This time it was Mitch that smirked. “We are incredibly good at reading people. I heard you and your people are as well.”
I opened and closed my mouth, completely stunned by what was happening.
“Your club has always been of interest. But our men knew you were not interested in a partnership. So, out of respect, we have kept our distance. Still, we had our eye on you and yours, waiting for a foot in the door. Smirnov seems to have given us that. You are in a tough spot. You want to protect your family, but you don’t know what the safest route is. A plight we all can understand.”
I swallowed and leaned back, letting my body relax, since it was obvious they were not here to cause problems.
“How would you be able to help? What kind of deal are we looking at?”
“We want a partnership. We want to build our presence here in LA.”
“You have a presence here in LA. And I don’t want to lose control of my company. That would lead to more problems in the future. Ones I would have no control over. It’s bad enough that the Russians and Italians already know my weak spots.”
Mitch lifted a single eyebrow. “You call Fiona Reynolds a weak spot?”
I snorted. “No, not even close. But my enemies would be able to come to me through her. If not directly through her, then her father or her brother. Online, she is a powerhouse. Outside…”
Mitch nodded. “I understand. Which is one of the reasons Levi thought you might be ready to hear our offer now. We believe in family. We believe in protecting our family. We do not want them becoming a target because of what we do. We can help you with that.”
I huffed and shook my head. “And cost me, what? What will I get from it? More enemies?”
Mitch dropped his foot to the floor and leaned over. “How much is the safety of your family worth? Is any price too steep to keep Fiona and the children you want with her safe?”
Well, when he put it like that… I closed my eyes for a brief moment. “There is nothing I wouldn’t be willing to pay for that. What is your offer?”
Mitch leaned back in his chair again. “25% of your company.”
My jaw dropped to the floor. That was not what I was expecting. “You only want 25%? Are you serious?”
“Yes. We don’t need the money from your income. Besides, you do a successful job running both the club and your side hustles. We have no need to take over.”
“Then what do you get out of this?”
“We get a stronger foothold here in LA. Even just that much will send a message to anyone who would come after your people. We will also help fill your ranks as you open the new club. If you wouldn’t mind my opinion, the old warehouse near the garment district that you and Keith saw last night would be perfect.”
I glanced up at the silent nephew, he stared back. If I wasn’t used to the way Fiona randomly snooped around, I’d be unnerved. She had desensitized me to the way of hackers.
I nodded. “I could work with that. What else?” There had to be more that they wanted.
