Silas,” she says, looking me dead in the eyes.

“Come in,” is all I say as I step to the side and point her towards the couch.

She hesitates slightly but sits down regardless then starts again, “Well it’s about Roxi really,” she says and Cole interjects with a loud tut.

“Oh cut the shit Crystal. If she has sent you in here to ask me to take her back again, I’m not fucking joking when I say I will bury the bitch if she doesn’t leave me alone.”

Crystal shakes her head quickly and starts picking at her nails again. “No, no, it’s not that. She’s been spying on Silas. On all of you actually, since you’ve shown interest in Lucille and not her.”

I frown as I stub out my cigarette. “I’m sorry Crystal, but why is some silly little school girl jealousy something we need to know about?” I ask, already dismissing her silly claims as I make my way back to the office door.

“Because she’s been sneaking around with your father,” she blurts and I freeze.

“Oh fuck this day is just getting better and better.” I hear Cole seethe.

I turn to face Crystal who stares straight at me. “You better not be fucking with me.” I spit, taking a seat on the chair opposite her. “Tell me everything.”

She visibly takes a deep breath in and composes herself. “I’ve seen them and I’ve overheard them talking about Lucille and you, not just you, all of you. About Silas and how they think he isn’t fit to be the boss and something about somebody named Vinny.”

In a split second, Cole has crossed the room from his seat behind the desk and is holding Crystal up by her neck with his face mere millimeters from her own. “What did you just say?” He asks so calmly it’s almost chilling.

Crystal squirms under his hold but keeps her chin held high. “I heard them both talking about somebody named Vinny, said they would get him to sort Lucille out then she would be out of the picture,” she says and I have to swallow down the anger burning up my throat. “I overheard Roxi gloating about being able to have you all to herself once the bitch was gone when she was talking to the other girls after a show a couple of nights ago,” she admits, looking guilty for not mentioning it sooner.

“That psychotic bitch!” Cole shouts, pushing Crystal back onto the couch, she turns to me with an almost pleading look in her eyes.

“Mr Rossi met with this man, told him everything about Lucille and her son. He is the reason he showed up at the kids’ kindergarten.”

I snap my eyes to Cole, there is absolutely no way that Crystal would know this information unless what she was saying were true and Cole knows this too. His temper is at boiling point and I’m not sure how I’m managing to hold myself together either but this is so fucked up I feel like I’ve been complete blindsided and by my own fucking father. My own flesh and blood.

“Thank you Crystal, you can leave,” I say, offering a curt nod of my head towards the door. Crystal hesitates for a moment then makes her way out. “I trust you know this conversation is not to be repeated,” I add before she exits the room.

“Of course, Sir,” she nod, closing the door behind her.

There’s a tense static energy pulsing through the room and I don’t know what’s louder, my own heart thumping in my ears or Cole’s boots pacing back and forth across the hardwood floor. He pauses for a moment and looks towards me like he might say something but closes his mouth and begins pacing again. Nothing he could say could make me feel any better, and I know that’s what he wants to do. It’s my father who has fucked over the business, my father who has placed an innocent young boy in a vulnerable position, who has schemed behind all our backs and put the woman we love in danger. As the oppressive thoughts tick me over, I slam my fists into the glass coffee table, over and over until the crack of the shattering glass echoes through the room and my hands are covered with blood.

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