Chapter 44 THE NEGOTIATION
The room was dim except for the glow of a red tracker pulsing on the screen. Anton leaned forward, his large hands braced on the table as the tech specialist finished speaking.
“That’s it,” the man said. “This red point is your guy. He hasn’t moved for the last forty minutes.”
“Where is it?” Julian asked, staring at the screen.
The tech guy leaned back. “A strip club. Off the outskirts.”
Anton huffed. “Of course it is. Henry never changes.”
Julian’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing as he turned and walked out. Anton followed.
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The convoy rolled to a stop outside a neon-lit building shaped like a pair of boobs. Music throbbed through its walls. Women in glittering outfits draped themselves around customers coming and going. And right in the center of the chaotic warmth sat Henry; the eye of a dangerous storm.
He reclined on a leather booth like a king on a drunk throne, three strippers clinging to him as if ordered to. The moment his eyes lifted and found Julian, the lazy smirk formed on his lips; slow and poisonous.
“Well,” Henry drawled, brushing a stripper’s hand off his chest, “if it isn’t the prodigal disappointment.”
Julian didn’t waste time with greetings.
Henry chuckled, stood, lit a fat cigarette with a practiced flick of his thumb, and walked toward him. “Come,” he said, gesturing with the cigarette. “Let’s not traumatize the girls with our family dysfunction.”
They moved toward a quieter corridor lined with private rooms. Music thumped faintly behind closed doors, but the shadows here were deeper and thicker, absolutely perfect for men whose conversations weren’t meant for the normal world.
Henry blew out smoke and studied Julian with a mock fatherly squint. “You’ve grown.”
“Not enough for you to keep your hands off my life,” Julian replied.
Henry grinned. “You think I’m behind every shadow you see? I’m flattered.”
Julian’s voice dropped, smooth and lethal. “You took an innocent boy that has nothing to do with your nonsense.”
“Borrowed not took.” Henry corrected. “In war, everyone becomes a pawn. And as far as I’m concerned, your little fantasy of owning a pet”—he tapped ash to the floor—“is the reason this game is getting messy.”
Julian didn’t move. “You’re going to return him.”
Henry laughed. “Just like that? You walk in, demand, and I obey?” He leaned closer, eyes sharp with malice. “You really have forgotten your place.”
Julian’s expression didn’t shift. “No. I simply outgrew the one you tried to bury me in.”
For a moment, Henry’s amusement cracked.
Julian continued calmly, “Hand over the boy. Or I will start breaking down your operations one by one until your empire breathes through a ventilator.”
Henry’s smile came back, thin and unpleasant. “Is that a threat?”
“Statement,” Julian corrected. “Threats require emotion.”
Anton finally spoke from behind Julian, voice deep and cold. “He’s not bluffing, Henry. He’ll gut your empire like a fish.”
Henry flicked his cigarette to the floor and crushed it under his heel. “You always kept wolves around you, Julian.” His gaze slid to Anton. “This one thinks he’s dangerous. Cute.”
Julian folded his arms. “I didn’t come to posture. The boy. Now.”
Henry clicked his tongue. “Everything with you is so… businesslike. You’ve lost your charm.” He pulled out his phone. “Fine. Let me call.”
He dialed, waited two seconds, then said, “Bring him.”
He hung up and gave Julian a long, assessing look.
“Why don’t we go further, Julian?” Henry asked quietly. “You and I. Let’s end this pointless feud. Set aside our differences. Let my son go.”
Julian raised a brow. “You seem to forget something.”
“What?”
“I’m your son’s husband.”
Henry’s smile vanished. “That marriage is not valid.”
“It is to the law.”
“But not to me.” Henry’s voice sharpened like a blade. “I know why you did it. Retribution. Punishment. You want to humiliate me through Eli. But my son is not a faggot—”
Julian moved before the word finished leaving Henry’s mouth. His fingers wrapped around Henry’s throat and slammed him backwards into the wall.
Anton didn’t interfere. He actually looked entertained.
Henry wheezed, not from fear— he did not possess that— but from fury.
Julian leaned in. “Say that word around me again. See what happens.”
Henry’s lip curled. “What do you gain from doing this?”
Julian tightened his grip another fraction. “You wonder what I gain? Let’s make it simple. I gain a cute little personal slut I can fuck any way I want, anywhere I want.”
Henry lunged forward in a blind punch. Julian caught his wrist effortlessly.
The smirk Julian gave him was cruel and slow.
“I could kill you right now,” Julian whispered. “But where’s the fun in that? I’d rather fuck your son senseless and send you a picture of his loose, swollen hole. You like doing nasty things to people. Why so offended when someone does them to your blood?”
The silence that followed was so thick it hummed.
Henry’s face twisted with genuine hatred. “I should have killed you then.”
Julian released him with a shove. “Yes,” he said softly. “You really should have. But don’t regret it on my behalf, father in-law. Sit tight. Watch me do to your son what you did to me.”
Henry was about to spit something vile when two men dragged a blindfolded, trembling boy into the hallway and shoved him forward.
Julian caught him before he hit the floor. He didn’t spare Henry another glance. “Our deal is done.”
Julian turned and carried the boy out, Anton walking behind them like a silent wall.
Outside, Julian placed the boy gently in the back seat of the car, removed his blindfold, and softened his voice in a way he rarely used.
“You’re safe,” Julian said. “Don’t worry. You were taken by mistake. You were mistaken for someone else.”
The boy blinked rapidly, breathing uneven. “Why… why would you help me?”
Julian closed the door carefully. “Because a friend of yours saw you getting kidnapped and asked me to help you.”
He didn’t say Eli’s name.
The car, with the boy inside, drove away.
Julian got in his own car. Anton settled on the passenger seat beside Julian, leaving the strip club glowing behind them.
Anton exhaled as they merged onto the main road. “So that went well.”
Julian stared straight ahead. “Henry is a coward. I know he'd do pull more strings.”
“Then we’ll respond accordingly?”
Julian nodded once. “Strategically. Without mercy.”
Anton smirked. “Eli’s not going to like what comes next.”
Julian’s jaw hardened. “He doesn’t have to like it. He just has to survive it.”