Killian (Hope City #8) - Kris Michaels Page 0,8
provide the specifics of what will be discussed.” He’d heard the rumors about the man, and he’d stayed clear of the guy simply because he didn’t want to taint his reputation by being seen associating with Davis. If the rumors were correct, he was dirty. He’d watched an electrical contractor go down in flames for offering bribes to someone in City Hall, and although he didn’t remember the particulars of the situation, Davis’ name had been whispered more than once. It was enough to keep the guy at arm’s length.
“According to the Councilman’s note, it is in regard to changes to the zoning of the land that Champion Development has acquired for the Pinnacle Annex at the Harbor.”
Oh, hell no. This wasn’t going to happen. “We have all of our permits and approvals already and have started construction as of today. Tell the good Councilman I’ll be sending the company’s lawyers to the meet with him tomorrow to represent me. What time should they be there?”
The secretary sounded surprised and a bit unsure, but answered, “Ummm… two-thirty?”
“Perfect. I’ll have my lawyers give you their card. If you or the Councilman need to speak to me again, please go through them.” He hung up the phone and fought the urge to pitch the thing as far as he could throw it. This was the first time there had been a veiled threat lobbed by the slimy politician, which put the man in a whole different category of dangerous. But he’d grown up learning how to be strong from one of the toughest businessmen in the city. His father was a hard son of a bitch, but he was a damn good businessman. He’d take a few pages from his old man’s book and put on that armor if he needed to do so. He’d fight fire with fire, and if Davis wanted to play with him, the Councilman would need a fire-retardant suit.
Chapter 3
Killian entered the festivities through the back gate to gather with the rest of the partygoers. He nodded to several of the people he’d met at a backyard barbecue the Kings had hosted when Ryker and Brie were engaged. Seeing Xander, he made a beeline in the man’s direction. He wanted to know what the lawyers had reported back from their meeting with Davis today and Xander hadn’t answered his phone, which was a pain in the ass.
He moved through the crowd as quickly as the greetings and handshakes would let him before he zeroed in on his brother. “What happened?”
“Good evening to you, too, Killian,” Xander drawled.
“Right, hi, how are you, why did you forward your phone, and what the hell happened?”
Xander winced. “Shannon 2.0 has been blowing up my cell, so I turned it off about noon after I forwarded my calls to the switchboard. And to answer your question, nothing happened. Davis suddenly had a conflicting meeting and had to cancel.”
“The bastard. He’s avoiding us.” Killian rolled his shoulders and glanced around.
“I should hope so. It was smart to make him contact us through our lawyers. We’re bulletproof.” Xander lifted his glass of bourbon and took a sip. “Don’t answer his calls, don’t talk to him. We’ll build the Pinnacle, and we’ll move on.”
“And what happens if he interferes?”
Xander chuckled. “I’ll unleash you on him.”
Killian did a double take at his brother. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Killian, even though we are invested in it, this company is your baby. It was your brainchild. Yes, Dimitri and I put up the funds, but you do the research, find the land, locate investors and companies who want to invest in your builds. Nobody is going to take your dream from you. If need be, we’ll call in the old man.”
He snorted and turned his back to the crowd. “Do you think he’d help me?”
Xander’s eyes cut to him. “Yes, he would. In a heartbeat. He treated Ryker like shit. I hate that he did, I do, but he’d bleed for any of us.”
“But not Ryker.”
“We can’t change him.” Xander took another drink.
Killian was about to speak when Hannah King breezed over. “Killian, can I get you something to drink?”
“Thank you, ma’am, I’d love a beer. If you point me in the right direction, I can get it myself.”
Hannah smiled and pointed to where several people were gathered. “The cooler is over there. My husband is manning the bar if you want something stronger.”
“No, thank you. Beer is my drink. I’ve never developed a taste for anything harder.”
She