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.
Mitch tipped his head up, indicating his nephew. “He and a few other boys will start at UCLA this Fall. We want them working, not partying. We taught them the skills, and we don’t want them going to waste. It will also help us to know they are in a safe place, with people looking out for them. Not so much Noah here, but some of the others. I know my wife would appreciate him having someone looking out for him.”
This time, the boy reacted. He rolled his eyes, but the touched smile was there.
“I can definitely work that. I was already planning on sending half my crew over to the new club when it opens. Then splitting the new blood between the two.”
“Good, we can send a few more boys down that weren’t planning on college this year.”
“So many boys that are so young. Will they be able to handle all of this? Working in a club isn’t for the faint of heart. They need to know what they are doing.”
Mitch chuckled, moving to stand up as he opened a briefcase I hadn’t noticed he had set on the floor.
“Don’t worry, they are very well trained. You will not have any problems with them. If you do, have BoBo teach them a lesson. They are used to the consequences of failure.”
Right.
Mitch handed me a contract all written up. I glimpsed inside the briefcase before he closed it.
“How many contracts are you all making while you are in town?”
“Just this one.” He set the contract on my desk. “We were prepared with a variety of deals for you. I had planned to start higher, but after spending the last two days in your club and city, I decided we didn’t need it. I thought this was the best deal.”
“How had I not noticed you here before tonight?”
I vaguely saw Noah step away from his uncle while Mitch pointed out where I needed to sign, when I looked up again, the kid was gone. I searched the room with my eyes, then jumped when the kid stepped out next to me.
“We know how to blend into the shadows, Mr. Murphy.” Noah said quietly. “That’s why you didn’t see us.”
Okay. Good call. Glad I chose these guys over the Italians.
