Chapter One #2
London’s hands clench into fists. “I can’t hide from everyone, Mason. And how am I supposed to stay out of his way if we’re staying under the same roof?”
Damn it.
Why does she have to be right?
Sending her away is the better option, but now that she’s involved, I know my father won’t leave her alone.
There’s no corner on Earth she’ll be safe in.
At least at the estate, I can keep an eye on her.
And do what? Play babysitter and ignore your responsibilities? Don’t you think you’ve done enough damage? It’s not too late to take this back. You can always claim she tricked you, and you found out she was working for your enemies.
I take one look at London’s face and know I can’t do that to her.
Condemning her by getting involved with her is one thing.
Marking her as a traitor is another, and as bad as my father is reacting now, throwing London under the bus to save myself and the empire is another.
You could set something up. Make it look like you punished her. Katia could help you come up with a fake ID and make sure she’s settled somewhere far, far away.
It’s a noble thing to do, but I can’t bring myself to do it for the life of me.
Not even to make things easier.
Now that London has unlocked something in me I didn’t even know existed, I can’t shove it back in.
I won’t.
Not even if it costs me everything I’ve worked hard to build.
I blink, and London is standing in front of me. Her expression is soft and open as she reaches for my hand. She laces her fingers through mine, and I pull her closer, the smell of her floral perfume intermingling with what we were doing, unfurling something in me.
I shouldn’t be thinking that I can smell myself on her, or how it makes my blood turn molten.
There are a lot of things I shouldn’t be doing when it comes to London.
When she wraps her arms around me, I’m startled to realize I can’t remember the last time I’ve hugged someone. London’s body melts against mine as she places her head in the crook of my neck. I squeeze my eyes shut and thread a hand through her hair to cup the back of her neck.
We stand there for the longest time, the air between us thick with emotion, everything building up within me.
You were right, Mom. Love does change everything.
With a frown, I pull away and cup her face in my hands. As London lifts her eyes to mine, I exhale. “You can still walk away.”
London searches my face. “We already talked about this.”
“That was before my father came. London, he… Mathew is a fucking saint next to him. My brother, he likes to gloat and rub it in your face. My father is a lot more… subtle in his approach, and he is meticulous.”
London squeezes my hand, and her expression doesn’t falter. “I can handle myself, and I’ll be careful like you said.”
The door to the room flies open, startling London. She glances over my shoulder, and I can tell by the tightening around her eyes that it’s nothing good. Slowly, I shift, so London is half-shielded behind me.
Mathew lingers in the doorway, a bored expression on his face “Why is she still here?”
I release London’s hand. “I should’ve known you’d try to have someone else clean up your mess.”
He chuckles. “I’m giving you a chance to make this right. You know what our father is like, but I can convince him that even the best have lapses in judgment. For the right price of course.”
I level my brother with a withering look. “Fuck off.”
Mathew pushes himself off the wall, a smirk hovering on the edge of his lips.
“I know she has her hooks in you, so I’m only going to say this once.
Don’t be stupid. For all we know, she could be working for the enemy.
They probably sent her to stir up trouble and cause you to lose focus.
I wouldn’t say it’s your fault, not really. Everyone knows you have a type.”
I shoot my brother the dirtiest look I can muster and envision myself slamming him against the nearest wall.
It’s not enough to quiet the roar in my ears.
Fucking weasel.
How far is he willing to go to get rid of me?
“As usual, you’ve proven that all you’re good for us is lurking in the shadows and eavesdropping,” I tell Mathew, my voice as hard as steel. “This doesn’t concern you.”
Mathew’s grin grows, sending another wave of anger through me. “Anything to do with the family concerns me, brother.”
I take a step in his direction, and satisfaction courses through me when I see Mathew’s smug look falter.
He knows he can’t take me without help.
“If you take one more step, you’ll regret it.”
Mathew’s smile vanishes. “Fine. You have only yourself to blame for what comes next. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Then, he slinks off. Before he disappears, he tosses London a suggestive look, and a growl falls from my lips before I can stop it.
Once he’s gone, I run a hand over my face and give London a quick look.
She doesn’t say anything when I unlace our fingers and leave the room.
Katia appears as I leave, and a quick look passes between us before I round the corner and disappear.
My father has his back turned to me when I find him in the study.
He takes a sip of his drink, and I let the door click shut behind me and wait.
Taking care of betrayal, I can handle.
Storming an enemy warehouse, I know how to navigate.
Jack Payne is neither of those things.
He is something far worse, and I know that despite stepping back to allow me to run the empire, there’s a reason our enemies still fear and respect him.
It’s the same lethal calm he’s turning on me now, and every alarm bell in my head is blaring.
What did you think was going to happen? Did you think he was going to welcome her into the family with open arms? Get a fucking grip, Mason. You know there’s no way this ends well.
Silence settles over us.
After a long pause, he finally twists to face me, and I know the look on his face.
It’s the one I used to bend over backward to avoid when I was little. The same one that reduces our enemies into blubbering messes.
I can’t let him see how much she means to me, or he’ll end us both.
Jack looks down at my arm and back up at my face. “It would be a pity to have to teach you a lesson, but it seems it’s necessary. You’ve forgotten yourself.”
I clench my hands into fists. “You handed me the reins, remember? And with everything else going on, I’m sure the last thing you want is for word to get out that we have trouble within our ranks.”
He studies me. “You’d better be ready to back up your decisions.”
I shrug and tense, every muscle coiled.
Do I really have what it takes to take my father on?
I like my odds in a one-on-one battle, but I know it won’t be as simple as that.
He’s got men and women who are loyal to him and would come after me for a chance to curry favor with him.
Having the upper hand in one battle isn’t enough to end this.
My mind races as I imagine all the ways this could spiral, and I wonder for the umpteenth time if this was our enemy’s plan all along.
Maybe kidnapping London wasn’t to spite me or make me find them another location.
Maybe it was about sitting back and watching as we tear ourselves from within, brick by painful brick.
Fucking bastards.
Why didn’t I take care of them when I had the chance?
I should’ve put a bullet between their eyes, and now, I doubt I’ll get close enough to try.
After I proved I could break into their warehouse, I’m sure they’ve shored up and gone underground, or heightened their defenses.
Getting to them again will be damn near impossible.
And you won’t get the chance if you’re too busy fighting with your dad. Think, Mason, and tread carefully. You’ve got an opportunity here.
Jack scoffs. “You always did have your mother’s sentimental side. I thought we’d taken care of that. It seems I was mistaken.”
“You’re wrong about a lot of things.”
Jack’s eyes flash, making the hairs on the back of my neck rise. “Clearly. It’s a good thing I have other options.”
“I’m the only one for the job.” My tone is cool and even. “You and I both know it’s why you chose me.”
My father chuckles humorlessly. “Is that what you’ve been telling yourself? That I can’t find anyone else? I could walk out this door right now and find someone far more capable and a lot less troublesome.”
I don’t flinch. “Be my guest.”
His eyes narrow further, but he says nothing.
For a tense moment, I wonder if I’ve pushed too far.
He did, after all, spend a good part of my childhood molding me into his image, and the better part of my adult years honing me as a weapon. Even when my mom was alive, I still did as I was told, and as I stand here, searching my memory for the last time we were at odds, I’m coming up empty.
I have no idea if he’s going to drag me out and make an example of me, or if he’s going to step back into the shadows and let me ruin myself.
I don’t know which option is worse.
How am I supposed to fight a war on all fronts?
Jack’s eyes never leave my face. “Mathew was right to insist I come down here myself. This is far worse than I realized. Fuck her out of your system as many times as you want, and when you’re done, you’d do well to remember who you are.”
I press my lips into a thin line and say nothing.
Jack pushes back the leather chair. Then, he reaches for the glass decanter and pours himself a generous amount of whiskey. I watch the red and orange flames of the fire crackling and dancing, casting long shadows across the walls.
I stand a few feet from the door and watch my father carefully.
He eyes me over the rim of his glass. “When you came to me and begged me to put you in charge, I thought you had grown into the man I thought you could be. I had considered looking outside the family to ensure our future, but you insisted you were the only one for the job.”
“I am the only one for the job.”