As far as I knew, he’d disappeared for some time.

Now he was back.

I wasn’t the only one who knew Drake Nair. Everyone in Denver knew Drake Nair.

Everyone in Denver knew he wasn’t that bright, but he was wealthy, and rich men, smart or dumb, could pay to get a job done.

They also knew he was a slimy weasel.

And last, everyone in Denver knew Drake Nair hated Knight Sebring.

I did not keep tabs because Nick was just a name for me back then, but I still knew it had to be years since I last heard of anything happening in the Sebring/Nair war.

Word was, Nair played dirty (not surprisingly).

But Knight Sebring had always prevailed.

I didn’t know much of what it was about, outside Knight and Nair were once partners and then they were not.

I just knew with Nair’s latest lengthy disappearance the bad blood seemed to have died down.

But now I had a very bad feeling mostly because I had no idea my father knew Drake Nair and I didn’t like him, his history, his hatred of Knight Sebring and the coincidence this all was right now sitting in my father’s office.

“You’re a fool, you go after that again,” Dad told him.

I moved across the room to Dad’s grubby windows, pretending their discussion mattered little to me but doing that listening closely and fearfully.

“Don’t give a shit the protection the brother has. They’re tight. The brother gone, that’d sting,” Nair returned. “Easy hit. Whack Nick. Deliver a big blow to Sebring. Seriously, Vincent, you cannot have a problem with that.”

I fought hard to keep breathing, looking out the window, hoping I was giving the appearance their conversation wasn’t that interesting to me when now I was listening so hard it was a wonder my ears weren’t bleeding.

“Our histories, respect, you sitting there,” Dad said. “You talk stupid shit, Drake, I don’t have time for that.”

I felt the tension in the room rise and looked to Nair because of it.

His face was twisted with distaste. “Was pussy, you backin’ down from that years ago.”

Very much not good.

Dad would not like being called pussy.

It was time for Gill to be involved in this scenario.

I moved two steps from the window, sliding my purse off my shoulder, my eyes glued to Nair.

I felt my father’s gaze and looked to him.

He seemed reflective as he studied me for a few moments before he shook his head.

I nodded, moved the strap of my purse back up my shoulder and stepped back.

Dad looked again to Nair. “I showed you respect. You wanted time, a meet, I gave it to you. You sit in my office and not give that back?”