Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“I will clear his debt today. He is not allowed back at your racetrack, Lopez. You understand? You deny him.”
His eyes narrowed at the way I addressed him. “Mister” would never cross my lips, nor would his first name. He didn’t deserve the respect.
He tutted again. “He has been a good customer. He simply had some bad luck.”
I had no doubt he had. Lopez had made sure of it. I assumed that he let Brian win some races, building up his ego. Probably had a friendly face in the crowd, offering sure tips that worked at first as they fixed a few races. Brian, being Brian and liking the easy route, would fall for it. Build up his winnings, greedy and sloppy. Then Lopez pulled it away, knowing Brian would try to recapture his earlier “luck.”
“I settle his debt, and it is over.” I heaved out a long breath of air, hating to do this. “I’d consider it a personal courtesy.”
His eyebrows shot up, and he stroked his mustache. It reminded me of a villain in a cartoon. “Finn O’Reilly asking me for a favor.”
“Not a favor. A personal courtesy. Perhaps you have a client you would like to offer a night or two in Toronto as my guests. To return the courtesy.”
“Perhaps.”
“He is not allowed to gamble here again. I will make it clear to him as well.”
He shrugged. “As you wish.” He threw out a number, and I kept my expression neutral, glancing at Niall with a nod. The interest rate was exorbitant. Higher than I’d anticipated, but I knew Niall had it covered. Brian was going to pay heavily for this. He never would have gotten out of this debt. And God only knew what terms of payment Lopez would demand.
A moment later, Niall spoke. “Done.”
Lopez smiled, his eyes cold and dead. “Perhaps we could do some business, Finn. Some cross-promotion, as it were.”
I shook my head. “It’s Mr. O’Reilly. And I want nothing to do with you or your brand of business, Lopez. I have no idea what illegal activities you run behind the scenes, but if I find out, you’ll be sorry. Stay away from my people and get out of my world. It’s the only warning I’ll give you.”
His already-cold gaze turned to ice. “Not good enough for the likes of you?”
I barked a laugh. “I’m no better than any man. But I have a feeling what goes on here isn’t just racing. And I want no part of it. Or you.” I turned to go. “You’ve been warned.”
We exited, the elevator already waiting. We didn’t speak as we headed toward the car. Once inside, Rory drove away quickly, and when we were clear of the track, I heaved a sigh.
“Something is going on there. Far too much money for a small track.”
“Yep.”
“I want to know what it is. I agree with Roman. It’s gotta be bad.” I snorted. “As if I would get into business with Lopez.”
“You want me to get some men in?”
“Let’s see what happens.”
“He’s not happy with you.”
“I hardly expected him to be.”
“He might try something.”
“Then let’s be prepared.”
He pursed his lips. “I hope it’s worth it, Finn.”
I glanced out of the window, not wanting to discuss it. He let it go, knowing my feelings on the matter.
“Brian will be at the warehouse now.”
“Then let’s take care of that piece of business.”
Brian had no idea until I stepped out of the car. His expression went from bored to worried in a matter of seconds. When he saw Niall and the guards, his face paled.
Like his sister, he had red hair, although his was darker. His skin was ruddy like mine, although his was due more to the freckles that covered his face. His entire body, actually. I had never seen a man with as many freckles as him. It gave him a boyish look that belied the lazy, temperamental man he really was. If it hadn’t been for his family, I never would have put up with him this long.
His usual flippant attitude evaporated as I approached. We stood face-to-face, me silent and angry, him becoming more nervous with each passing quiet moment. I liked using silence as a weapon. People tended to start blathering and saying more than they intended. It worked with him when Niall handed him the transfer papers and he knew why we were here.
“It was one time, Mr. O’Reilly.”
I lifted an eyebrow at his blatant lie.
“Okay, a few times. I was up! Rolling in cash. Then it fell apart.”
“You know my rules about gambling.”
“It wasn’t at your place.”
“Anywhere,” I thundered. “And you go to Lopez? To a place we have no people, no jurisdiction? You’re fucking lucky I’m not picking you up in a body bag and having to tell your sister how fucking stupid you were!” I roared. “You gamble up a debt with a man charging fifty-six percent interest? How the fuck did you think you were going to pay this off?”