Page 123 of House of Payne

“Find out more,” I order, shaking my head. “Bring me Michael Everett.”

Carlisle’s brows furrow together. “Sir?”

“Are you fucking deaf? I want Michael Everett here. I don’t care how you do it. Just make it happen.”

If I have to go out and hunt him down myself, this is all going to go sideways very quickly.

I’m hanging on by a thin thread when an hour later, Michael storms into the office, half unshaven, and with an apron tied around his neck. “You better have a damn good reason for sending your watchdog to summon me the way you did.”

“I have every reason,” I tell him coldly. “It’s come to my attention that your family and the Fitzpatricks have been meeting a lot.”

Michael rips off the apron and studies his reflection in the nearest mirror. “We’re allies. We’re discussing some finer details that don’t concern you.”

I ball my hands into fists. “Those details don’t happen to include cutting us out of the business, do they?”

Michael slowly turns to face me. “Of course not.”

I cross over to Michael. “Are you sure about that? If I find out you’re lying, you won’t like what happens next.”

Michael draws himself up to his full height. “You’re not going to do anything.”

I curl my hand into a fist and hold it to my face, disdain dripping from every word. “That little dock wouldn’t have flourished if it weren’t for our funding. Do you know what would happen if I pulled funding to it as well as to the marinas and wharves?”

Michael scowls. “Same thing that would happen if we stopped you from being able to use our trucking company. I doubt you want your business to take that kind of hit.”

I shove Michael, red-hot anger coursing through me. “You conniving,manipulative piece of shit. Do you have any idea what you’re doing?”

Michael puffs out his chest and grins. “I know exactly what I’m doing, and I’d have the Fitzpatricks’ backing, too. It would be a shame if you had to learn how to run the business without being able to use the services only we provide.”

A hard knot settles in the pit of my stomach. “That sounds like a threat, but I know you can’t be that stupid.”

He knows damn well that if they sink me, I’ll take them all down with me.

Even if it means blowing the lid on everything.

Suddenly, my composure doesn’t seem to matter. Neither does staying on their good side.

I have no intention of being humiliated and stabbed in the back.

If I can’t succeed, neither will they.

Think this through, Payne. You don’t want this to fail any more than they do.

Except I’m not sure they care about the stakes of going to war. Not if they’re already looking for another ally. Maybe they want someone smaller and easier to bully.

Michael’s expression shifts to one of cool calculation. “It doesn’t have to be. You’ve been trying to prove you’re nothing like your father. Now’s your chance.”

I give him a bored look. “You have one minute to explain.”

What the hell is he talking about?

I thought they loved dealing with my father because he’s much more amenable.

My father is as ruthless and cunning as they come, and his name still inspires fear in my heart, but he also doesn’t mind taking a few hits to keep things moving.

I, on the other hand, am seriously reconsidering this alliance.

You can’t afford to go to war with them, Payne. Regardless of their tactics or how much of a pain in the ass they are. You know it, and so do they. The only thing you cando is play it cool and make it seem like you’re still in control.