Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 149301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
“Wrong!” He slapped the arm of his chair. “I figured someone of your status, someone he wouldn’t suspect, he’d have more respect for. It had nothing to do with—”
“We’re done here, Cyrus. You sent a lamb to be slaughtered by a wolf, and that wolf is rogue.” Grandpa swallowed at his choice of words.
“If it’s any consolation, I’ve been affected by this, too. Kage killed some of my best men. Several of them, actually. You know how hard it is to get good help nowadays. People want the glory without the guts and gumption. Not only that, but he also turned my daughter, his mother, against me.”
“Boo-fuckin’-hoo. Do I look like I give uh shit?” The man pointed to himself then shrugged.
“No, you don’t, but you need to be told that you’re not the only one that has been affected by my grandson’s actions. In fact, when I had him collected, along with my other problematic grandsons, for an important meeting to discuss their futures last year, it took fifteen men to take Kage down, and two of ’em died in the process. He was one of the hardest ones to get. I had planned his retrieval to the letter, months in advance, but he still got the jump on me and put up a hell of a fight. I was only able to get him because he wasn’t on his own property. No courtside advantage. And he was drugged.” He added under his breath. “My men had to hold him down and give him a Benzodiazepines cocktail.”
“You’re really fuckin’ unbelievable.” Sivero smirked. “You think that information helps ya? IT DOESN’T! It makes it even worse. If these guys weren’t in this room protectin’ you like you were some sovereign king, I think you know what I’d do to you right about now, Cyrus.”
“Sivero, even without them, I might wipe the floor with you. Don’t you threaten me, or call me stupid and weak, you arrogant fucker. I’m from the country, I ain’t stupid. You think us good folks from the southern states are idiots. Your men fucked this up. Kage was none the wiser until they followed him into the gotdamn gas station. All those witnesses? Cameras? How reckless! So stupid! Your men share some of the blame. Own it!”
“THEY TRIED TO HELP YOU, PER MY ORDERS!”
“And I specifically said, don’t let Kage get them alone, no public confrontations, and don’t let him get to his house, either! There’s a shitload of artillery, cameras, and booby traps. I made that mistake. He knows that forest too well, and he’ll use it against anyone and everything. Don’t take him somewhere completely desolate to try and corner or trap him—he’s a wolf! I told you a side road was perfect; I even gave the best spots. If there’s folks around, he’s more careful about his reactions! Without an audience, he’ll let loose! Show you his ugly side! Like you said before, wolves always find a way out! He’s too tall to hide, so what does he do? He finds a way to blend in. They, uh, your guys, that is, managed to keep him off the land, and that was good, but they got him somewhere remote, against my instructions. You can’t point the finger at me, because I warned against that. You should’ve made that clear to them.”
“Oh, so suddenly this is my fault, too, Cyrus?” The man looked mad around the eyes. Insane. His lips curled and he exposed his pearly whites. A tremendous heat came over him. Sivero wanted blood…
“I’m just sayin’ that the location played a big part in things goin’ awry. It’s difficult to beat him when he is in his element. Kage is a loner, Sivero. He loves bein’ by himself. In the dark. He’s a spooky son of a bitch. I’ve paid for this, too.”
“Oh no… you haven’t paid yet, but you will. You will pay, one way or another. As for Kage, he won’t be working for you.”
“I don’t think that’s your call.”
“It ain’t my call, but it’ll be your ass. You won’t get what you want, fucker, because he’ll be dead. No rebel human grenade for you, ol’ boy. Kiss that dream goodbye. I’ll be makin’ certain of it. Knowledge is power, Cyrus.” He tapped his temple. “You left the good parts out. I was the wrong man to cross, but you’ll find that out soon enough…”
Sivero snapped his fingers. The men with him turned in unison and headed out the door…
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Falcons and Frolicking
I reckon it’s unusual to not have much family. No mama. No daddy. No brothers and sisters to speak of. No cousins. Uncles. Aunts. Unless you count Aunt Huni’s people in the Philippines. Some of them come to visit every now and again—not often. Aunt Huni is quieter when they do, and seems happier when they’re gone. I found out when I was a little girl of no more than six or seven that my mama had been estranged from most of her family, ’cept for her own mother who she’d reluctantly talk to every now and again. Now that I’m a full grown adult, I know there had to be some deep hurt in her. Somethin’ that made Mama sick to her stomach, or her head hurt with worry.