“I’ll bite,” she says. “Who is it?”
“Landon Stark is sitting over there, ready to back me up.” It might not be the entire truth, but she has to believe it for this to work. “Joseph Franks is dead, and that man will be running the Seattle outfit soon enough. Crossing him would be a very bad idea, but supporting him—that works out for both of us.”
“Franks is dead?”
I nod, and Janna goes pale.
“What is it you’re suggesting?”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, relieved that she didn’t just get up and leave.
“Let’s face it, Janna, our families have been at war for generations, and for what? Cascade Falls? Seriously? The only beef we have with each other is that our ancestors hated one another. We don’t have to continue that.”
“And your solution is for my family to up and leave? Is that it?”
“More than that,” I say, looking directly at her again. “Stark needs support and numbers. You and Jay would be a lot better off if you positioned yourselves at his side while the transition takes place. By the time the dust has settled, you’ll be in a much better position than you are now. Not only will you avoid the petty squabbles over resources in Cascade Falls, but you’ll be protected by one of the top three organizations in the country.”
I can practically see the wheels turning in her head. I let her take a minute to think about it, and she finally looks back at me.
“Stark is really willing to do this?”
“He’s open to the discussion. You’re going to have to prove yourselves.”
“Why?” she asks, her voice now full of suspicion. “Why would you do this? Why would you get us out of town just to put us in a position with more power?”
“Because I am making some serious life changes.”
“Really?” She stares at me, clearly still skeptical. “What’s your role in all of this?”
“Consider the facilitation of this agreement to be my final act. Cherry and I will be leaving all of this behind.”
“You’re getting out of the business?”
“Yes.”
“Then why wouldn’t I just stay here and take over the Orso operation?”
“Because you’d still have to deal with Antony, and you’d still have to get through Threes. And just to be very clear, if you were to come after my family—and they are my family—once I’m gone, I will be back, and there won’t be anyone left alive when I’m through.”
Janna looks off into the distance, her eyes focused on nothing. I don’t want her to hesitate, so I keep pushing.
“I’m giving you the perfect opportunity here, dear sister. You and Jay take your people and leave with Stark. You stay with him—learn from him—and when he retakes the Seattle throne, you’ll be right there by his side. You’ll have far more opportunities in your future than you’d have staying here, and you know it. You play your cards right, and you could find yourself at the top of the West Coast within a few years.”
Janna glances at the car once more before turning back to me.
“I have to discuss it with Jay.”
“Jay is going to do whatever you tell him to do. Don’t try to delay this, or you’re going to lose the option.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It’s just a fact. Stark will be leaving town in a matter of hours.”
“Jesus, Nate.” Janna huffs out a breath. “You really should give me a little time to think about it.”
“No time. You have to decide.”
She licks her lips, looks at the car again, and nods.
“All right,” she says. “We’ll talk to Stark.”
“And convince him you’ll be an asset.”
“Oh, so now it’s an interview?” She glares at me.
“Call it whatever you like, but he doesn’t know you. You’re going to have to make an impression. I know you can do that. Once you pledge your loyalty, you and Jay liquidate all your business here and leave town.”
“What about the rest of my guys?”
“Take them with you. The Orsos don’t want them, and Stark needs the numbers.”
“Needs them?”
“This benefits him too. You know there will be conflict when he moves to take over Franks’s operation.”
“Putting us in danger,” Janna says quietly.
“There is always danger in this life.”
Janna looks from me to the car and back again. She lets out a long breath.
“Fine,” she says. “I’ll do it. I’ll talk to Stark.”
I lead Janna over to the car, and she gets in the back seat with Stark. I assume their conversation will take a while, and I plan on taking a nice, long walk, but only a few minutes later, Antony is approaching me.
“It’s all settled,” he says. “Stark is leaving with Janna, and they’re all heading out of the country tonight.”
“Did this really work?” I ask, hardly able to believe it.
“It did, boss.” Antony places his hand on my shoulder. “You did it.”
I’m in a daze as we head back to the house. Cherry is out front when we arrive, waiting for me.
“How did it go?” she asks.
I reach out and pull her close to me, pressing my lips against hers. I kiss her softly before she pulls away, demanding I answer her question.
“I think after all this time, everything is finally coming together for us.”
“She took his offer?”
“It all went perfectly. They’ll be out of town tonight. I think we have seen the last of the Ramsay family.”
“So no more feud?”
“No more feud.”
Cherry hugs me, but it’s not enough. I kiss her again, letting myself get lost in the feeling of her lips and tongue. We don’t break apart until Nora yells at us to stop making a spectacle and come inside to look at flower arrangements.
“Now what?”
