Page 7 of Jake

He nodded. “I would if she weren’t so valuable to our business, but I’m afraid it will be impossible to avoid being on the receiving end of her temper.” Alex pleaded with his eyes. “Could you speak with her? Explain that you wouldn’t have allowed her to accompany us because of the danger?”

I held my hands up in surrender. “Hell, no. She’d have my balls served on a platter. I want us to marry in the near future and need to be alive to do so. Have you already forgotten that I was on the receiving end of her anger once before, resulting in me spending three days in bed? Sorry, Alex, but you’re on your own in this one.”

The Don sighed. “I have survived her temper for this long, hopefully, I’ll weather the storm that is awaiting my return this time.”

I patted his shoulder. “We’ll ensure you have a decent burial.”

He pierced me with a look that could have melted the polar ice cap and set me off laughing again.

“Seriously, Connor, tell me what you know about what has happened.”

I turned to my father. “Join us at the back of the plane?”

Father stood, and once he’d cleared his seat, Mala moved from his seat across the aisle and took his place to comfort my mother. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, which had Mother leaning into his chest. Both Waigi and Mala had spent time with Mother during her many visits to PNG and they had developed a warm friendship.

We strode to a private room at the rear of the plane, with Quinn and Waigi following. Once we were inside, I closed the door and poured us all a drink before we gathered around the table.

“Jake was dropped off in Rabaul by Logan and Daly yesterday morning just after eight. The plane left immediately to return, and I received the call about Jake not long after it had landed back in Popondetta. It was a little after one in the afternoon.”

“Why was he alone? Do you not have men accompany you when you do business?”

This was one of the fuck ups I was struggling to get past. I knew. I knew Jake shouldn’t have gone alone. Yet I acquiesced to his demand that I allow him to do so because of his claim the men would be needed back at the compound since we were harvesting. If Jake died because of my stupidity, I would never forgive myself.

“Jake has been doing business with Herias Nobilumo for over twelve years. He pretty much knows everyone on the island, and his contacts have always been solid, so when he insisted he go alone, even though he was meeting new contacts, I agreed. He’s been doing business in Rabaul on his own for more than a decade. I expected the men he dealt with would have his back.”

“Obviously, his contacts weren’t as solid as you both believed.”

Ouch. Don Bonello definitely wasn’t one for platitudes or false sympathy.

“This wasn’t someone Jake knew.”

I was surprised by Father’s statement, as was everyone else in the room.

“Why do you say that, Father?”

“As you said, Jake’s contacts have been solid for more than a decade and they have never endangered him before now.” He shook his head. “No, I believe someone has moved into the territory, and this is their way of telling us to piss off.”

I thought about what Father said, and it made sense, but something didn’t quite fall into place. “Why, now? Why haven’t we known about someone else before now? It would have taken them at least two years to establish their compound and plant their first harvest. Surely someone would have noticed something and told Jake?”

“Whoever it is, son, has a great deal of power. They must have offered the authorities and Jake’s contacts a lot of money to keep quiet.”

Alex nodded in agreement. “I agree with Andreas, everything points to this being a new business. Someone powerful and extremely dangerous.”

“What’s your plan, son?”

“When we land at the airstrip, I want the men armed and ready to move. Quinn, Logan, Mala, Waigi and I will lead them out. Nobilumo will no doubt be there to meet us and he’ll be accompanied by some of his men. If he is a threat, we’ll know within a few minutes. Hopefully, he’ll take note of the firepower we have and reconsider if he is involved, or it could turn into one hell of a fucking bloodbath. I’d like both of you, Mother, and Doctor Vincent to stay onboard with Daly, who can fly you out at the first sign of trouble.”

Both of the senior dons shook their heads. I’d had a feeling they wouldn’t go along with my plan. It was Father who spoke for both of them.

“Jake is my son, and I will leave the aircraft first with Don Bonello alongside me…”

I started protesting, but the glare I received had me slamming my mouth shut.

“We are two respected, senior dons. No one, not even the most stupid of idiotas, would make a move against two such powerful men. One… maybe, but not two. They know it would start a war they could not win.” My father made a good point.

“Very well, but Mother stays on board with the doctor and Daly,” I insisted.

Father nodded his agreement. “Wish me luck with convincing her to do so, but I agree, it will be far too dangerous to have your mother out there until we know what is happening.”