Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 109178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
The old man shrugged. “I’ll take the offers away from your other cousins, too. If I do, you’ll be responsible for it, and they can blame you personally, when I apply that pressure.” Kage swallowed, his eyes darkening as he faced Grandpa. “Now, I suggest you settle the hell down. We can do this the easy way or the hard way, bat-shit crazy boy. The hard way is one direction, and that’s six feet deep. You decide.”
Kage’s tattooed hands curled into fists as he slumped back down in his chair.
“Jasper, everything is fine.” Grandpa waved the help away. Jasper sauntered off, going to stand in the corner, eyeing them all from a short distance. “Now, I want to first tell each and every one of you that my disappointment in you is immeasurable.” He leaned forward and clasped his hands. “I have an impeccable bloodline. I have sons and daughters, and other adult grandchildren who’ve understood what was expected, were properly trained, and do as they are supposed to do. Everyone needs a purpose in this life. You all decided to go your own way, and you’ve made messes of your lives because of it.
“The seven of you are wild animals. You’re uncouth. Untamed. Primitive. Corrupt sons of bitches. I wish your fathers had shot you into the bitches’ asses that birthed you, or your mothers had swallowed you. You’re ungrateful ingrates. The whole lot of ya.” Grandpa had a way of saying vile things with a placid tone, making it all more unnerving.
He surveyed them, his gaze scanning back and forth. No one seemed to bat an eye. No one moved. Perhaps none of them cared. They just wanted to get through it and return to life as it was. This entire stunt was part of being in the family clan. The Wilde’s went way back in Texas. Grandpa was the one to break the spell of perpetual poverty, and struck it rich. It was more than evident that it cost him his soul to do so, and he had no qualms about dancing with the devil. If you didn’t walk the straight line for Grandpa, he would find ways to abuse you, and no form of punishment was off the table.
Lennox kept his eyes trained on the old man. Watching him, just like he was watching them. Eye contact was important. Never back down.
“Now, I wanna start with you, Lennox.” Grandpa stroked his beard.
Lennox leaned back in his chair and crossed his ankles.
“As you know, I have a small faction, a sub-organization, within my business called, ‘The Zoo.’ The Zoo is run by family, but only certain members are eligible. The muscle. It could be mental prowess, or physical. In most cases, it’s a combination of both. I wanted you to be in charge of it after Dom got sick and had to step down. You knew that. You were provided for and trained to do so. All of the karate lessons. The boxing lessons. Sports of all sorts. I ensured you had every supplement you desired. Your own home gym. Paid for you to fly all over the country to see professional prize fighters and MMA combatants. It was obvious when you hit puberty that you were a physical powerhouse, Lennox. Most of the Wilde men are tall and a bit on the thin side. You were a damn brick wall. Your father took up with that Lebanese whore, your mother, but she did one thing right—she produced a human tank.
“Fucking A-rab. Armenian… Whatever the hell she is. Regardless, she has kept quiet and out of my way, so I allowed her peace.”
He lifted his chin, meeting Grandpa’s gaze straight on. “My mother isn’t a whore. Don’t talk about her that way.”
“Hey,” Grandpa said with a black grin as he lifted his hands in the air, “I just call it like I see it, I know her background. I made it clear to her that if she ever cheated on my son, she’d pay the ultimate price. No worries. I accepted her as my daughter-in-law. After all, I don’t have any interests in choosing my children’s spouses.” He shrugged. “I don’t have to like my children’s husbands or wives. I only get involved if that spouse interferes in what we’ve got going on, or decides on stickin’ their nose in our business. Do that? Then they have to go, one way or another.”
Lennox brought the cigar to his mouth, then exhaled. Smokey loops purled, then vanished in thin air.
“As I was saying… She and your father, with my funds, had you trained by some of the best marksmen in Texas. You really excelled in Boxing and weight lifting. But when the time came, what did you do? You betrayed me.”
“I didn’t betray you. I never told you that I wanted to work for you.” He leaned forward and crushed his cigar in the ashtray.