Chapter 29 Power #3
My lips curled into a smirk. So Jaden had told him after all. I was curious if she would seek his counsel over it. And now I had my answer. I’d have to watch the tapes later for that interesting conversation.
“Is this the part where you convince me I’ve lost my goddamn mind?” I asked. “So far, it’s not very compelling.”
“You find the idea of another mental breakdown more compelling?”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t be so fucking dramatic, Sid. Jaden will adapt and fall in line like she always does.”
Agitated, I turned my attention back to my desk, dismissing the pointless conversation.
“She is not a goddamn experiment, Darren!” Sid retorted. “This will inspire massive ramifications that you or I may not be able to rewire. How could you possibly think that was a good idea?”
I eyed Sid with the kind of warning that most men instantly pissed themselves over. The kind that cautioned them that death was just a hairbreadth away if they spoke one more wrong word. And it made Sid immediately freeze in place.
Standing from my chair, I pulled on the sleeves of my shirt under my jacket and slowly made my way around my desk.
My large frame towered over the frail man, the white coat he continued to wear a bold contrast against his still flushed face.
And while my imposing presence might make a lesser man tremble, Sid didn’t visibly cower.
I could respect him for that.
“Not that you’re entitled to a single explanation for anything I do that concerns my wife, but since you seem so inclined to actually barge in here and demand one, I’ll satisfy your curiosity with this—one way or another Sid, I will always get what I fucking want. You should know this by now.”
“Even if it’s just pure delusion?”
“Whose, Sid? Hers or mine? Because I have no problem with it being hers for as long as it takes.”
“You honestly think it will become truth? That eventually she’ll really believe that she actually does love you?”
The sneer that crawled up my face had to be as maniacal as I felt. “It’s a strategy I’m more than willing to explore.”
Sid shook his head. “This will backfire on you, Darren. You’re making a grave mistake,” he argued, then turned to cough into his elbow again.
I scoffed and reached into my pocket for my ringing phone.
“Your opinion is noted. Now get the fuck out of my office before I remove you myself.” I turned away to glance down at the number on the screen, ignoring Sid’s grumbling as he stormed toward the door.
“Oh, and Sid,” I called again, watching him pause in his steps.
“Don’t forget to wash the blood out of your coat before tending to Jaden’s mental health again. ”
His facial features softened for a moment, but the alarm flashing in his eyes was almost comical. He should know by now nothing could stay hidden from me. The truth always made its appearance eventually, even if I had to drag it out of the shadows myself.
Dismissing his mortification, I turned back to answer my phone.
“Yeah?”
“Matt’s been sighted. He’s in Chicago.”
I paused, elation quickly lifting my mood entirely.
Finally.
I’d entrusted Dean and his team with the riveting task of tracking Matt down, and as usual, I was pleased with his results.
“How long ago?”
“I’m watching him right now.”
“What is he doing?” I asked.
“Having dinner at a public restaurant.”
My instincts immediately flared. Matt wouldn’t allow himself to be seen so openly knowing he had a massive target on his back, which meant only one thing. He was purposely trying to draw me out.
Be careful what you wish for, Matthew.
“Sounds like someone wants my attention,” I mused.
“Agreed.”
The question now was why he’d chosen Chicago of all places? He couldn’t possibly believe he would be safe in divided territory. I doubted it was a happy coincidence. Maybe he thought I might actually behave myself because of it.
After all these years, the fucker hardly knew me at all.
“As it so conveniently turns out, I have to be in Chicago for an event in two days. Keep a tail on him. I’ll be there in six hours.”
I hung up the phone just as Scott and Daniel came back into the room.
“Inform the trio to have Jaden packed and ready to leave for Chicago in the next three hours,” I told Scott as I rounded my desk.
“You’re leaving early?” Daniel asked as Scott promptly took out his phone to send out my instructions.
“Matt purposely, and very conveniently, revealed himself in Chicago. So I’m going to take him up on his little invitation.”
“Springing the trap then?” Scott asked as he pocketed his phone.
“Naturally,” I answered. “I wouldn’t want to disappoint him.”
“What about tomorrow’s auction?” Daniel asked.
“I think you can handle it without me,” I replied as I texted my pilots to ready the jet.
“I’ll dispatch a team to scope out the area. See what they can pick up,” Scott said.
I nodded in agreement. “Have them coordinate with Dean and his team. I want as many eyes in that city as we can find.”
Scott dipped his chin in acknowledgment, putting his phone to his ear and exiting my office to carry out my orders.
“It could also be a setup, you know. To lure you away from me,” Daniel mused.
I shrugged. “It probably is. Good thing we know how to handle those scenarios, eh?” I glanced up at him from my phone, catching the surprising worry etched into his brow.
He said nothing as I scrutinized his reaction, my gaze sharpening at his obvious trepidation. Was my little brother actually worried?
“Yeah, good thing you’re doing exactly what he wants you to do,” Daniel murmured as he stepped away, running his hand through his hair.
I arched a brow. “What’s the matter, Dan? Are you scared of being left on your own?”
He frowned as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Of course not. I just don’t think we should split up our resources so hastily. It puts us in a vulnerable position.”
I rose from my desk and moved to stand in front of him, checking the time on my watch. “You know I have to be there anyway, but it’s disappointing to hear you question our strength, little brother,” I taunted before stepping away.
His frown deepened. “I’m not questioning anythin—”
“Then make the necessary arrangements,” I said, cutting him off. “I’ll see you in a few days.”
I left Daniel to his task in my office, and made my way down the hall, the sour taste of his doubt coating my mouth. Dan wasn’t usually this apprehensive, but maybe after taking Matt’s bullet to the chest a few months ago, he was reconsidering his own invincibility.
And that kind of self-doubt was not something I had time for. He needed to get his shit together and maintain a stronghold in my absence. We couldn’t afford any semblance of weakness, and I would not let my brother tarnish our reputation.
Dominic had already done a good job at doing that and look where he ended up. Truthfully, I’d always known Dominic was bound for an early grave. He’d been a pain in the ass for most of his life, the reckless behavior counting down the days that would lead to his death and an all-out war.
It took serious talent for each of my brothers to start their own wars within the same fucking week. And now here I was, fighting both of them, cleaning up their fucking messes.
Family was really starting to feel overrated. I needed people I could rely on, people who followed orders and kept in line. People who could do their jobs without issue or complaint.
But such perfection was unachievable. Humans were flawed creatures through and through, right down to our very marrow. We were all just one mistake away from our ultimate destruction.
We just had to hope that mistake was worth it.