CHAPTER THREE #2
Either Valerian wanted something from him, or Louis DuCane wanted to exact payment for the business delay he no doubt caused them.
It never ended well for Theo when he ruined plans.
The fact that he was here with one of DuCane's people indicated that the plans had not gone as his father and Larry had designed.
“Why did you bring me here?” The silence was too long, and Theo needed to say something.
"You asked me to take you away from there, and I was more than happy to oblige," Valerian answered without turning around.
"Who beat you? Was it your brother?" Theo didn't answer right away, not sure if he wanted to talk about it.
He didn't remember asking to leave, but he had a fuzzy memory of everything following the elbow he took to the face, so he might have.
“Yes, Justin was angry that father refused to include him in the signing.
He only allowed Larry to be present. Justin wanted to have the opportunity to meet the Ackerleys' representatives and network, as he called it, but his father refused. He’d kept Justin out of most of the face-to-face meetings.
" He was probably talking too much, but Valerian wasn't stopping him or butting in like people usually did whenever he spoke.
“He rarely includes Justin in business meetings because he’s too explosive and unpredictable.
” That wasn’t the entire story, but it was a sampling of the situation.
Valerian glanced back at him over his shoulder, and it seemed like he knew that Theo was not telling him everything. He oddly felt compelled to continue.
“The Ackerleys didn’t want Justin involved after he fucked up the original negotiations with the DuCane people." There was more of the truth.
“He was a bit uncouth from what I heard," Valerian commented.
“Yeah, uncouth is a nice way of putting it. Justin is just an angry person, angry to the bone about everything."
“Why did he attack you?”
“Easy target, I guess. He doesn’t usually leave me unconscious.
Last night was particularly savage." Theo spoke so matter-of-factly that Valerian stared at him silently for a moment.
He set the plate of bacon, eggs, and toast in front of him, and the smell was amazing.
Theo hadn't thought he was hungry until that smell hit him, and his stomach growled.
“Eat, baby, we’ll talk more later.” Theo felt his skin prickle with the sex appeal attached to that endearment.
“Thank you.” He said with a quiver in his tone and began eating. The breakfast was wonderful, and so was the company. Having Valerian sit next to him gave him a feeling of support and security, which made no real sense, but he loved it anyway.
“Am I still in Detroit?” Theo asked after finishing his first plateful and watched as Valerian filled it again.
“No.” Valerian filled Theo’s glass with more milk before sitting down. “You’re on the DuCane Estate in Mt. Pleasant.” Theo’s eyes shot wide in surprise.
“I should go home.” He said and set his fork down.
"Finish your breakfast." Valerian's voice cut through his confusion, and he instantly picked up his fork.
The man was not angry, just firm in a way that was caring.
It was hard for him to describe the feeling that the big, handsome man gave him, but Theo honestly thought that he could trust him.
The rest of the meal was silent but not uncomfortable.
They searched the entire building even though they were told that Theo Tuffin had been taken by someone in Louis DuCane’s party. “I can’t believe that idiot got himself kidnapped.” Justin spat on the cement floor of the basement.
"He was taken, not kidnapped.” Larry clarified. “Word is that he wanted to go with the guy. Supposedly, they had some kind of connection.”
"What do you mean by that?" Justin asked sharply as he walked over to where he'd attacked Theo. There was still blood all over the floor. He smiled and then turned back to his brother.
“Parson spoke with Mr. Ackerley, and they believe the catalyst for the massive fallout was Theo," Larry said emotionlessly. "The big guy was a hellhound, according to Parson, and he reacted to Theo's screams." That caught Justin's attention.
“That’s why they want Theo’s head in payment for the loss of their men?" Justin asked, and Larry nodded. "You'd think our father's life would have been payment enough."
“The Ackerley family will not be made to look weak or ridiculous, so there has to be a very public payback. It's either Theo or us, you chose.” Larry turned to him pointedly.
“It's Theo," Justin said with a sick smile. "We just have to lure him out and away from that hellhound, although I doubt anyone in the DuCane group wants anything to do with Theo long term.” He laughed hatefully. “The guy is useless in every way possible.”
Larry bent and picked up a cell phone from the floor. “We won’t be able to call him.” He showed the phone to Justin.
“What an idiot." He took the phone, threw it at the stone wall, and watched it shatter. “We’re going to need help locating him and getting in contact.”
“I’ve already got people on it." Larry headed for the elevator. "The quicker we take care of him, the quicker we can get back to business. With father gone, I will be taking the lead role.” He looked at Justin disparagingly. “You find a place you’re comfortable and settle in.” Justin nodded.
He was violent with Theo, but he never raised a hand to Larry.
His older brother was a vicious man when crossed, and Justin knew better than to cross him.
"It's likely that Theo will hear about father's death and call us... or someone." Justin offered.
“They gave us four days to deliver him. On day five, they come for us, so just keep that in mind." Larry was harsh, but he did not appear worried in the least, which gave Justin considerable confidence. “He’ll come home, he always comes home.”