I force myself to look away, refocusing on the plans before me. There will be time for sentiment later—for now, we have a job to do.
Zeke and I work steadily, finalizing strategies and contingency plans. The mood between us has shifted. We operate in easy tandem these days, synchronized in our ability to map out strategy and identify potential threats even if our means of doing so don’t always align.
After hours of preparation, I lean back in my chair. "I think we're as ready for this meeting as we can be," I say.
Zeke nods. "We've got all our bases covered. Now it's time to put our plans into action."
A sense of shared purpose settles over us. Zeke extends his clenched fist once more and I bump it with my own. No matter what lies ahead, the Snakes and the Brixtons will face it together.
Chapter nine
The scent of sizzling spices hits me like a punch to the gut as I step into the dimly lit meeting room. My eyes dart to the platter of fiery samosas in the corner, their red-orange filling practically glowing beneath the low lights.
A knot forms in my stomach. I've never been able to handle anything spicier than black pepper. The thought of it has me sweating. I’m ravenous, but I’ve learned my lesson and I guess I’m going to have to go without.
"Don't worry, Devon has got you covered, and sent in a special request." Aria's husky voice breaks through my rising anxiety. She emerges from a side room holding a tray marked 'Dom's Special Order' in her elegant script. "Can't have you sweating bullets in the middle of negotiations," she says with a wink.
A snort comes from the head of the table where Slade sits, arms crossed, with a scowl on his chiseled face. "Should've started a damn cooking school instead of getting mixed up in all this," he grumbles. “Dom’s the kind of customer who goes into a Michelin star restaurant and asks for grilled chicken and rice, hold the pepper.”
Aria laughs, the sound warm and musical. "We'd make a hell of a team. I'll handle front of house, you can be in the back working away over a hot stove."
Shesets the tray down in front of me with a flourish. Plain rice, roasted chicken, a small bowl of yogurt. My comfort food. A swell of gratitude rises in my chest, momentarily easing the roiling anxiety within. I have an evil mob boss to take down, and I can't be worrying about Scoville units right now.
No matter what happens, at least I'll have bland food in my belly.
Slade eyes the dish and smirks. “Exactly…”
I take my seat at the heavy oak table, the wood smooth and cool beneath my fingers. Across from me, Aria and her men sit with an air of easy confidence, though I can detect a hint of tension in their postures.
My eyes drift over the maps and charts covering the walls, each one marked with details of Tane Brown's far-reaching criminal empire. A web of red strings connects his legitimate businesses to the illegal operations lurking in their shadows.
I have to admit, what Tane has managed to create is impressive. The façade of legitimate businesses—primarily restaurants and a few other tourist-oriented interests—spans the island chain. It would be difficult for anyone visiting the islands to avoid interacting with at least one of them if not more.
It's a stark reminder of what we're up against. The immense challenge of toppling a man who has the islands firmly in his grasp.
But as I meet Aria's steely gaze, I also feel a swell of hope. She and her crew took a massive risk to get us out of Tane's trap on the other island. I feel like I—we—owe them all a debt I may never be able to repay.
Whatever happens next, we're in this together. A motley band united by a common goal—bringing down the tyrant who has terrorized these islands for too long.
With allies like these by our side, I know we have a real shot at victory—side by side until the bitter end.
Aidan rises from his seat, his shoulders squared with determination. Zeke and Skyler flank him, presenting a united front. Our co-leaders—Zeke and Skyler from the Snakes, Aidan representing the Brixtons. Three strong men who have repeatedly proven their ability to take a long-term view and make decisions in our best interests. I trust the three of them implicitly.
"Thank you," Aidan begins,his voice unwavering despite the storm of emotions I'm sure is raging within. "You didn't have to help us escape. But you chose to put your lives on the line anyway. We won't forget that." He meets Dimitri's gaze, gratitude shining in his eyes. "We owe you more than we can ever hope to repay. But we'll stand with you until Tane is brought to justice."
Despite Aidan's show of strength, and my agreement with his words, I can't shake the icy fingers of fear creeping up my spine. The thought of facing Tane again makes my blood run cold. He's cunning, ruthless, willing to do anything to protect his empire and punish those who defy him. There have been too many close calls already, and he's only growing stronger.
But when I turn back to Dimitri, I see the same steely resolve reflected in his eyes. He knows the risks better than anyone, and he must be just as terrified as we are. Yet here he sits, ready to take the fight to Tane once more. Aria, and the other guys in their group, too.
Bolstered by their courage, I push aside the doubts clawing at my mind. We come from different worlds, different factions. But in this moment, we share one purpose.
"We may not have hoped to need allies," I say, holding Aria's piercing gaze. "But we share a common enemy. And if we stand together, Tane doesn't stand a chance."
Around the table, heads nod in agreement. In this room, faction lines melt away. We're a team now, united by a single goal.
And with these people at my side, I truly believe we can tear Tane Brown's empire down, once and for all.
Dimitri speaks now, determination etched into the hard lines of his face.