Page 48 of Hunt Me

“We need to get this meeting underway,” I answered, ignoring his look of amusement.

“Hot date?” I was surprised Stefano had interjected. The two of us had experienced our share of disagreements over the last two months while the rules of engagement for the alliance were being discussed.

“We have the final contracts, gentlemen, our respective attorneys making the requested changes. You’ve had time to digest. Are there any objections?” I purposely ignored his comment. Doing anything else would instigate another sparring match and one I sensed would turn violent. Stefano was a hothead, which is another reason our personalities clashed.

“No objections. Just a question,” Alessandro stated as he leaned across the table. As he was an expert hacker and cyber security expert, I had a feeling his services would be put to good use. We’d experienced several attempted hacks over the last year. Hacking into a few secure systems over the years wouldhave come in handy in preventing certain difficulties that had resulted in a few deaths.

He was also a voice of reason, perhaps the most logical man in the room.

“What’s the question?”

“How do you believe our alliance will prevent the Irish from infiltrating either city as they’ve tried before?” It was obvious by Alessandro’s question he was aware we were experiencing some issue.

“They are true savages, Alessandro, but their tactics are nothing we can’t handle. Any sightings in Reno?” I shot back.

Every time the Irish were mentioned, my back began to burn from the scars that no longer had any feeling. I was taken to the night I’d saved a small life while almost losing my own. With Tristen O’Shaughnessy’s insistence on revenge and the increase in wealth and the number of soldiers, his organization could be a force to be reckoned with.

While skirmishes had erupted after we’d started the war, over the years they’d died down, both parties preferring peace versus bloodshed. That didn’t mean that before the recent tips we hadn’t been leery of them throughout the two decades. Also, I wondered about the little girl and if she knew how close she’d come to dying.

Others had. We’d been no heroes in the situation.

“Some chatter,” Alessandro answered. “Nothing too serious.”

“An increase in drug use?” Kazimir asked.

Alessandro glanced at Stefano. “A little. You’re experiencing the same?”

The Italian family had only recently abandoned handling illegal drugs, something we’d put additional pressure on.

“More than our share,” Sasha answered for all of us.

“Then we need to be cautious,” Stefano suggested.

I sat back, still drumming my fingers on the table. With a quick glance toward Kazimir, I sensed both syndicates considered the Irish organization to be our greatest enemy. There would always be some jackass attempting to extort wealth or lay blame to better his lot in life, but the Irish were true thugs.

“Agreed. However, it’s my belief that Tristen O’Shaughnessy would be a fool to make any attempt on our business operations.” I had minimal conviction in my voice and Sasha immediately lifted an eyebrow.

“From what I’d gathered in my observations of them, they are happy in LA, expanding their marketability including trafficking illegal drugs to several foreign countries while enjoying becoming movie producers,” Nadia mentioned. My cousin had taken a major role within the family organization, her marketing skills bringing entirely new and much more successful advertising to the business. She was also cunning and resourceful, a true chameleon and actress who’d used her stealth skills to infiltrate the O’Shaughnessy clan more than once.

“What aren’t you telling us?” I also knew her very well, including when she was hiding something.

“Connor O’Shaughnessy is handling more business for his father. He’s not known to be a team player.” She lifted her long, arching eyebrow while studying my reaction.

Connor. He was the true savage of the family, hardened by time spent in prison. He’d also made no bones about the fact he would enjoy watching me suffer.

I rubbed my jaw. “Keep an eye on him, Nadia. But…” I held up my finger. “Do so in the shadows.”

“Don’t worry,” she cooed. “I have my ways.”

We all chuckled. “Yes, you do,” I admitted.

“Have you ever noticed they seem to follow in our footsteps?” Alexsey asked, his tone full of amusement.

The sudden interruption of my phone ringing was annoying, but I had to ensure there wasn’t an emergency.

Or a tragedy.

I pulled the phone from my jacket, eyeing the caller. Why in the hell was I being contacted by Detective Jack Wagner? While our business was mostly legit, it paid to have several members of law enforcement on our payroll. Jack was one of them. He was in the homicide division, which meant he wasn’t contacting me about the recent drug overdoses. Although I would put him on notice.