House Rules(52)

“He doesn’t need to. Either he leaves Tess alone, or we’ll do it my way, and I guarantee I’ll need to call for cleanup if that happens.”

“You need to tell Dad. If it was anyone else, I wouldn’t push, but Marcello is a crazy bastard. We haven’t had any run ins with him, but we’ve heard enough stories. I’m not sure how he’ll handle it.”

I ran a hand through my hair. Ashton wasn’t like me or my father. He kept his temper in check and was more willing to forgive. Although I had a feeling when it came to Elena, he would do anything it took to keep her safe. “Like you wouldn’t have killed Dominic Tolley if it meant getting Elena away from him?”

He scoffed. “I would have ended him in a heartbeat. But you have to remember, Dad knew all about how he treated his wife. He knows nothing about your relationship with Tess or Marcello. I knew he’d be there if I needed him.”

I leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes. The fear that people wouldn’t see me as strong as my father surfaced again. “If I can’t prove that I’m just as powerful as Dad in this town, how in the hell am I supposed to take over and be successful?”

“Is that what you’re worried about? Shit, Miller.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Do you really think anyone around here questions you or your ability to take over?”

“I know they do. Karlstad was here trying to get a lower rate the day after Dad said he was looking to retire.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course that cheap asshole would do that. Has anyone else asked for something like that?”

I sprang from my seat and began pacing. “No, but only ’cause I threatened him.”

“Exactly. Word spread like it always does. But most of Dad’s clients aren’t out of their fucking minds. Have you forgotten when Marcello beat the shit out of the client’s pregnant wife and she lost the baby? Then there was the time he let one of his goons rape the sister of one of his clients while he forced the brother to watch. Or what about when he beat the crap out of the guy’s mom, while he was strapped to a chair? Anytime he made a sound he hit her, and anytime she made a sound they hurt him. It’s stupid to meet with him alone. The guy has no morals. He’s crazy as fuck. Wouldn’t you rather Dad know he’s coming to the club?”

I stopped and turned to face him. Lines creased his brow. He had a reason to be worried, but I also knew how to protect myself. “It’ll be fine. Most of those stories are probably exaggerated by his own people to create fear. Besides we’ll be at my place not his.”

“I guess nothing I say is going to change your mind?”

“No. I need to do this. You’d do it for Elena.” I took my seat again. Marcello would understand his place in the food chain when I was done with him.

“You’re right.” He stood. “Just let me know what happens.”

“I will.”

He turned for the door. I knew Ashton was only looking out for me. But this wasn’t about me. I needed to look out for Tess. She was the first woman to ever make me feel anything closely resembling what my parents had.

I called out to him when his hand reached for the knob.

“Yeah?”

“Thanks for looking out for me.”

He shrugged. “You’re my little brother, it’s what I’m supposed to do. Be careful.”

But there was nothing I needed to be careful of. Marcello didn’t understand who he was screwing with.

He left, giving me the silence I needed to contemplate the meeting. I knew Marcello was as crazy as Ashton described. My plan was to show him that it was time to back off. I’d pay half of what Ray owed in exchange for him leaving Tess alone. Whatever happened to Ray was his problem for borrowing the money. Why anyone borrowed money from Marcello was beyond me. Ashton was always the better choice, and not only because he was my brother. He also wasn’t batshit crazy.

Forcing the whole issue from my head, I msde myself to go back to work until it was time to leave. I didn’t want to give Dad a reason to check up on me.



***



“He better show I this time this time,” I said, walking through the club to my office upstairs. We weren’t opened for the night yet, which made it the perfect place to meet. No one interfering where they didn’t belong.

“I have assurances he’ll be here.”

“He better.” I took a seat in the chair behind my desk. Dean followed suit on the couch in the corner of the room.

Thirty minutes past and my temper was soaring to new heights.

“That bastard needs to learn some fucking respect.” I stood and walked over to the windows, imagining all of the ways I could make the fucker suffer.