The Family Business 3 (The Family Business #3)(63)

I raised my wine in a gesture of thanks, and we toasted once again to my good news. I’d invited Minister Farah out to dinner at this Thai spot on the border of Queens and Long Island to catch him up on everything that was going on with Pop, Sasha, the war with X, and of course, with my new son. I’d also been hoping to surprise him with another visitor, but the visitor didn’t show up.

“Thank you, Minister. I can barely believe it myself. Me, a father?”

“So, your son—will he be attending the academy like you?”

“I’m not sure. With everything going on, I haven’t had a chance to find out what his mother’s plans are.”

“Well, Vegas, I’ve never met the boy, but you do realize he’s in a very unique situation. With you as his father and Consuela as his mother, he is the legitimate heir to two very powerful families. A young, impressionable man like that should be trained for his responsibilities. If you don’t send him to the school, I’d like offer my services.”

“I understand, but right now I just want to be a dad,” I told him as the waiter brought us the check. Of course, Minister Farah tried to reach for it, but I was just a little too fast for him.

“Thank you. It was a real pleasure,” he said, rubbing his full stomach.

I settled the bill and we stood up from the table.

“I really appreciate you always making time for me,” I said, shaking his hand.

“Any time,” he replied.

I turned toward the exit, and he said, “I’m gonna take a trip to the men’s room before I head uptown. I’ll give you a call in a couple of days.”

We shook hands again and I headed for the door.

The moment I stepped outside, I could tell that something wasn’t right. Call it instinct, intuition, or just a plain gut feeling, but I sensed it. I glanced down the block and saw the lights flash on the first car of my security detail, which made me relax a little. I shook my head, thinking it was time to get my paranoia under control. Lately I felt like one of X’s men was lurking around every corner.

I went around the corner of the building where my car was parked, again getting an uneasy feeling. I was starting to regret my decision to park back there. It was just so damn dark in that parking lot. I froze until I saw the other car in my security detail flash its lights.

I relaxed a little, which turned out to be my biggest mistake. As I got to my car and put Clyde away to unlock the door, I heard the sound of a round being chambered in a shotgun.

“I wouldn’t make a move if I were you.” I hadn’t even noticed the black-clad man in the passenger seat of the SUV, with its windows rolled down, next to my car.

I glanced over at my security detail and watched as three men got out of the car carrying weapons. My heart started pounding when I realized they weren’t my men.

“Vegas Duncan, I’ve been wanting to meet you. My men tell me that you have quite the reputation for being the Third Coming.”

I turned in the direction of the deep voice and found myself face to face with Brother X. He had just climbed out of the back of my security car.

“Where are my men?” I growled.

“Your men are—how can I say this politely?—taking a little nap,” he said with a sinister smile.

He needed to understand that I had been born ready for any and all challenges. I opened my coat, reaching for my weapon.

“Have you forgotten about me already?” This voice came from behind me. It was the dude with the shotgun in the SUV. “Hands in the air.”

Suddenly the sound of bullets being chambered came from several different directions. Turning to my right, I saw two capable gunmen, their weapons pointed at me. To my left were another two, also ready to fill me with holes. Now, I had gotten out of a lot of dicey situations before, but this was scary, and at the moment, I was drawing a blank as to how I would survive this many shooters when my guns were still in their holsters.

“Dammit!” I sighed, preparing myself for the worst.

The man with the shotgun got out of the SUV. “Cover him,” he ordered the others as he headed over toward X.

He hadn’t taken more than two steps before all hell broke loose.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

I knew that sound. It was a silenced sniper rifle. When I turned around, I saw all four gunmen lying dead on the ground. Anyone who was left standing, including Brother X, headed for the hills. Not wasting any time trying to figure out what had just happened, I pulled out my guns and ran after X, but it was too late. They jumped into a car and were halfway down the block in no time.

Back over by my car, I checked to make sure the guys on the ground were dead. The sniper had hit his intended targets precisely, and no one was left breathing.

I heard footsteps emerging from the shadows, and I cocked my weapon, prepared to shoot. Then the person came into view, and I lowered my gun.

“Man, you scared the shit out of me!” I said. Standing there, brandishing a sniper rifle and wearing a shit-eating grin on his face was Daryl Graham.

I glanced at my watch. “Damn, bro, you’re two hours late.”

Daryl looked around at the dead bodies. “My plane was delayed. But from where I’m standing, looks like I got here right on time.”

“Is everything all right?” We both turned to see Minister Farah coming toward us. Thank God he’d stayed behind in the restaurant, I thought with relief. That trip to the restroom had probably saved his life.