We will get her back.
There’s no question in my mind.
It’s only a matter of when, and how many assholes we have to crush along the way.
* * *
All that can be heard echoing in the cavernous halls is the unique cadence of my gait as I limp toward Bryant Morelli’s study.
It boils my blood.
I knew not to trust him, and I didn’t, but I didn’t expect him to actively work against us. Especially after all I’ve done for him.
His muffled laughter cuts through the otherwise silent home which pisses me off even more. When I reach his door, I push through it without knocking. He has his back turned to me, the phone up to his ear, but swivels around at the sound of me coming into his office.
“I’m going to have to call you back,” he rumbles. “Talk soon.”
He ends the call and sets down his phone before motioning to one of the seats. “Please, sit.”
Grinding my molars together, I try not to lose my shit. I attempt to keep my emotions in check, feigning an impassive expression. With a nod of my head, I take the offered seat and then bore my gaze into him.
“Wasn’t expecting a visit,” he drawls out. “I suppose I can carve out a couple minutes for you, though.”
I crack my neck and lean back in my chair. “Cut the bullshit, Morelli.”
His easy expression morphs into a hard one. “You’ll do well to watch your tone, young man. Best remember who you’re speaking to.”
I want to shoot this prick in the fucking face. I could, too, considering I have my Glock in my pocket.
“You knew she was there with us,” I grind out. “You knew and you ratted us out for some goddamn reason.” I let out a humorless laugh. “All that crap about family was just a lie.”
He smirks, shrugging his shoulders. “Family is nothing more than a tool to use when necessary. Eventually, you will learn this.”
He’s wrong.
My brothers are everything to me. And now that Landry is ours, she’s everything too.
“You shouldn’t have done this,” I say, my voice cold and dipping dangerously low. “You really shouldn’t have done this.”
Bryant’s face twists into a hateful expression. “Don’t threaten me, boy. I think you forget who you’re speaking to.”
An old man trying desperately to hold on to power in this city that his sons have ripped from his grimy paws. Yeah, I didn’t forget who I was addressing.
“I did everything you asked—”
He cuts me off with a vicious slice of his hand through the air. “And you will continue to do exactly as I say. No fucking distractions like the Croft girl.”
“I’m not going to be your dog anymore, Morelli.”
“You will heel, goddammit. And if you don’t, I’ll turn you in for arson.”
Cold fury rushes through my veins. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he rumbles, smugness dripping from him. “I own you. I have since the moment Constantine dropped you in our laps.”
“You can’t do this to us.”
“Oh, but I can.” He smiles wide and cruelly. “I had someone follow you and record you setting those fires.”
It was him.
He set me up.
“On your order!” I bellow, rising to my feet. “You made me do that shit!”
“Being a leader means having many spoons in many pots. Always stirring. You’re just a fucking pot that belongs to me. My sons are pots, too.”
“Why turn on us?” I demand through gritted teeth. “What did we do to deserve this?”
“Deserve?” He scoffs. “You hoodlums don’t deserve the toilets you shit into. What you deserve is a cold, hard dose of reality.”
Fisting my hands, I glower down at him. “It’s because of Leo, isn’t it? You found out he was helping us last night and threw us under the fucking bus. Your little spies told you, huh?”
He bristles and I know I’ve hit the nail on the head. “He’s not the only one with loyal contacts.”
“You’re pissed,” I continue, words heating as I spew them, “that we didn’t shut down the Croft project as soon as you told us to. That we fell for the girl and care for her now. It infuriated you that your dogs didn’t obey, and when you found out your son was helping us, you lost your fucking shit.”
“Even you know you’re nothing but a dog.”
“This dog,” I say, gesturing at myself, “has no qualms about biting his owner. I’m not a loyal dog.”
“Scout,” Bryant warns, his tone losing some of the cool and rising with fury.
“I’m done with your bullshit, Morelli,” I grind out. “From now on, I’m playing by my own rules. You can threaten to turn me in, but just know I won’t go down without a fight.”
“The apartment, the cars—”
“Quit while you’re ahead, old man.”
“Scout!”
I limp out of his office, ignoring his rage-filled demands. He wants to threaten me? I’ll make his life a goddamn hell and torch the entire thing to the ground.