Chapter 526

Arthur waited until the next day, when he went into the office before he let his emotions and how it hurt him really show. When he met with Casey in their board room, when all the people who were part of the Clan were outside training and they were secure, he let a little of the rage bubble up.

“They threatened my sister,” Arthur said, softly.

“I know.” Casey grimaced. “They caught her while she was out with her friends, distracted our watchers and had the conversation before our people could get back.”

“How?”

Casey raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean, how? Our people – the Clan – aren’t bodyguards. We aren’t trained to keep people safe, not like this.”

“Can’t we hire people?”

“We have. For your mother.” Casey sighed. “We thought it was safer with your sister, didn’t think they’d talk to her directly like that. She also can protect herself better if things go wrong.” A hand rose, cutting Arthur off before he could keep talking. “I can’t find anymore. Or afford anymore. We have some options coming from overseas but they’re not exactly trustworthy.”

Arthur grunted, understanding what she meant. Not that they technically believed whoever they hired might be traitorous, but just that they did not know them. Dangerous game to play, hiring unknowns to take care of your loved ones.

He wondered how the really rich people did it, then realised that he knew. Or, well, knew from what the various bad TV shows he’d watched showed – either use family members in an extended scenario or watch people over a long period of time. Or, sometimes, just make sure that you’re hiring form a reputable source, which he assumed was Casey’s case.

“I get it. But what are we going to do about them?” Arthur said, meaningfully. “And was it the TG Group themselves or…?”

“Their gang affiliates?” Casey filled in. “This case, one of their VPs in an affiliated company. Nothing to tie the group back directly, but everyone knows it’s part of theirs.”

“How big is it?”

“The affiliated company?” At his nod, she shrugged. “A dozen people or so.. They’re ‘consultants’.”

“All of them like this?” Arthur said.

“Why are you asking, Arthur?” When he was silent, she insisted. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking that we’ve been quiet too long. If they want to threaten my people, I’ll explain to them why that’s a bad idea.”

Casey lips pursed. “We’ve already had such discussions. We’ve pushed back against their gangs, even had meetings with their people to explain why intimidation tactics like that aren’t acceptable.”

“Has it done any good?” Her silence was answer enough. “You know, one of the things I’ve always hated when I was poor? How the people at the top, the ones who make such decisions think they’re untouchable. Acting as though, just because they didn’t actually get their hands dirty, that they aren’t just as culpable. More so.”

“What you’re talking about…” Casey eyes narrowed. “You can’t…”

Arthur considered, looking around the empty room. He dropped his voice as he replied. “I can. No different than what I’ve done in the Tower.”

His voice was cold, his mind blazing hot. That was the thing about being a Climber, that changed one. Violence – long considered impossible by others – became an option. It was dangerous to consider violence as the only option, of course. It was why they had been trying all the other various ways of pressuring their opponents, of pushing them back.

“Arthur…” She licked her lips. “You can’t kill them. They’ve not escalated it to that point. If you do…”

“They’ll come after us?”

Casey nodded. “And they’ve got more bodyguards, more protectors than we do.” She licked her lips, added. “The Chin’s…we’re not ready to go that far. We won’t. If you push like that…”

“Fine.” Arthur sighed. He knew they were still relying on the Chin’s for a lot of their support and influence. If they lost the Chin’s, the Clan would be in trouble. Same with the government’s support, though he figured he could keep it deniable for now. The MacKenzie’s might be willing to stick around, but their support was in funds and investments for the most part. None of their people whould – could – support them in the same way. “We still can’t let this stand.”

“So what do you want to do about it?” She raised a finger, pointed it at Arthur. “Knowing that everything that you do is being watched.”

Arthur’s lips pursed, as he considered possible actions. She was right, even if his temper had driven him to raise a possibility that he should not have brought forth. Not until he was ready to commit. The half-hearted support of the Chin’s, their unwillingness to truly commit was going to be a problem. One that time and money would fix, but till then; he had to be careful about pushing his allies.

On the other hand, he was not going to let this go. Letting themselves get pushed without pushing back was just a way for bullies to do whatever they wanted; and the TG Group were definitely in the bully category.

“Uswah and my seniors…” Arthur said, suddenly. Recalling what he had asked them to look into, to build out.

“We haven’t used them yet. I don’t want to, either.” When he pouted, she added. “They’re our blades in the dark. When things get bloody, we’ll need them. If we let TG group know we have been planning for such things, they’ll take precautions.”

“Damn it…”

“We could ask Uswah herself… but… she’s too subtle. If you want to make sure it’s a clear message…” She hesitated, pursed her lips and then nodded to herself after a moment. “Yao Jing. Send him and Jan. They can beat up the manager, break a few bones. It won’t be considered too much, and it’ll make your point.”

Arthur nodded slowly, then raised a finger. “You said they’re a small group?”

“Yeah, mostly managers. A couple of secretaries.”

“Then they deal with all of them.” At Casey’s raised eyebrow, he added. “Even the women, yes. They can go a little easier, but their sex is not going to be a shield. Can’t be.”

“Fine. I’ll tell them.” When Arthur opened his mouth to protest, she added. “You can’t talk to them or deal with them directly. Stay in the building, do your things. They’re supposed to be on vacation anyway for the next week. So, keep quiet and away and we’ll deal with it.” She exhaled., fixed him with a steely gaze. “You take a break, get the paperwork needed done and let us deal with the dirty work. Get ready for your next Tower and help strengthen us..”