Edging Obsession

25

J ohann and I are meeting with the Turkish clan to warn them about their encroachment. We might be criminals, but they’re ruthless. A lack of boundaries makes them volatile. After this talk, we hope they’ll back off from invading our territory.

One of my trusted guards will be protecting Jules and her parents if they decide to venture off our property. Things are back to the way they were before the concert with her parents. It’s not to the extent it was, but they’re standoffish and close to being hostile. Jules plans to talk and convince them to accept what I do and our relationship. Elise is easier to persuade than Elliott. His armor for his daughter hasn’t minimized.

I join Johann and Hendrick in the back seat of the limousine. I haven’t spoken this much German in a long time.

While I’m shuffling through the file we have on Yusuf Arat, the leader of the Turkish clan, Johann asks, “Are you feeling better?” To avoid discussing my feelings, I simply nod. “How are things going with Jules?”

“Good.”

“Did she take the information about Karina and the baby, okay?”

I close the file, release a breath, and respond, “Yes.”

“I talked to her about—”

“Johann. Jules and I are good. Let’s concentrate on our meeting.”

He drops it, but if I know him, he’ll fish around later for answers.

The car veers over to the side of one of our warehouses, and we pour out of the door. Two other SUVs filled with our guys follow us inside as a few stay outside to monitor the place and direct the clan inside once they arrive. I head toward the office at the back of the warehouse to retrieve another gun and knife, tucking the gun into my side holster and knife into the ankle one. There’s arguing coming from the front of the place, indicating the clan has arrived. I stand at Johann’s side as two Turkish men approach us. Bodyguards from both sides circle around us, and guns glint off the overhead lights.

A guy around my age says, “Hallo, Matthias.” My eyebrow rises. “Enes Osman. We went to school together.”

I remain quiet. He approaches, leaving a meter between us, and let’s out an annoyed sigh.

“I didn’t think you’d be like your father.” Again, I stay quiet to avoid entertaining his insults. “Rude.” One side of my mouth quirks up. “He was a Nazi piece of shit.”

My fist connects with his jaw, knocking him to the side. Everyone draws their weapons, and Johann steps in front of me, holding his hands in the air.

“Calm down,” he says, eyes grazing across the warehouse. “This is a meeting, not a fight.”

An older man steps forward, placing a hand on Enes’ shoulder to stop him from retaliating. Enes wipes the blood from his lips and retreats behind the older man.

The older man’s eyes flick from me to Johann. “Your brother is easily ruffled.”

Johann rebuffs, “It’s expected. He insulted our father, which means he insulted us.”

He looks over his shoulder at Enes, slants his head toward us, and Enes comes forward. The older man nudges him. Enes offers an apology and returns to his previous position.

“See? No worries.” He holds his hand out toward Johann. “I’m Yusuf Arat.”

Johann shakes his hand. “Johann and…” he points to me. “…this is my brother, Matthias.”

“Nice to meet you finally.”

Johann indicates to a group of chairs. “Why don’t we take a seat?” Then he directs his comments to the rest of the room. “Put away your weapons.”

Our men return their drawn weapons to their holsters, and Yusuf glances at his men, nodding for them to do the same. We sit, facing each other.

Johann begins. “I’d like to clarify that this meeting is about our territory, and you conducting business in it.”

Yusuf responds, “As I’ve told your father, there are no territorial boundaries. The business we conduct doesn’t interfere with yours. You sell drugs, weapons, and import timber.” He shrugs. “We deal in counterfeit goods and other things.”

“Like trafficking. We don’t want that shit in our territory.”

He offers a small smile, folds his hands in his lap, and says, “That shit you’re referring to is our business.” Yusuf’s eyes flit between Johann and me. “Forgive me for saying, but what you do is just as illegal.”

“Except no one is forced into buying our drugs and weapons.”

His expression has me clenching my hands. “Johann, with all due respect, businesses in your area pay you money. Supposed taxes. Protection money. This, they did not ask for.”

“It doesn’t compare to the humiliation and degradation you force on innocent, defenseless people. Mostly women and children.”

I hold my hands up. “We’re not here to discuss who is more despicable.” My eyes land on Yusuf. “Whether or not you’re dealing in the same kind of business as us doesn’t matter, because you’re in our territory. If you don’t back out of here, we will bring blood to your door.”

Yusuf stands and takes on a submissive stance by folding his hands in front of him. “Nothing we do takes business away from you. We’ll continue to do what’s needed and take our chances.” His eyes darken and narrow on me. “But get one thing straight. Threatening my personal life, my family, will only cause you pain. If you drag my family into it, harm a hair on their heads, you’ll have to answer for it.” He ticks his head to one of his men, and they move toward the front doors. Yusuf turns to me. “Revenge.” He points his finger at me. “It’s powerful and gets you when you least expect it. No one you know will be safe.”

I advance on him, except Johann prevents me from hurting him. “Don’t threaten us, Yusuf. We have more men than you.”

He lets out a humorless laugh. “Maybe so. But at some point, you’ll let your guard down, and I’ll be there, catching your lamb.”

Him and his men leave as I curse at their backs, promising to punish every last one of them if they harm my family. Johann’s hands press against my chest, attempting to calm me down, but his words fuel my rage. Jules flashes in my head. Her tears. Her blood. And my heart tightens from fear of anyone hurting her. Of losing her. Hendrick comes over to assist Johann. By this point, my body is trembling with a mixture of fury and dread.