He looked like a rough but handsome college professor. Nobody would guess that he was the head of the second most powerful crime family in the city.
“Owain,” he said. “And you brought a guest.”
“Hedeon.” I shook his hand then stepped aside. “This is Leigh.”
“Nice to meet you.” Hedeon smiled at her and extended his hand.
For a second, I thought the girl might be stupid enough to turn him down. But instead she came up the stoop and shook.
“Likewise.”
He nodded his head. “Come in. I made tea.”
She gave me an odd look and I just smiled then gestured for her to go ahead. She walked past me and followed Hedeon into his house.
The halls were dim and bare. The main living room had a large pale yellow touch with several plants hanging from the ceiling and standing in large pots around the deep window. Books were piled on the floor around the television. Hedeon took us into the kitchen and gestured at the large oak table. Several newspapers were piled at the far end.
I took a seat. Leigh pulled out the chair next to me. Hedeon brought over a tray with a light gray teapot and three mugs. He poured me some, then looked at Leigh.
“Tea?”
“Please.”
He filled her mug, handed it over. He finished with himself then sat, crossing his ankles. His feet were bare and calloused.
Leigh added milk to her tea and looked like she couldn’t decide if this was all some kind of elaborate joke.
“So, Owain.” Hedeon kept his hands in his lap and looked at me. “I hear you had some trouble.”
“Jackals. Clifton must’ve sent them after me.”
“How’d they know about the store?”
“Leigh says they followed me around. One of the guys admitted it.”
Hedeon nodded then sipped his tea. He placed it ack down gently on the table.
“Clifton’s going to be trouble. Your little feud with him has been going on too long.”
“It never took a turn like this before.”
“Do you think he meant for anyone to get hurt?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know what Clifton thinks anymore.”
Hedeon rubbed his eyes with his palms. “This is frustrating for me, you know that, don’t you? Just when we were starting to get established, this happens. Business has been very good, Owain. I don’t want to risk that because of some squabble.”
“I understand. I’d be glad to finish it, but I’d need muscle.”
“I’m not lending you any men. What you have will be enough.”
“If you think so.”
Hedeon frowned ever so slightly. “I thought strength was your thing. I didn’t know you’d want help.”
“I’m not stupid. The Jackals have twice as many men as I do. If I had the whole crew—”
“You don’t have the whole crew.” Hedeon stared at me. “Your feud got you into this, and you’ll get out of it. I’m not going to risk the tenuous peace we’ve built.”
I nodded and pushed back against the rising anger. Leigh sipped her tea and cleared her throat.
“Can I ask what this feud’s about?”
Hedeon looked at her like he was just remembering she was there. For a moment I thought he might get angry that she spoke out of turn.
Instead, he tilted his head and smiled. “You want to know?”
“I’m curious, since it almost got me killed.”
He laughed. “Do you want to tell her, Owain? Or should I do it? Although I think you’ll be more charitable.”
I grunted and leaned forward. “Clifton and I used to be friends.”
“That’s putting it mildly. They were close.” Hedeon gave me a look. “Be honest or I’ll tell it.”
I clenched my jaw and stared into Leigh’s eyes, trying to pretend like Hedeon wasn’t in the room. In my mind, it was just me and her lying in a bed together, her legs intertwined with mine.
“I met Clifton when I was young, sixteen maybe. We were best friends, got into a lot of shit together. We met Hedeon a few years later, and we both started out in the crew together. But Clifton got into bikes and found a different path. He left the club, no hard feelings.”
“So then why are you in a feud?” she asked.
“When he left, he took money with him. He says that money was his, and I say that money was mine. That’s what started it. Then shit spiraled from there. We went at each other for a couple years, fighting each other in the streets, that sort of petting shit. The feud quieted down, but I know he never got over it, and I’m the type to hold on to a grudge.”
“It was about money?”
“Not just money,” Hedeon said. “There was a girl.”
I looked away, blood boiling. “She was nothing. She wasn’t part of it.”
“Her name was Alexis. Clifton was in love with her.”
“So what’s it matter if he left with her?” Leigh asked. “Unless you loved her too?”
“She’s my cousin,” I said.
“Oh.” Leigh blinked a few times and leaned back in his chair. “So he stole money from you and left with your cousin.”
“They’re still together, I hear,” Hedeon said, smiling a little.
“You all think it’s so fucking funny,” I said, trying to conceal my anger and failing. “But if that was your family? And your money?”
Hedeon held up his hands. “I’d be angry too.”
“You don’t forget that shit.”
Leigh went quiet and picked up her tea. She blew on it then sipped it and stared at the tray for a long moment.
“I think I’d be angry too. At her as much as at him.”
I grunted in reply. Hedeon laughed.
“And now we’re all caught up on your drama,” Hedeon said. “So the question is, what do we do about it?”
“I’m here to ask for permission to hit back. If you won’t give me muscle, fine, I’ll use what I have. But I can’t let this go unanswered. Clifton went too far.”
Hedeon nodded. “I agree. He went much too far.”
“Good.” I looked at Leigh. “And you should know. She’s going to be around.”
“Part of your plan?”
“That’s right.”
Hedeon looked at her. “A year ago, you never would’ve met me, no matter how bad things got.”
“What changed?” she asked.
“Power. The dynamics in the city. A lot of things.” Hedeon shook his head and lifted his tea to his lips but didn’t think. “Are you sure you can handle being around Owain? He’s not exactly your average man.”
Leigh snorted. “That’s putting it mildly.”
“She can handle it,” I said. “She already saved one stash when she didn’t ahve to.”
“Alright.” Hedeon took a sip and put it down. “I’m going to give you a lot of freedom on this one. If you trust her, then I trust her. If you want to hit Clifton, then I’ll support your play. But that’s as far as I’ll go. I won’t stop you, but don’t expect reinforcements.”
“Fine. I can handle that.”