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“For fuckin’ what?” Tristan demanded.
“Tris,” Aella called softly, stepping around her desk to place a hand on his shoulder. “Calm down. It’s cool.” She then turned to Calder with a sickeningly sweet smile. “No problem. My assistant will show you to accounting, where you’ll find several boxes containing the information you’re looking for.” She fought the urge to laugh when his face fell. “And make no mistake about it, I know exactly what’s inside each box and so do my lawyers. So I’d advise against any funny business.”
If looks could kill, she’d have been dead and gone. Aella had been preparing for this moment from the time Calder first approached her. She had a feeling he would try to use a warrant as a trump card and made it her mission to beat him at his own game. She might not have been fully immersed in her father’s world, but she’d for sure learned a thing or two from watching him while growing up. Rule number one: never let your opponent strike first without having a way to pull the rug from under their feet.
“Trist,” Aella continued, smiling. “Please show Detective Calder to our accounting department and ensure he doesn’t attempt any pit stops along the way.”
“Will do, Boss Lady,” Tristan grumbled, moving forward and addressing Calder. “Follow me.”
Detective Calder didn’t speak again, but instead pinned Aella under the most lethal stare he could muster. She waited until both men were gone before retrieving her phone from her desk and dialing her father.
“Hey, Sweet Pea. Everything okay?”
“That visit we anticipated is in play.”
“Did everything go as planned?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Perfect. You shouldn’t have any more issues, but if you do, let me know, and I’ll handle it. Keep your head on a swivel, Aella. I know you can handle yourself, but this is a dicey situation. I know I have to give you the bandwidth to handle yourself, but I won’t hesitate to show my face if you need me.”
Aella laughed lightly. “I know, Daddy. And I appreciate you.”
“Love you, Sweetheart.”
“I love you too, and I’ll talk to you later.”
Ending the call, Aella returned to her seat and the task she’d been focused on before Tristan interrupted to try to force her to eat. If she hadn’t been hungry before, her appetite was certainly gone now. The pieces of her life were shifting faster than she could keep up, and despite her confidence that her family would come out on top, she hated to think of what they’d have to go through to do so.
The Baptiste Road Tunnel ran beneath the county road for half a mile before reconnecting with daylight on the east side of town. It’d been used for bootlegging back in the thirties, but now it was only used when someone from one of the families used it to discuss things they didn’t want overheard.
Cassius parked near the maintenance pull-off and shut off the engine.
Mars stood near the concrete wall entrance, arms folded as Cassius approached, his brow furrowed.
“Where the hell did you find that piece of shit?” he smirked, tossing his head toward the car Cassius had driven to the meeting.
“From someone desperate enough to take cash and not ask any questions,” he chuckled.
“I’m assuming you sorted out what you want to do about Korr?”
“Yeah, but it’s complicated.”
“Say less. What do we need to do?”
“We?” Cassius smirked.
“Like you could pull this shit off without me.” Mars looked almost offended.
“True, but this shit is risky. And it’s a problem my pops started, not you.”
“But you’re my boy, and I’d never let you handle it alone. Like I told you when you got back, shit has changed. Money doesn’t talk how it usually does when people have their own vendettas and agendas. We’ve been boys forever, and I know how you operate, but you’re going to need someone familiar with the ins and outs of this city to chime in before you start making moves. You gotta do it the right way so nothing gets back to you.”
Gripping the back of his neck, Cassius released a slow breath, knowing Mars was right. Part of the reason he’d succeeded as well as he had as an enforcer was because he knew how to accept direction and to check his ego when necessary.
“I decided to handle my initiation problem and our Fed problem at the same time. Kill two birds with one stone. Which means getting up close and personal.”
“Say less. Whatever you need, I’m there,” Mars assured him. “You know that’s never been a problem for me.”
