When the Family Feuds

CHAPTER 29

The month of June left the rich and famous to find their entertainment in the month that lacked a holiday. A weekend of fun in Miami brought everyone together for an annual Croquet tournament. A scene that once resembled a lavish Quidditch soiree, was now a meet-up with hints of a Polo Ralph Lauren fashion show done Great Gatsby style.

What Jonathan Sr. and Ruth Efron thought was a weekend getaway quickly turned into a work trip. Their clients and friends of clients couldn't seem to keep their noses out of trouble. And Jonathan knew that the information he shared with Robert Livingston about Silas De Luca wasn't a secret he planned to keep hidden. He knew deep down Robert was an opportunist and was somewhere stalking his prey.

There was a notable distance between newly engaged Ariel Efron and Austin Livingston. The pair arrived together but weren't their touchy-feely type as normal. Ariel hadn't fully processed the secret that the man she wanted to marry shared with her. It was as if he was a stranger and the clock with their past time together simply started from zero.

Not far off, Chuck Efron and Rafael Morgan kept their distance from one another. But it was apparent that they kept an eye on one another and watched from afar. The game they played was fun for both of them. Though Rafael attended the party with his dearly beloved wife and children, Chuck knew they would end the night together.

When Jonathan Efron Jr. and Valentina arrived hand-in-hand, they already had their schedule down-packed. Shake a few hands, have one or two small talk conversations, and then they were back out the door. Given the last family meeting, Jonathan Sr. had words for his boys.

Jonathan Sr. contemplated where he failed Shira as a father. "I knew the Dalton boy was trouble from the beginning."

Jonathan Efron Jr. and Chuck looked at one another.

Chuck answered, "What do you want us to do, pop? You can't help who you love."

"Look around, Charles. These are the established gentlemen who your sister should be chasing. Not a barber." Jonathan Sr. deeply sighed. "Your sister is about to make the biggest mistake of her life. And I won't stand for it."

"Then we need to help her," Jonathan Efron Jr. agreed.

Jonathan Sr. replied, "You all better talk to her before I do. Because when I act, the decision I'll make. She'll hate me for sure."

It didn't take long for Robert Livingston to arrive. And when he did, he had one person, in particular, he wanted to chat with over a cigar and a chilled Scotch.

"What's news, Bobby?" Fazi left his family drama back in Boston and hoped to get away from confrontation for a few days.

Robert looked pleased with himself. They were all in business together. He knew that the Freeport bonded the group together for life. But it wasn't enough. He wanted more. "Well as you know Hugo originally asked me to be a silent partner in his Tequila business."

"Oh."

"So naturally, I bought the company." Robert continued. "Now I can continue with the original pitch I gave him. Supply and demand."

Fazi gave him a look. "To be clear, my investment was to Hugo and Hugo alone."

"Yeah, well, rules are meant to be broken," Robert replied. "Of course, you've heard the saying 'what's done in the dark always comes to light'. I recently got very interesting news on your boy, Silas...I mean can you imagine the headlines?" Then he said, "The sins of your son's past have come to haunt, and I'm here to collect."

"Everything comes for a price with you." Fazi sighed. He knew extortion when he saw it. And if anyone would purposefully sabotage Silas' political career before it started, it was the man who envied his father. "What is it that you want in exchange for this information?"

Robert grinned. "I thought you'd never ask."

"Bobby, I know what you want and–"

"--I need someone to add fuel to the fire and back my political career." Robert continued. "You and I are very much alike, Fazi." Before he left he added. "I know you'll do the right thing."

Fazi took what Robert told him and went to find Hugo. Hugo and Benjamin arrived unfashionably late. They were the only two who didn't follow the dress code to the tee.

"What the hell, amigo." Fazi greeted him.

Hugo knew the pushback of his decision would come to his front door sooner or later. "You've talked to Bobby, I see." He added. "I wanted to tell you when the dust settled." Only Hugo knew his grand plan. The One was never his focus. Anyone could make liquor. It was the real estate that had his full attention.

"I've now invested in Robert's business. He's backed me into a corner." Fazi snapped. "Had I known you were selling to that cocksucker I never would've given the loan."

"The goal was always to sell The One to an investor for the right price." Hugo set the record straight. "There's enough money for us all to be legitimate businessmen. I expected you of all people to understand that, amigo." Hugo had a plan. Profits from his first property would fund the next one, and the next one.

"Robert played his hand and now wants me to jump ship with you."

"My hands are tied, what do you want me to do?" Hugo sweetened the deal. "With the profit I made from the sale, I can give you your loan back with interest today, or–"

"It's not about the money, it's about the principal. You shit the bed with this one." Fazi couldn't hold his frustration. "You trust, Bobby, of all people? How do you know he wasn't behind the raid? Robert is a snake who is willing to play any and everyone." he shook his head. "We're all in bed together but you fucked up, amigo."

Hugo didn't have proof that Robert was responsible for the raid. But now he has started to second guess his decision. If Robert orchestrated the raid with hopes of saving the day, it was already too late. Hugo played right into his hand and was at the point of no return.