Cyprus

“This isn't what we agreed, Nicholi.” Antoine tapped his thumb against his jaw and stared down the rectangle shaped table. “We agreed to fifty thousand for the run. That was what you said, that was the number you told me.” Holding out his finger, he glared through one eye at his target sitting beside me.

Nicholi sat deadpan, not willing to play Antoine's games. Glancing at me, he flicked his eyes to the pile of papers on the table. I knew what he was getting at without him having to ask.

Flipping through the contract I had drawn up a few weeks prior, the same one Antoine had signed, I slid it in his direction. “That's your signature—right?”

Scoffing, Antoine rolled his eyes and pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his breast pocket. “Am I doing business with you, Nicholi? Or your little pet?”

Nick didn't give him the pleasure of a reaction. But I knew it bothered him when someone would toss out shitty words about any of his children. And even though I wasn't his by blood, he still considered me his daughter.

I saw his finger twitch, it was subtle, but it was there. I was fairly certain that if the deal was done and the money was in our hands, Antoine would have had a bullet in his brain right then for what he said.

“She asked you a question.” His face was cold, no emotion or concern about the tension that was starting to build between them.

I always found Nicholi's level of cool one to be desired. He could stay still as water on a cold winter day, no expression, no arched brow or curled lip. It didn't matter how much someone pressed him, he was a statue.

But that was also his secret weapon. He gave you nothing to go on, nothing to show you that he was getting pissed and angry. He would make you think that all was fine, that whatever shit you had pulled didn't bother him as much as a pimple on his ass. And then he would strike, one click and you'd be laying in a pool of blood.

It was a masked brutality, a game he took pride in. And one I had been lucky to avoid. I wasn't sure I could handle that side of this shit. And so far, I've only heard stories, I haven't had to see it first hand.

I wasn't stupid, I knew what Nick and Birch were capable of. I also knew that death came with the job. It didn't change how I looked at them, not once had I ever questioned their loyalty to me. I didn't have to fear these men, but others weren't so lucky.

Glancing down at the paper, he nodded. “It is, but you must have doctored it. Seventy grand is not what we agreed on.” Lighting the end of his cigarette, he took in a long, slow pull. Wispy tendrils snaked out over his lips, filling the air with a sweet scent.

Clove cigarettes. . . Huh, I wouldn't have expected that.

Most of these jerks smoke cigars.

Crossing my leg, I cleared my throat. “I didn't mess with the deal, that's what you signed, that sheet right there.” Leaning back in my chair, I clasped my hands on the table, speaking clear and firm. “I'm only going to warn you once, don't accuse me of fucking with this shit.”

I took my job seriously, there was no way in hell I would fuck with something so sensitive. Numbers were mine and mine alone. I created the contracts, I sat with Nick and discussed reasonable prices for their services. And I would never ever go back and change them once hands had shaken on it and pen hit paper.

Chuckling, Antoine looked over at his brother Collin, his lips curling high with amusement. “Your little pet there is feisty,” he said, ticking his head back in our direction. “Maybe we can adjust our deal a bit, make it more worth my while.”

“The deal is set,” Nick snapped, jerking his body straight. “I agreed to give you two boats and help you get your merchandise into the country. Seventy grand, that's what I said, that's what you got. There's no room for negotiation now.”

Holding out his hands, Antoine's mouth turned razor thin. “I think there's always room for tweaking shit, we can add in a little disclosure that would make this deal much sweeter.”

Nick veered his stare, his voice harsh and fierce. “I filled my end of this, you have a debt to pay. Don't make this harder than it has to be.”

The two men glared at each other, each one trying to assert their own level of power. The first time I had sat in on one of his meetings, I was fucking nervous as hell.

But not now, not anymore.

Time had thickened my skin. I wasn't intimidated by these assholes and their comments or threats. My confidence had grown, my comfort with what I was capable of when it came to protecting myself, Nicholi, or any one else I loved was strong.

Standing up from the chair, I walked closer to Antoine, pressing the tips of my fingers into the table. “We're done here, you have until tomorrow to pay us what you owe. Understand?”

Antoine's eyes slowly clicked my way, the air tearing like a thick sheet of cardboard as he broke the staring match with Nick. Licking his lips, he smiled up at me, letting out a devious laugh. “We can take this firecracker off your hands for a bit, Nicholi, show her a real good time.”

My skin turned hot, blood percolating under the skin like coffee as he grinned at me. Holding my breath, I flared my nostrils, doing my best not to smack him across the face. My knuckles turned ghost white as I balled them tight and dropped my face to his. “Tomorrow, or I'll make you regret ever stepping foot in here.”

“Sweetheart, why don't you sit back down and let the big boys talk.” Flipping his fingers, he waved me back towards my seat. “You look much prettier when your mouth isn't moving.” His eyes turned to pinpricks as his teeth blared white behind parted lips. “I think you need a muzzle for your pet, Nick, she doesn't know her place.”

Wrong answer asshole.

In one quick swoop, I kicked him in the chest, forcing his chair to drop backwards and land him on his back. Collin jumped from his seat, but he wasn't quick enough. My gun was out, level with his head.

Jerking his arms out to the side, Collin stepped backwards, palms facing me like a big white flag. Keeping him in my peripheral vision, I pressed my heel into Antoine's throat, cutting off his air supply.

“How do I look now?” Cocking my head, I applied more pressure, watching his eyes pop from the sockets as he choked for air. “Tomorrow we expect payment. And if you don't make good on it, it won't be my pretty little face you'll be seeing.”

Nick started to laugh, raising up from his seat. “I don't think your idea of a muzzle went over too well.” Rounding the table, he nodded at me to relax. Removing my foot, I allowed Antoine to breathe again. “I think we're clear, right?”

Antoine held his neck and shook his head.

“Good, now get the fuck out.”

Scrambling back on his hands, his brother grabbed him from under his arms and lifted him to his feet. The two men were gone before I even had time to blink.

Patting my shoulder, Nick leaned in and kissed my forehead. “See, and you didn't want to take the gun. I told you it's better to be prepared and not have to use it, than need it and not have it.”

My body started to shake as the adrenaline wore off and what I had done sunk into my head. I hadn't thought about it, I reacted. It was like instinct, a natural reaction that happened before I had time to really decipher my movements.

What did I just do?

That could have ended really badly! I could have just put us in danger even more!

“I. . . I'm sorry, he just—”

“No, no, don't apologize. I liked seeing that, maybe a little too much.” Nick patted my shoulder and brushed my hair like he used to when I was younger. “It makes me happy to know you can handle yourself. You did great, Cyprus.”

“But what if he—”

“He won't.” Nick's words were short and direct. “People fear us, we don't fear them. That's how this works. You did exactly what you should have.”

I can't believe I just did that.

Smiling, I swallowed hard, forcing my racing heart back into my chest. I felt weird, like in that moment I hadn't been myself. I had lost control, I had allowed his stupid fucking comment to drive me into a blind rage.

That jerk needed to be put in his place.

He had insulted me, he had tried to make it seem like my only place there was being eye candy. I didn't like it. He needed to learn respect for women. . . for me.

I'm a Rottera. This is what we do.

Birch jogged down the stairs with a curious look on his face. “What the hell just happened? I don't think I've ever seen those two move that fast in my life.”

Squeezing my shoulder, Nick smiled. “Your girl here just put them in their place. You would have been proud.”

“Wait, what?” Shifting his eyes between us, he looked dumbfounded. “Why didn't you ring me? You were supposed to ring me if there was a problem.”

“Cyprus handled it just fine.” Lowering his head, Nick walked past his son and up the stairs. “I'll see you two at home. Great job, Cyprus. I think tomorrow will go nice and smooth.”

I watched him disappear into the bar above us, and heard him move through the room. The door jingled, signaling Nick was gone. And I couldn't help but feel slightly torn between the good and bad world I was living in.

Protection was Birch's job, not mine. I was the numbers, I was the tax-altering paper criminal. Not an assassin. Nick might have complimented my reaction, but I felt horrible for being a loose canon.

I really am one of them. . .

Walking to my side, Birch ran his hand through his hair. “I'm confused, what the hell just happened?”

Folding my arms, I plucked at my lips and shrugged. Was I supposed to tell him the truth? That I had drawn my gun on the men and almost crushed Antoine's larynx to prove a point?

I'm not a frail princess. I'm a warrior, I'm a bold woman who isn't afraid to stand up for herself.

Why should I be ashamed of that? Why should I feel bad for letting that dick know I wouldn't sit back and take his shit?

Maybe Nick was right. I was a part of this business, and sometimes that meant getting dirty. I wasn't afraid to get a little dirty.

“I made sure they knew we were serious.”

“And?”

“And now he knows that he needs to watch what he says to people he doesn't know.”

“What did he say to you? Did he try to do something to you?” Birch's muscles puffed up as he started to breathe heavily. “I'll kill that motherfucker if—”

Placing my hand on his cheek, I rubbed my thumb up and down. “I'm fine, Babe, he didn't try to hurt me.”

Hurt, that was a word I knew all too well.

But I hadn't felt it in a really long time.

Little did I know, my future was about to be filled with a lot more hurt than I could handle.