The cost of loyalty

My father has many names.

Business mogul. Philanthropist. Visionary.

I only know one.

Coward.

I scoff to myself as the staring game continues between us. They see him as some giant. A god.

It's honestly laughable. To me, though, he's nothing more than a dog. Unfortunately, that dog made me. It makes me wonder what that makes me.

Around the table, the board begins to grow restless. The shuffling of papers, the sideways glances. A very normal occurrence at every one of our meetings. Let them fret. I have one other person to wait for.

And as though he can read my mind, he steps into the conference room.

Moran's face lights up. I don't bother hiding the disgust I feel at that. Turns out dogs always recognize their own.

He rises to his feet. "So good of you to join us."

"Of course. An invitation I could never refuse."

My hands clench lightly at the sound of his voice. Riley shifts uneasily closer to me.

Memories threaten to overwhelm me, and I struggle to shut them all out.

Let's get this over with.

"Let's begin."

My voice cuts through the greetings that have already begun in the room without me looking at the newest addition. I take the documents Riley hands me, a formality as I already know every single thing written within them.

"Our shipments in the city have been overthrown twice this week."

I direct the words at him as he takes his seat.

"Allow me to take a seat first, child."

His voice is filled with humor as he sits beside my father. The room erupts with nervous laughter.

Child. I sigh.

"It's very funny, Elder, that you believe the one who handles your paycheck is but an infant."

"You don't have to be this hostile with me, Ronan. It's been years."

"Exactly." My tone drops. "Maybe it's time I look for a replacement for you."

"Ronan..." my father starts.

I cut him off with a raise of my hand.

Tense silence descends over the room so fast it could cut glass.

"I make the decisions," I say in that same flat tone. "Maylard City paid me a visit last week."

Riley distributes the papers around the room.

"Imagine my surprise when they offer to receive half the payment we spend to open their routes for us."

"Do not tell me you're thinking about this, Director. These men cannot be trusted." Daniel, my father's lackey, speaks up.

"Trust." I roll the pen between my fingers.

"What's to say the man sitting across from us here can be trusted?"

"For the last couple of months there have been suspicious leads here and there. I took it as nothing, constantly fighting to keep the trust..." My voice takes on a mocking lilt. "...you all have clouded your minds with."

"Riley."

I call out. He picks up the file in his hands.

"Three scheduled routes were compromised exactly twelve minutes before departure."

"Two detained couriers disappeared before questioning."

"Confidential transport manifests—"

I cut him off.

"You all have eyes. Read them yourselves. There's a whole document designed just for how much we've been fucked up this month alone."

The shuffling of papers is all that can be heard for a few moments.

I can feel the suspicion rising in the room. A lot of these old geezers have never liked me and never will, but for what it's worth, whenever they need to use their brains, they've never failed me.

The Elder rises, pushing his chair forcefully back. The violence in the movement makes the board rise with him.

I lean back, watching, letting myself take this fucker in.

He's changed a lot in fifteen years. More sophisticated. More put together. But unfortunately, just like my father, pigs are still pigs no matter how much you clean them up.

"I control your operations," he almost yells, discarding that calm façade he always has on. "I am the reason you're still safe, boy. I could ruin you in a heartbeat."

I stand, dusting the imaginary dust from my suit.

"Tonight there'll be a little gathering," I say to the men in the room.

"The senator has decided to meet with me."

My gaze settles on every single member of the board, one at a time.

"Again," I drawl.

The unease on their faces grows as fear rises another notch in the room.

My gaze finally settles on him.

"One chance, Elder." An unhumorous smile plays on my lips as I meet my father's gaze.

"Show me what you're capable of tonight. It'll be a shame for old ties to end just like that."

With that, I step back.

Riley calls out, "Meeting dismissed."

"Jude will reach out to the ones shadowing the Director at the gathering."

Walking out of the room, I turn my gaze toward the glass panel, watching the Elder and my father.

My father says something. The Elder answers.

Liars always assume no one is watching.

As I watch them shake hands, something is slipped into the Elder's hand.

My smile widens. So very predictable. What kind of monster would I be to not let them have their fun.

"Is everything ready?" I ask Riley.

"Yes, sir."

"Do not make it obvious."

Riley pauses for a moment. "Which one?"

I turn away from the glass, the smile still on my face.

"Does it really matter?”