Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 88114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
He’s doing this on purpose.
The dinner, this meeting. He wants Hugh to know I was with him. Probably wants Hugh to know Burke was here too. Finn told Kellen about my dilemma and Hugh’s offer, and now Kellen’s trying to force my hand. I don’t know if I should be impressed, angry, or what. I want to scream and run out of here. But I’d bet my life this room is halfway filled with Kellen’s men and associates, and there’s no way I’m walking out with my head on my shoulders if I get up before this meeting is through.
I sit back and drink my wine and stew in my anger, fucking Kellen.
“You think I should go against what Orin wanted and back you instead of Hugh, all because, what, you run a good gangster crew? The Hayle family’s a lot more than that.”
“I was born into this family. I’m a Hayle. I know what it means.”
Burke waves that off. “You’ve been away for a long time, kid, no offense. You’ve got a good crew and good guys but backing you is a risk, and I don’t like taking risks without obvious reward.”
“There will be rewards for those that follow me from the beginning. Positions of power in the new family structure. I’m not playing this game to keep things as they’ve always been, Burke. I’m going to scour the earth of all the stupid, fat, worthless rat bastards that plague this family and make our people lean and hard again. You can help me do that.”
Burke picks up his wine and takes a sip. He smiles at the glass and puts it back down then rubs his face with both hands. “I’ll be honest, it’s tempting.”
“I have everything Hugh does. Pedigree, training. But I have so much more than him. I’ve been on these streets and I know what it takes to succeed. Hugh is soft.”
“The whole family is soft, according to you.”
“You included, Burke, but I’ll whip you into shape if you join me.”
Burke laughs at that and taps a ring against the glass. It pings out, ringing loud and clear in the dining room, and I swear the chatter slowly gets quieter as if they’re all listening for Burke to start making a speech.
But the big captain only leans forward.
“I’ve been in this business a long time, Kellen. Do you know what that means?”
“It means you’re a survivor.”
“Exactly.” Burke points at him. “You’re a killer. You’re not a survivor. There’s a difference. You’re good at the scorched earth bit and I have no doubts that you’ll do what you’re saying you want to do, but I’m sitting here wondering, at what cost? All these reforms might be lipstick on a pig. When you’re done with the family, who knows what we’ll have left?”
“I guess there’s only one way to find out.”
Burke sips the wine and sighs. “This is great stuff, kid. You’ve got good taste in wine, I’ll give you that.”
“I won’t ask you to make a decision now. I know if I did, you’d say no. But wait a week or two and then come to me. Can you do that?”
“I’ll think about it at least.”
“Good man.”
Burke slides out of the booth and gets to his feet. “I should get going before someone realizes I’m missing. Send my regards to your mother, will you? Shame about her. She was always a good woman, real smart, real clever. Your father was lucky to have her. Shame about your father, too.”
“Fuck my father. But I’ll tell my mother you said hello.”
Burke laughs and walks off, hands shoved into his pockets.
Kellen watches him go like a predator staring down his meal before glancing toward me. “What do you think?”
I frown at him, confused. The implications of that meeting resonate in me like the sound of Burke’s ring against the wine glass. “What do you mean?”
“I want to know what you think about him.”
“I don’t think anything. I’m not even sure why the hell you’d bring me to this.”
“I value your opinion. Come on, you heard all that. You were watching him. What do you think?”
I open my mouth then shut it again. If this is a part of his game then fine, I can play along. I can give him my opinion for all the good it’ll do him, and then he’ll go ahead and do whatever he wants anyway, because a guy like Kellen only cares what he thinks and nobody else.
“I think he’s going to leave here, call Hugh, and tell him exactly what you said.”
Kellen laughs. He takes a long drink of wine and shakes his head, grinning, and flags down the waitress to order some food. He gets a few dishes without asking what I’d like and once the waitress is gone, he twists to look at me appraisingly.