The Saintwood Series

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

All hell breaks loose

Carrington

I spent time with Gloria even though Joseph recommended against it. Troy kept Christine busy. She tried to call Mason without any luck.

Mason was busy dealing with Charles’s situation. Maggie kicked him out of the mansion, angry with Charles, which sent him running back to Mason’s. With the help of Edward Morgan, Mason killed the arrangement with the Santiagos. That pissed off Luis Santiago, but Edward was good at persuading people to listen.

*****

Mason

“You’ll pay for this,” Luis told me.

“I would advise against idle threats.” Edward sat in a chair, staying calm.

Luis glared at him.

“I’m a reasonable man with business, but I’m not reasonable with finding your family intercepting merchandise intended for me.”

“You won’t always be around, old man.”

“No, but my son will. He’ll conduct the business accordingly. Unlike Mason Jones, I have no issue giving you a dirt nap.” It was a threat from Edward Morgan. You heed warnings from a boss, or you sleep with the fishes. “Conduct your business with the others, but Charles Jones is out since he currently has no viable assets.”

With that final word, Edward stood up and left with me. We walked out to the car, and Edward turned to me. “I have cleared my debt with your father for the many times he saved my ass, and I am no longer indebted to the Jones family. We will conduct business but avoid the Santiagos because they don’t play fair.”

It was a warning.

“Understood. My father would roll over in his grave if he knew the bullshit Charles pulled. This arrangement would ruin the family.”

“Because he craves to play with the big dogs when you should cage him. You’re a smart man, Mason, and I trust you. Your brother has a lot to learn. I’m retiring soon, and Brian will take over the organization. I will remain as a consigliere to my boy. Any business conducted at that point will go through him.”

I nodded as we got into the car and left. It wouldn’t be the last time we dealt with the Santiagos. Our family would have run-ins with them later, and the Morgans would become our greatest allies.

I returned home, entered my house, and confronted Charles. It wasn’t pretty.

“I swear all I was going to do was make enough money, then get out,” Charles said.

“You don’t get it. The Santiagos don’t care. They will take your money, then rat you out and bring the family to its knees. Dad made friends with people along the way. He knew who to trust and who to distrust. He never trusted the Santiagos, and for good reasons. Your faulty business deal is the least of your concerns. I must smooth over the waters with the Cascade family since we’re partners in the casinos. You’ll be fortuitous if she forgives you!”

“Mason?” Someone asked.

I rounded to catch my pregnant wife standing there with a concerned expression. I sauntered over to Luci and kissed her.

“Is everything okay?”

“Everything is fine. I don’t need you to worry. The stress isn’t good for the baby, and it’s a family matter.” I smiled.

Luci smiled, having faith in me. She knew I would handle things, allowing her to relax. It was a promise I kept when we met, unlike our i***t brother, who couldn’t seem to make the right decisions, which included keeping his d**k in his pants.

Someone rang the doorbell, and Luci answered it. Maggie entered the house, and Charles and I paused there.

“I invited Maggie over to fix things. She didn’t want to come, but I insisted. So, fix it.” Luci gestured with her hand.

“Luci,” I replied.

Luci looked at me, then spoke Italian with her spitting afterward.

*****

Carrington

I don’t understand why Italian’s spit, and it’s the same with their food. Leave it to my brother to marry a woman from Italy.

Theresa married a man from Mexico. My family has a fetish for marrying people from another country. She was expecting as well, and both babies were due around the same time. My family wastes no time with getting hitched and popping out kids, except for Charles. The way he’s going, he’ll be lucky to keep his manhood.

*****

Charles

Mason and Luci left Maggie and me alone.

“Maggie, I’m so….”

“Put a sock in it.” Maggie stepped towards me. “You humiliated me, and you’re an i***t. I should divorce you, but I won’t.”

I raised my eyebrows.

“I will conclude that you’re a dumbass. Since you felt sticking your d**k in someone was crucial, you will listen to me. As of now, it finishes you with your so-called friends. You will not associate with any woman besides your sisters, sisters-in-law, and me. I own you if you want to save this marriage, or I will destroy you.”

I furrowed my eyebrows.

“Take it or leave it.”

I accepted the deal, agreeing to Maggie’s terms.

*****

Carrington

So, my brother takes Maggie’s deal, turns around, and makes a deal that would include people he shouldn’t. Did I mention my brother was an i***t?

The arrangement would include innocent people used as a pawn to compensate for a terrible deal and keep the Fraziers at bay. While two friends would benefit from this, one would not, creating hatred and setting up a revenge game.

This arrangement would also blow up in their faces in the end. My brother would drag me into the mess, setting the stage for what’s to come later.

*****

While my brother dealt with Maggie’s terms, Maurice, Frank, and Greg invested the money they shouldn’t have. They thought the arrangement was good, then found out the hard way.

Edward Morgan was correct when he said not to trust the Santiagos. Luis set up the other three to take the dive for Charles, reneging on the deal. Maurice, Frank, and Greg met at the location, not understanding they were dealing with an undercover fed.

Luis made an anonymous call, setting everyone up to take the dive. While the three intercepted the merchandise, the feds busted Greg, Maurice, and Frank for drugs and guns.

Marty Frazier got Maurice out by paying off the district attorney. Greg took a plea deal to avoid jail time, and they left Frank holding the bag. Frank spent two years in prison when Greg rolled over on him, claiming it was Frank's idea. With friends like them, who the hell needs enemies?

Part of Greg’s plea deal was he had to give up his bookie, which caused him to skip town. Maurice owed his brother a profound debt that his drinking became excessive, as did his violent nature. He turned his anger onto his wife.

It would be the catalyst to send Gloria into my arms, along with a visit from Mason. Yeah, Christine reached big brother finally. It wouldn’t end well and would result in deception from both Gloria and me.

Mason called and told Joseph. Joseph informed me. Yeah, so much for secrets with this family.