Bound By Blood (House of Payne #2)

Chapter One

Mason

I stare from the gun to his face and back again. “We both know you’re not going to shoot me.”

Jack points the gun directly at my chest, his cold and cruel smile never wavering. “Let me ask you again, boy, are you willing to die for her? Because I can end you right here and let her watch you bleed out before I take care of her.”

I fold my arms over my chest, and it takes every ounce of self-control I have not to lunge. “You are not going to lay a finger on her.”

A muscle ticks in Jack’s jaw. “I’m the one holding the gun.”

I spread my arms out on either side of me. “And yet here I am. If you wanted to shoot me, you would’ve already, but we both know you’re not going to.”

His expression tightens as he presses his lips together.

“Like it or not, you need me,” I add, in the same even tone of voice. “I’m the head of the Empire, remember?”

“Leaders can be removed.”

I draw myself up to my full height and meet his gaze. “Go ahead then. Do your worst.”

A part of me is wondering just how far I can push him before he cracks, but the other part knows it’s pointless.

My father is many things, but stupid isn’t one of them.

He knows that if he has any hope of winning the war, he needs me.

The bastard is just too proud to admit it.

My father can be cruel and dismissive, and he’s never hesitated to discipline us, but if there’s one thing I know, it’s that he always pulls himself back from the edge when it comes to us.

Even if I can’t understand why.

He’s never been the warm or fuzzy type, and he still thinks he’s God’s gift to man, but you know he’s more of a bully than anything.

Jack blinks, and his smile shifts and changes. In one quick move, he steps to the side and points the weapon at London. “There is more than one way to hurt you.”

Anger, hot and potent, erupts within me. “You are not going to shoot her.”

Jack laughs, and it sends another chill through me. “Or what, boy? Have I taught you nothing? Never make a statement you can’t fully back.”

He moves again and before I know what I’m doing, I react and knock the gun out of his hand.

Jack barely has a chance to register his surprise before I throw myself at his middle.

I throw him against the nearest wall, but my victory is short lived when a flash of silver catches my eye, and I jump backward.

A thin red welt forms on my arm and blood drips on the floor beneath me. “I see you brought a knife to a gun fight.”

Jack straightens his back and levels me with a look. “A Payne always comes prepared.”

I glance from London to the gun and back again. Slowly, I turn my attention back to my father. Out of the corner of my eye, I see her dive for it, her fingers trembling. “I couldn’t agree more.”

Jack holds the knife up to the light and makes a low humming sound. “What a disappointment you’ve turned out to be. All those years of teaching…such a waste.”

I spread my legs hip width apart and wait for him to strike.

He continues to circle me, his gaze occasionally darting over to London. “It is a shame to have to make her pay. Such a pretty face. Perhaps I’ll put her to work in the club when we’re done. With a body like that, our clients will pay good money.”

“Your fight is with me.”

Jack chuckles again and swings his gaze back to mine. “You stupid, ridiculous boy. What’s the first thing I told you about teaching a man a lesson?”

“Take away everything he loves and then make him bleed,” I reply, without thinking.

He stops moving and stares straight at me, his expression turning blank.

For a long moment, neither of us says anything, and I try not to twist to face London, even though I’m aware of her every breath and move.

Come on, you bastard. Do something already.

Abruptly, he lunges, and I intercept him with a quick swipe.

He darts sideways to avoid it, and I throw a punch in, making him lose his footing.

He growls and bares his teeth at me. Then I shove London back, and the two of us collide.

Pain erupts behind my eyelids when he aims for the jaw and clips the side of my head.

I blink back the tears and dive for his stomach, knocking him onto his back.

He uses his legs to hold me in a headlock, and I buck against him.

Fear and fury pump their way through me in equal measure.

When I head butt him, he drops the knife and rolls away. I stand back up, adrenaline coursing through every inch of me, and offer him a grim smile. “We both know this only ends one way.”

Jack straightens his back again, and there’s cool calculation in his eyes.

I kick the knife away and curl my hands into fists. “Let’s settle this the old fashioned way.”

He looks from the knife to my face and back again. Finally, he straightens his back and gives me a cold and cruel smile. “No.”

I frown. “What?”

Jack’s expression is one of cold fury when he draws himself up to his full height and smiles. “You will be brought to heel, boy, one way or another.”

Without waiting for a response, he spins on his heels and leaves.

I hold my breath for a few moments longer and stare at the space he occupied.

When London releases a shaky breath, I exhale and cross over to the door.

After locking it, I twist to face her, and London is leaning against the wall, the gun held away from her.

As soon as she feels my eyes on her, she throws the gun away, and the cover falls into a heap on the floor.

She’s still shaking when I take her into my arms. “What the hell was that?”

I draw back to look at her, and my eyes sweep over her. “We’re fine. It’s okay.”

London licks her lips and rubs her hands up and down her arms. “Was that your father?”

I pause and nod, slowly. “Yes.”

She runs a hand over her face. “He’s going to kill us.”

I take her hand and lead her back to the bed. After making sure she sits down, I bend down to retrieve her clothes and hand them to her. “He’s not going to kill us because he needs us.”

London pulls on her shirt first, and her eyes are still wide when she looks at me. “He needs you. He doesn’t need me.”

“I need you,” I reply, a little harsher than I intend. “And he knows that if he makes a move against you, there will be hell to pay.”

“Mason—”

“My father likes to play mind games,” I interrupt, pausing to help her wriggle into the sweatpants. “He likes making people wonder what he’s going to do next. His bark is worse than his bite.”

Or at least that’s what I keep telling myself as I wait for London to get dressed and splash some water on her face.

He’s not going to make a move against his own son, not with everything else happening.

Still, there’s a part of me that can’t help but wonder.

How far is he willing to go to prove a point?

And what kind of punishment is waiting for me at the end of it all?

My chest tightens when London slips a hand through mine. I tuck her into my side and use my free hand to press two fingers against my temples. Slowly, she draws back to look at me, but I don’t turn to face her. Instead, I step away and turn to the window.

“Fucking Mathew.” I pause to drum my fingers against my thigh. My free hand clenches into a fist as I force myself to inhale. “He must’ve told him what happened.”

As I exhale, I glance at London through the glass. She’s gathered her hair into a bun on top of her head, and although she keeps stopping to sneak glances at me, I know she won’t say anything else.

What else can she say?

I’m surprised she hasn’t already run for the hills.

Half of me is tempted to join her.

Especially when I’ve just made things worse.

It’s one thing to have my enemies gunning for her.

My father, on the other hand, likes to toy with people, relishing in dragging out their pain, and I have no doubt he wants to do the same with me.

Being his son and heir won’t spare me from his wrath; if anything it’ll make it worse.

I want to blame London for not being able to walk away when she had the chance, but I know it’s more my fault than hers.

I should’ve known better.

I know how dangerous and volatile my world is, but I still let her get sucked in.

Fucking hell.

You better know what the hell you’re doing because after what you just pulled with your father, he is going to do more than punish you.

I can imagine him pacing and fuming in the office downstairs, already picturing the many ways he’ll make an example of me.

I can’t blame him.

Even on his best day, Jack Payne isn’t known as the forgiving kind, and having to haul ass down here to clean up a mess he told me to take care of must’ve put him in an even worse mood. I consider blaming my brother for not keeping his mouth shut, but I know it won’t solve anything.

Not entirely, anyway.

The question isn’t who told him, but who will fall in line out of loyalty to me?

I scowl. “I know you’re worried about your father and Noah. I’ll see if I can send someone to check on them.”

Even though I hate the thought of having anything to do with her ex. As far as I’m concerned, the little shit is better off in her rearview mirror, but I know London won’t turn her back on him.

Not when she feels responsible for getting him and her father tied up to lure her away.

London was the one who was kidnapped and starved, but she still feels responsible.

How long do you think it will take her to blame you for the mess they’re all in? You didn’t make her fall in love with you, but you didn’t stop her, even when you knew what it would cost her.

London hides her trembling fingers behind her back and stands straighter. “I thought you didn’t have anyone to spare? Because of what happened, I mean.”

I stand up, and my fingers move to the buttons on my shirt. “I don’t. Not full-time, at least. They’re going to have to look out for themselves, but I can have someone check in.”

London swallows. “Your dad. He…”

“Is a real piece of fucking work,” I finish. “Mathew is nothing compared to him. Try to avoid him while he’s here.”