Gramps wanted to beat the shit out of the smug man in front of him, but he forced himself to nod as if relieved by what he was hearing.
Coke went on. “As the brats get older, they’re incorporated into my organization. Once all the kids are old enough, your piece of tail will be given a choice . . . stay on with a new job title or be eliminated.”
Gramps refused to flinch. “Sounds like a smart business decision.”
“It’s worked out well,” Coke said with a shrug. “Bitch will either pay her way by fucking anyone who wants her, or who I give her to, or she’ll die. She’s been here too long, knows too much. I can’t just let her go, she’d have the cops on my ass in a heartbeat.”
“And her son?”
“He’s a batty bwoy, but he’ll work for me one way or another.”
“A batty bwoy?” Gramps asked.
“A homosexual,” Coke said with a look of disgust.
“How do you know? He’s young, right?”
“It’s obvious,” Coke said derisively. “It doesn’t matter. He can either move product, or he can suck cock to his heart’s content. But he stays. Cassidy made the mistake of bringing him with her when she accepted the job, so he’s mine now to do with as I please. I could kill him, but he’s good for keeping her in line.”
Gramps had heard enough for that morning. Coke was a heartless bastard, and he couldn’t wait to take him out. “I’m assuming she doesn’t know of your plans,” he said wryly.
Coke laughed. “Nope. But she will soon enough. You should feel grateful that you’re getting a piece of her before I give her to my men. I’ve seen the way Lloyd looks at her. He hates her, but that won’t prevent him from taking what he wants.”
“Speaking of which . . . I’d appreciate it if you called him off while I’m here,” Gramps said.
“He’s just making sure she doesn’t get out of line.”
“You don’t think I can handle her?” Gramps asked, putting a bit of irritation in his tone.
“That’s not what I said,” Coke replied.
“I don’t want him spying on me,” Gramps told the other man. “Now that I know where things stand with her, I can manage keeping her under my thumb without any assistance from Lloyd or the rest of your security team.”
“I’m sure you can, and I trust you,” Coke soothed. “I did my research on you; I wouldn’t have let you into my home if I hadn’t. You have the kind of reputation I respect, G. But you understand if I can’t risk her swaying you with some bleeding-heart story. I’ll tell Lloyd to leave you alone when you’re on the grounds, but at no point will you be allowed to leave my property with both her and the brat.”
Gramps chugged the rest of the rum and put the glass down on a table next to his chair. “Sounds fine to me. I have no use for the kid. And it’s not as if I’ll be datin’ the bitch. I do like to woo my ladies, though, make them desperate for my cock before I give it to ’em.”
“You don’t like it when they fight?” Coke asked.
“Not really. I’d prefer them to be compliant and take what I give, rather than force myself on them.”
“Shame. You don’t know what you’re missing,” Coke said with a grin. “But I’ll talk to Lloyd. The offer to stay here still stands.”
“You got a room near Cassidy’s?” Gramps asked, trying to ignore the fact that Coke just admitted he liked to take women by force. Fucking asshole.
“Across the hall,” Coke assured him.
“That’ll do. ’Preciate the hospitality. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a woman to tame,” Gramps told him.
Coke swallowed the last of his own drink and stood along with Gramps. “As I said, she’s in the schoolroom. Don’t be afraid to interrupt her. The brats she’s with won’t need to remember anything she’s teaching them anyway. They’ll learn all they need to know from my men once they start working full time.”
“Will do. And you said I could take her into Kingston, right?” Gramps asked.
“Yes. But the boy stays here.”
“No problem. Don’t give a shit about him,” Gramps reiterated, lying through his teeth. “Don’t know what my plans are for the day, but I’m sure I’ll be rejuvenated by the morning,” he said with a wink.
Coke’s eyes gleamed. “You think so?”
“Yep. I’ll have the bitch riding my dick by tonight without any problems. It’s been a long time since I’ve had such prime Latina pussy. Tomorrow, we can discuss the terms of what will hopefully be a long and prosperous partnership between us.”
“Sounds good. If you’re around, dinner’s at eight.”
“I’m sure I’ll be preoccupied, but thank you,” Gramps said politely, not wanting to expose Cassidy to any more of this asshole than she’d already suffered. He had no idea if she knew what Coke had in store for her, but she was right to be concerned. He hated that she’d risked herself, and Mario, by sending the letters to the FBI, but her instincts were dead on. If he and Silverstone hadn’t arrived when they had, she and Mario would’ve both been living through a horrific ordeal very soon. The faster he could put Silverstone’s plan in motion, the better.
He hoped Eagle would be able to get his hands on what they needed to end this once and for all. If not, Gramps would have to put Coke off another day . . . something he was no longer sure he could do.
Coke walked over to the door to the office and opened it. Lloyd, the ever-present watchdog, immediately straightened.
“Lloyd, I need to talk to you,” Coke told him. Then he nodded at Gramps. “Down the hall, turn right, then take the first left. The schoolroom is at the end of the hall. You can’t miss it.”
“Thanks,” Gramps told him, turning to go.
“Uh, sir, let me call Martin—” Lloyd began.
“No need. That’s part of what we need to talk about,” Coke interrupted.
Gramps could hear Lloyd protesting as the door to the office shut behind him and Coke. He had no illusions that he’d have privacy. Every inch of the mansion was covered by security cameras, and he was probably being watched as he headed down the hall to where he hoped he’d find Cassidy. But not having Lloyd on his heels would give him more opportunities to talk to her privately.
The mansion was immaculate and very obviously had cost millions to build. Compared to the poverty of many people living in Kingston, it was almost obscene. But it wasn’t hard to understand the loyalty of the men and women who worked for Coke. If they wanted the gravy train to continue, they needed to keep their king happy and safe. Anyone who went against the party line was a threat to their way of life.
The more time Gramps spent in this mansion, the more he wanted to leave. Jamaica was a beautiful country, but like nearly every place on earth, it harbored evil. Most of the locals were generous, hardworking, and truly good, but unfortunately all it took was a few bad eggs to contaminate those around them. Maybe Lloyd would’ve been a good man if he hadn’t gotten sucked in by Coke. But all the maybes in the world wouldn’t change things now. The best thing Gramps could do was get Cassidy and Mario away from this place, take out Coke, and pray light overcame all the dark in this mansion. He didn’t think it would be that easy, but once he was out, it was up to those who were left to do the right thing.