Page 14 of Cruel Proposal
He's trying to manipulate me into seeing things his way. Little does he know I've already been thinking about the possibilities of Chicago, and while I don't think it's a bad idea—after all, there are ports and major shipping routes that run through it—but there's the matter of both Ohio and Indiana in the way first.
What Robert wants is for me to just give up on New York completely, and I can't do that.
Robert stuffs some gauze in the wound, packing it to get the bleeding to stop until he can see the doctor. "Chicago would be good for us. It wouldn't be New York, of course, but you could build something better there."
"And what do you suggest I do with everything I've built here?" I lean forward and clasp my hands together on the desk.
He shrugs and sits back down. "Keep it, strike a deal, and let whoever survives the Lyndes have it."
I glance out the window at the sprawling grounds, several soldiers walking back and forth in front of the shimmering water in the distance. "I'm not going to let everything our family built go to shit. And to think that you would is just further proof that Dad was right to name me as the heir."
Robert stiffens, his glare becoming cold, just like I knew it would.
Dad is always a touchy subject when it comes to Robert, and if there's one way to set him on edge and get him to slip up, it's to bring up his inadequacies in the eyes of our father.
"We wouldn't have to worry about the trucks and state lines like we do here."
I roll my eyes. "The only reason we worry about them now is that anyone who was willing to ship to the ports here pulled out when the Lyndes took full control of all of them."
"Which is why we need to start thinking about what comes after this."
I eye him, wondering how idiotic he thinks I am. "Don't you think I've already taken that into consideration? Don't you think I thought about Chicago and what it looks like if I sent you there to take control?"
"Then why haven't you? We wouldn't have to worry about this war with the Lyndes if you were willing to expand into other states."
It's time to flatter him. He's off-guard and irritated now, thinking more about the issues between us and Dad than he is about me keeping him under my thumb.
"I can't have you over in Chicago. You're the only one I trust right now. You're the one I need here to help me take New York." I get up and pace to the window, opening it up and letting in some of the fresh spring air. "Your idea to go to Chicago has merit, and when we get through this, I'll allow you to be the one to establish the family there, after all you've done here."
Robert grins, the greed in his eyes shining bright. "You mean it?"
"I couldn't do this without you." I lean back against the wall beside the window, crossing my arms. "Now, how's the auction coming?"
"Set for a couple of weeks from now. Shouldn't be too long. I'll have an exact date once the warehouse is acquired. Most of the women are already organized, though, and word of mouth is getting around like it always does."
Nodding, I glance back outside. If I could go out there and spend the rest of the day on the water, I would. I'd rather be on a boat in the middle of the ocean than dealing with this shit right now.
"The warehouse might need a little grease." Robert winces as he puts the first-aid kit away, banging his hand on the door a little.
It'd be wrong to say I get satisfaction out of his pain, but I do. He deserves it for making my life more complicated all the time.
Right now, we're in the fight for our lives, and he's thinking about picking up and moving elsewhere.
On top of the drama with the Lyndes, there's still business as usual: trafficking, drugs, arms. All of it still needs attention whilehe's trying to tuck his tail between his legs and run like hell for the hills.
I take out my knife and flick it open, picking out a spot of dirt from beneath my nail. "This auction needs to go off without a hitch. No attacks. Everything has to go smoothly if we want to prove to our allies that we still have power in New York."
Robert nods, heading for the door. "I know. We've arranged for the liquor vendors, and there's going to be some world-famous chef doing the catering for the event. It's going to be in a warehouse, but we're going to make sure this is a luxury event. People are going to want to be there, and they're going to know you're the one who arranged it all."
"Good." I watch him as he stands in the doorway, swallowing hard like there's something else he wants to say but is about to chicken out again.
I need to get a better second. One who isn't going to be shitting himself every time he has to tell me something I don't want to hear.
Jace was the perfect second when he was alive. He'd tell the truth and wouldn't mince words. He was what Robert should've strived to be, but Robert's never had the spine for this.
I sigh and stalk over to him. "You get sweaty and red when there's something you don't want to tell me. Maybe you should consider spitting it out before I have to hear it from someone else."
"We found a spy."
