Page 95 of The Originals

“Nothing more I hate than tardiness,” Sal said, smiling.

Jack pulled out his chair and sat with Mick next to him.

“Really? Out of everything in this fucking world to hate, you choose being late?”

Sal laughed, sharing a look with Inez, who sat two seats down. Unlike Sal, there wasn’t much that amused her. Her dark gaze hardened, looking over him and Mick. She squinted, taking a lingering look at his brother.

“You’re not the VP.” Inez pointed to Mick.

“No, he couldn’t make it, so I’m standing in,” Mick said.

Inez laughed, shaking her head as she drew a cigarette to her lips. “Good, gives me something better to look at.”

Jack muffled his laugh. Inez was a strange character, but she was smart, cunning, and dangerous. Some made the mistake of underestimating her. Jack wasn’t one of those people.

“You know why I called you in, Jack. We’ve got plans to increase transport. Got buyers waiting in line.”

I know.

Sal clasped his hands. “It would mean a lot of money for the club.”

“And risk.”

Sal shrugged. “No great reward comes without risk. You know that.”

It was true. Jack and the club had seen it tenfold with the smaller runs they’d worked for Sal. The jobs Sal was referring to would be a double, possibly triple, payout. Almost too good to resist.Almost.

“And what exactly would we be transporting?”

“Anything we tell you,” Inez snapped, and Sal held up his hand, silencing her. She was a loose cannon and hated to be challenged. Jack was aware they’d been working together for years. It’s how they’d both built such huge empires.

“When we come to an agreement, you’ll have full disclosure on all of the product. I can say we’ve got some buyers interested in mass quantities.”

Drugs.

“Others have morefierytastes and are willing to pay top dollar.”

Guns.

“Anything else?” Jack asked, eyeing Sal and Inez.

Sal cocked his head. “We dabble in a lot of business ventures.”

“No skin.”

People.Even Jack had his limits. That was one he refused to cross.

Sal raised his brows, sharing a look with Inez. She snorted, shaking her head.

“Jack Reilly’s got a conscience?”

Jack ignored Inez, focusing on Sal.

“No. Skin.”

Sal slowly nodded. “I’m always open to negotiation.”

“It’s non-negotiable.” Jack would stand firm.