Undeniable (Haven Falls 5)

“What did she ever do to you?”

Anton’s eyes darken and to be honest, it’s terrifying. I try to remember who the hell I’m talking to right now, but I’m struggling to hold my tongue especially after the shit he pulled with Noah last week.

“That’s none of your concern,” he tells me. “We have other pressing matters to discuss.”

“Yeah, like the fact that you attempted to shoot my boyfriend last week.”

“An unfortunate misunderstanding,” Anton says shrugging it off as though the idea of nearly killing a man doesn’t even faze him. “But while you’re here, you may as well pass on a message. Noah has served me well and considering our history…I’ve decided to release him from his duties.”

My mouth drops open. “Excuse me?” I question, unable to believe what I’m hearing. There has to be some sort of catch. Who goes from trying to shoot someone one week to releasing them the next?

“Unfortunately, he has discovered some hard truths which I believe are going to make dealing with him…quite unpleasant, and honestly, I can’t be bothered to deal with it. He’s free to go. He’s paid his debt.”

“His debt?” I scoff. “He never had a debt! You used him. He was an eleven year old kid who was suffering and you took advantage of him and molded him into this…this criminal that you can use to do your dirty work. What kind of monster are you?”

“That’s a question you’re not prepared to know the answer to, but keep testing me and I might be inclined to show you.” My mouth snaps shut and I watch him in complete silence. “I am man enough to know that I did wrong by that kid. He took me out last week which I am willing to forgive and let it slide considering the events which took place regarding his little sister, but you must remember that he came to me as a willing participant.”

“He was eleven. He didn’t know what he was doing.”

“Maybe, maybe not. I’m not sorry though. He served me well and now I have someone who’s not such a bitch about the jobs I hand out.”

I glance down at Rocko with disgust. How could Tully have dated him?

“So, Noah’s free to go. He never has to do a job for you again?”

“Are you hard of hearing?” Anton questions. “Yes, Noah is released of his obligations to me. Consider us even after his assault last week. However, he has been on the inside for far too long. He knows the ins and outs of my business, my contacts, my clients, and warehouses. If he breathes even a word of this information, sets just one foot wrong, I will end him. Is that much clear?”

Holy shit. Maybe I am hard of hearing because there’s no way I just heard that right. I thought for sure Noah was never going to be released from his evil clutches. It was either work for the guy or die trying to get out.

I nod my head. I know Noah desperately wanted to take him down, but this might be the best shot we’ve got to be free from the guy.

“Now, there’s just the question of my gun.”

“Your gun?”

“Now’s not the time to start acting a fool, Henley Bronx. Where’s my gun?”

“I swear,” I tell him, shaking my head. “Noah kicked it towards the storm drain. We don’t have it. It went down and we got the fuck out of there before you regained consciousness.”

He narrows his eyes on me but must give me the benefit of the doubt as he seems to accept my answer. “One more thing before you go.”

My whole body tenses. Haven’t we discussed enough already? What could possibly be left to talk about?

Anton’s head tilts down towards me and it’s the fiercest look he’s given me yet. “Where’s my son?”

My brows draw down. His son? Who the hell is his son? I shake my head. “I…I don’t know who you’re talking about. I don’t know your son.”

“Don’t give me that bullshit, child. Samuel Rivers, your brother. Where is he?”

My eyes bulge out of my head. “Excuse me?” I shriek in an odd mix of outrage and surprise. “Rivers is your what?”

For Rivers to be his son, that would mean Gina and Anton were a lot more than just rivals. I wonder if he’s the boyfriend she cheated on with my dad and if he was the boyfriend who used to hit her around when she was pregnant with me. He’s the boyfriend who pushed her to give me away. If he’s River’s father, then that’s another connection to me that I simply just don’t like.

I didn’t just dodge the Gina bullet, but I dodge the Anton bullet as well. Thank God she’s a cheating whore. If she hadn’t been with my dad that night, she very well could have gone home and slept with him. I could have almost been his child. The thought sends chills down my spine.