Chapter 10
Calvin did not like Richard.
That became obvious quickly.
He merely liked what Richard was willing to betray.
“I never promised you the house,” Calvin said.
Richard stared.
“You promised support.”
“For transition.”
“Yes.”
Calvin smiled.
“Transition ends.”
Richard’s face changed.
Mark laughed bitterly.
Another lie exposed.
Daniel looked at his father.
“What did you think happened after Emma stepped down?”
Richard ignored him.
Calvin answered.
“Hart becomes dependent on Calder protection.”
I almost laughed.
“Protection.”
Calvin shrugged.
“Everyone has a favorite word.”
He wasn’t wrong.
Richard had discipline.
Daniel had respect.
Margaret had family.
Calvin had protection.
Same hunger.
Control.
Richard stepped toward him.
“That wasn’t our arrangement.”
Calvin smiled.
“You invited me through a hidden gate under another woman’s house.”
Richard clenched his jaw.
“What did you expect me to think of you?”
That landed.
Mark looked away.
Daniel sat down.
Margaret almost smiled.
Richard saw it.
“Enjoying this?”
She flinched automatically.
Then stopped.
“Yes.”
He stared.
Margaret’s voice shook.
“But yes.”
That mattered.
Richard stepped toward her.
“You’d have nothing without me.”
She looked at Lily.
Then me.
“Maybe nothing is better than this.”
He raised one hand.
My guard caught his wrist.
Richard looked furious.
“You don’t touch me.”
I answered:
“You don’t touch anyone.”
Calvin watched everything with amusement.
Then his phone vibrated.
He checked it.
His smile disappeared.
I noticed.
“What?”
Nothing.
My phone vibrated next.
A message from three Hart capos upstairs.
WE’RE WITH YOU.
Then another.
And another.
Calvin looked toward the ceiling.
“Interesting.”
Richard frowned.
“What?”
I smiled.
“Your audience.”
He stared.
I continued.
“The senior Hart men already know Lily was chained.”
His face changed.
“They know you brought Calders through our gate.”
Mark closed his eyes.
“They know Daniel agreed to remove me.”
Daniel looked down.
Calvin put his phone away.
“And now they know Richard promised away Hart crews he didn’t own.”
I looked at Richard.
“You planned to make me kneel before the family.”
May you like
Pause.
“But you forgot to check who the family already followed.”
