Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The Inner Circle
“My, my, that’s awfully ambitious,” the woman was the first to speak. Her lips pulled back into a smirk. “I’m Maya Lee. If you’re going to be the new Don, I guess you should know my name. If there’s a con you need played, you can count on me.”
“It’s good to meet you, Maya. I appreciate your cooperation. It’s my understanding that my father valued all of you for your skills and I’d like to honor him by keeping you all close to the Monroe family. That is, I’d like to continue working with you all,” Kade replied. As he spoke, his gaze moved over each of their faces and then settled on Jamison’s.
“You have my word, I’ll do what it takes to aid you,” Jamison said as though on queue. He motioned to the two men who had yet to say anything else. “Allow me, this is Tiago Mendel. A man of few words but you’ll find no one stronger. Next to him is Kit Blair, he has connections all across New York and knows how to use them.”
“Thank you, Jamison. With introductions out of the way, I’d like it if you all could come back with me to the office. There’s matters on the topic I’d like to discuss,” Kade said after he considered each of them.
Before anyone could say or do anything, Kit stepped up to protest. He stepped in front of the other two with a sharp glare etched into his features. Dark eyes went from Jamison first and then over to Kade. The look in them was one that Jamison knew too well. He didn’t trust Kade. It was a natural response to this abrupt change, he thought.
Despite knowing Kit well enough to know that he wouldn’t try to harm anyone who had been declared as their boss, Jamison still took a half step in front of Kade. They were all still criminals, no matter how well organized they kept themselves or managed to fly under the radar of law enforcement. Jamison knew better than to let his guard down completely, even if he didn’t believe Kit would try anything. It was an instinct that had been instilled in the gunman for many years now. A habit more or less to put himself and his life first in lieu of his boss’. He had meant it when he swore to stand by his side. If only for the loyalty he held to Kade’s father.
“Why should we listen to anything he has to say? Where’s the proof?” Kit spat. His dark glare landed on Jamison when he stepped forward.
“He is a Monroe, the son of our last Don. There shouldn’t be a question,” Jamison responded tightly.
“And how can I be sure he’s just not trying to play in his father’s shoes for the day?” Kit retorted.
Jamison remained calm, blue eyes cold and stern as they stared back into the dark ones glaring back at him. “Because I was the one who recovered the Don’s body and confirmed his death. If you don’t like the answer, you can leave, but you won’t be welcomed back.”
“Enough Kit, we are all upset over the news. But fighting among ourselves will not help. If the boss believes it was an inside job, I think we should hear him out,” Tiago spoke up. His voice came out in a low rumble as though he were trying to soothe the temper of his friend. Then, he turned his gaze over to Kade and gave a subtle nod as an indication of approval.
“Boys will be boys,” Maya said with a wave of her hand. She was the first to cross the foyer and head for the stairs.
Tiago was the next to follow after Maya, only pausing long enough to cast Kit a look before heading up the stairs. The look was enough that Kit hesitated after him and then with a frustrated hiss, brushed past Jamison without even a glance in Kade’s direction. He was upset about the news and understandably so.
They all worked with Warren for years. His dying or retiring just didn’t seem possible. Yet, here they all were, having to deal with his untimely death and the announcement of a new Don. He was Warren’s son, yes, but it would take time for them all to get used to Kade.
Once everyone had gone up to the office, Jamison escorted Kade back up the stairs. Entering the office again, all three pairs of eyes were on them as they entered. Maya waited closest by the desk, leaning back against it, her hands resting on its edge. Just to the right of the office door and seated on one of the antique sofas was Tiago. He sat on the edge of his seat and despite the fact that his hands were carefully folded in his lap, he seemed alert and ready to stand any second. Kit was across the room, standing near a large window which overlooked the front entrance into the manor. His gaze still held the distrust he expressed in the foyer.
Kade came to a stop just inside the door, his hands folded in front of him. Behind him, Jamison gently shut the door so it barely made a sound as it clicked into place. A setting all too familiar to him. Just days before Warren’s death, the four of them had been standing in this very room for their regular report to Warren. This office had seen many meetings, some more serious than others. But none of them could compare to the weight and tension in the room now. The grim reminder of their new reality standing before them in the form of their Don’s son.
“Before I can truly start an investigation on the inner rankings of our organization, I’m going to need a list of all the Chiefs and their territories,” Kade said. His tone was even and matter-of-fact.
“Names you should already know if you were groomed properly to take this job,” Kit sneered at him. His glare sharpened at his words.
“You’re right. I didn’t take any of the preparations seriously. My father was a strong man, I didn’t think there would be an immediate need for me to do that. It’s part of why I want to avenge him and his death. I owe it to him,” Kade replied without so much as a flinch.
“Kit can get you those names,” Jamison chimed in. He took a step forward from where he was standing just behind Kade.
“And why would I do that?” Kit questioned. That glare now turned on Jamison once again.
Just as before, he was met with an icy stare from Jamison and a response in a tone just as cold. “Because it’s your job and he is your boss. You’ll do it or end up like any traitors we find.”
Kit’s jaw clenched and at last he tore his eyes away. “Give me a few hours and I’ll have it for you.”
“What do you plan to do with it?” Maya asked. Her head tilted and the tone of her voice suggested she was curious.
“I’m going to use it to call a meeting with them all. If someone in our ranks killed my father, I’ve no doubt that one of them had to know something about it, if they weren’t directly involved themselves,” Kade answered. His eyes were on Maya first as he spoke before he scanned the room, still maintaining that calm that seemed to age him beyond his years.
“That’s dangerous, especially if you feel one of them might be harboring or is a traitor,” Jamison stated flatly.
Kade turned to look at him, those honey colored eyes holding a determination that remained unwavering. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t stepping into this position in itself dangerous? This is a necessary first step to both introducing myself to the rest of the organization and understanding who I might be dealing with,” he countered without missing a beat.
He was bold and determined without a doubt. Again, Jamison was impressed by the young Don, but he didn’t let it show on his face. Instead, he considered his words and the plan that the young man wanted to put in motion. The best way to understand an enemy was to draw them in close.
In this case, Kade wanted to meet everyone that had some sort of rank and authority. Jamison wasn’t sure how observant Kade was just yet, but he seemed so sure that he might be able to figure out who he was dealing with. Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to put him to the test and see what he was capable of. It was dangerous, Jamison wasn’t lying about that. His job as a second was to ensure his boss’ safety. That being said, he could think of no better way to gauge how Kade would handle his responsibilities than to volunteer to go along with him.
“If you’re determined to hold a meeting with every one of our Chiefs, those who command a territory of their own, then I suggest we hold it somewhere away from here. And I ask that you allow me to go with you as your protection, just in case,” Jamison said after a pause.
Kade nodded to his words. “Then we’ll discuss a place and time once we have the names of all the Chiefs and make the necessary arrangements.”
Jamison turned away from Kade to look at the other three waiting around the office. “You heard the boss, let’s get to it,” he ordered.
His only hope was that this trust wouldn’t be a mistake.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone