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Chapter Two

Cyprus

“This isn't what weagreed, Nicholi.” Antoine tapped his thumb against his jaw and stared down the rectangle shaped table. “We agreed to fifty thousand for the run. That was what you said, that was the number you told me.” Holding out his finger, he glared through one eye at his target sitting beside me.

Nicholi sat deadpan, not willing to play Antoine's games. Glancing at me, he flicked his eyes to the pile of papers on the table. I knew what he was getting at without him having to ask.

Flipping through the contract I had drawn up a few weeks prior, the same one Antoine had signed, I slid it in his direction. “That's your signature—right?”

Scoffing, Antoine rolled his eyes and pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his breast pocket. “Am I doing business with you, Nicholi? Or your little pet?”

Nick didn't give him the pleasure of a reaction. But I knew it bothered him when someone would toss out shitty words about any of his children. And even though I wasn't his by blood, he still considered me his daughter.

I saw his finger twitch, it was subtle, but it was there. I was fairly certain that if the deal was done and the money was in our hands, Antoine would have had a bullet in his brain right then for what he said.

“She asked you a question.” His face was cold, no emotion or concern about the tension that was starting to build between them.

I always found Nicholi's level of cool one to be desired. He could stay still as water on a cold winter day, no expression, no arched brow or curled lip. It didn't matter how much someone pressed him, he was a statue.

But that was also his secret weapon. He gave you nothing to go on, nothing to show you that he was getting pissed and angry. He would make you think that all was fine, that whatever shit you had pulled didn't bother him as much as a pimple on his ass. And then he would strike, one click and you'd be laying in a pool of blood.

It was a masked brutality, a game he took pride in. And one I had been lucky to avoid. I wasn't sure I could handle that side of this shit. And so far, I've only heard stories, I haven't had to see it first hand.

I wasn't stupid, I knew what Nick and Birch were capable of. I also knew that death came with the job. It didn't change how I looked at them, not once had I ever questioned their loyalty to me. I didn't have to fear these men, but others weren't so lucky.

Glancing down at the paper, he nodded. “It is, but you must have doctored it. Seventy grand is not what we agreed on.” Lighting the end of his cigarette, he took in a long, slow pull. Wispy tendrils snaked out over his lips, filling the air with a sweet scent.

Clove cigarettes. . . Huh, I wouldn't have expected that.

Most of these jerks smoke cigars.

Crossing my leg, I cleared my throat. “I didn't mess with the deal, that's what you signed, that sheet right there.” Leaning back in my chair, I clasped my hands on the table, speaking clear and firm. “I'm only going to warn you once, don't accuse me of fucking with this shit.”

I took my job seriously, there was no way in hell I would fuck with something so sensitive. Numbers were mine and mine alone. I created the contracts, I sat with Nick and discussed reasonable prices for their services. And I would never ever go back and change them once hands had shaken on it and pen hit paper.

Chuckling, Antoine looked over at his brother Collin, his lips curling high with amusement. “Your little pet there is feisty,” he said, ticking his head back in our direction. “Maybe we can adjust our deal a bit, make it more worth my while.”

“The deal is set,” Nick snapped, jerking his body straight. “I agreed to give you two boats and help you get your merchandise into the country. Seventy grand, that's what I said, that's what you got. There's no room for negotiation now.”

Holding out his hands, Antoine's mouth turned razor thin. “I think there's always room for tweaking shit, we can add in a little disclosure that would make this deal much sweeter.”

Nick veered his stare, his voice harsh and fierce. “I filled my end of this, you have a debt to pay. Don't make this harder than it has to be.”

The two men glared at each other, each one trying to assert their own level of power. The first time I had sat in on one of his meetings, I was fucking nervous as hell.

But not now, not anymore.

Time had thickened my skin. I wasn't intimidated by these assholes and their comments or threats. My confidence had grown, my comfort with what I was capable of when it came to protecting myself, Nicholi, or any one else I loved was strong.

Standing up from the chair, I walked closer to Antoine, pressing the tips of my fingers into the table. “We're done here, you have until tomorrow to pay us what you owe. Understand?”

Antoine's eyes slowly clicked my way, the air tearing like a thick sheet of cardboard as he broke the staring match with Nick. Licking his lips, he smiled up at me, letting out a devious laugh. “We can take this firecracker off your hands for a bit, Nicholi, show her a real good time.”

My skin turned hot, blood percolating under the skin like coffee as he grinned at me. Holding my breath, I flared my nostrils, doing my best not to smack him across the face. My knuckles turned ghost white as I balled them tight and dropped my face to his. “Tomorrow, or I'll make you regret ever stepping foot in here.”

“Sweetheart, why don't you sit back down and let the big boys talk.” Flipping his fingers, he waved me back towards my seat. “You look much prettier when your mouth isn't moving.” His eyes turned to pinpricks as his teeth blared white behind parted lips. “I think you need a muzzle for your pet, Nick, she doesn't know her place.”

Wrong answer asshole.