Captivated Desires

54

A month later, Reign sat across from Antonio Moralez, a well-known and powerful figure in the criminal underworld with a charming smile on his lips. "Pleasure doing business with you, Antonio," he said, pouring himself and the other man a glass of expensive whiskey. "As always."

Antonio nodded, taking the offered glass of liquor. "Likewise, my friend," he replied with a smile, his dark eyes studying Reign intently. "Your empire continues to grow, I see."

"Only as powerful as my associates," Reign demurred, taking a slow sip of his drink. "You and your family are some of my most loyal, most important partners."

Antonio nodded in agreement, raising his glass in a silent toast before taking a drink. "Our relationship has been incredibly fruitful for both sides," he said, his tone almost admiring. "Why change something that's working so well?"

"Exactly," Reign agreed, setting down his glass. "And that's why I want to talk about expanding our reach, specifically into your territory here in Asia."

Antonio raised an eyebrow at that, clearly intrigued by the suggestion. "Oh, really?" he said, leaning back in his chair. "And how do you propose we go about that?"

"A joint venture," Reign explained, leaning forward in his seat with a subtle intensity. "Pooling our resources and manpower, we can easily overtake the smaller players in this territory and secure ourselves a larger chunk of the profit."

Antonio seemed to consider the proposal. "It's a bold move," he mused, his gaze sharpening. "But I've always known you to be a risk-taker, Reign."

"Not a risk if it's calculated correctly," Reign countered, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "And we both know I'm good at playing the odds in my favour."

Antonio chuckled at that, a rare show of genuine humour. "That you are," he agreed, taking a long swallow of his drink. "Alright, let's say I'm interested. How do you propose we make this happen?"

Reign leaned back in his chair, a smug smirk on his face. "I've already got a few ideas," he said, his mind already going through the logistics. "But it'll take some finesse and careful planning. I trust you're up for the challenge, Antonio?"

Antonio let out a bark of laughter, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "When have I ever backed down from a challenge?" he asked, his voice filled with confidence. "You know I'm in."

"Excellent," Reign said, his excitement evident in his voice. "I'll have my people get in touch with yours to start working out the details. This partnership is going to be the start of something big, Antonio."

"I do not doubt that," Antonio said, raising his glass in another silent toast. "To the start of a very profitable partnership."

"To a partnership that will shape the future," Reign agreed, clinking his glass against Antonio's before taking a drink. The wheels were already turning in his mind, his plans for expansion taking shape in his thoughts.

Antonio drained the rest of his glass and set it down on the table with a sigh. "As much as I'd like to continue our conversation, I have another matter to attend to," he said, standing up from his seat. "I'll expect to hear from you soon with those details, Reign."

As they walked out of Antonio's office, Azar fell into step beside Reign, his expression serious. "That seemed to go well," he said quietly.

Reign nodded, his eyes fixed forward as he walked. "Antonio's a smart man," he replied. "He can recognize a good deal when he sees one. This partnership is going to be a big opportunity for us."

"But it won't be easy," Azar pointed out. "We're treading into his territory, his territory that he's controlled for years. You think he's just going to let us waltz in and do what we want?"

Reign chuckled. "Of course not," he said, his tone confident. "He's not an idiot, nor am I. We'll need to plan meticulously and be prepared for resistance every step of the way. We'll be walking into shark-infested waters, but the payout will be worth it."

Azar nodded, his expression serious. "I just hope you know what you're doing," he said bluntly. "Expanding into another family's territory isn't a game, Reign. We could start a gang war."

"And that's a risk I'm willing to take," Reign replied, his voice firm. "We can't let fear hold us back, Azar. We have to be willing to make big moves if we want to stay on top. And the potential reward here is massive."

Azar remained silent, contemplating Reign's words. Despite his scepticism, he couldn't deny the potential benefits. "Just make sure we're not biting off more than we can chew," he finally responded.

"I know my limits, Azar," Reign said, his tone a touch defensive. "I've never led us astray before, have I? Trust me on this one. I have a good feeling about this partnership with Antonio."

Azar simply nodded, choosing to keep his doubts to himself. "You're the boss," he relented, though the scepticism was still evident in his tone. "But if things start to go south, I'm holding you personally responsible."

"Fair enough," Reign said with a shrug, a hint of a smirk on his lips. "Just remember, Azar, that sometimes taking risks is the only way to truly succeed in this game. You can't win big if you don't bet big."

Azar grumbled under his breath, clearly not satisfied but knowing better than to argue. The two men continued walking in silence, each lost in their thoughts about the risky path they were about to embark on.

As they reached the car, Reign turned to Azar, his gaze serious. "Keep your ears and eyes open," he said quietly. "Antonio's people are going to be watching us closely now. I want to know about any potential threats or problems before they even become an issue. Understood?"

Azar gave a curt nod, his expression sober now. "Understood," he said. "I'll keep tabs on Antonio and his people. Just don't get us all killed in the process, alright?"

Reign chuckled at that. "I'll do my best," he said, a hint of dry humour in his voice. "But you know me, Azar. I like to play with fire."