Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
J axon
Ryker is alone in his office when I walk in, and I don’t know why, but it’s still strange to see him without that skull mask he wore for so long. I know why he stopped wearing it, but it’s still odd.
He looks up from his desk and shakes his head at the sight of me. “Feeling any better? I mean, you look like shit warmed over, but I’m hoping you’re feeling better.”
I shrug as I sit down in the chair across the room from him. “Nothing I can’t come back from. Where are Cason and Kane?”
“They went to get Lily and Lukas. I think they’d be safer here, so Kane went with him since that kid’s toys could fill a house by themselves. They took the goddamned Suburban because they need the space,” he answers, laughing at the thought of Cason and Lily’s kid and all his shit.
“That’s good,” I say as I look around Ryker’s office and see some of Maxim’s toys lying around. “They can be added to your kid’s.”
He sees the alphabet blocks on the couch and sighs. “I’ve told Kaia I just want this room to be kid-free. Just this room. I guess that’s too much to ask.”
I laugh out loud at his predicament, sure he’s got much more pressing concerns to deal with than his son’s toys getting into everything. “So this is what having kids does to a guy. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Ryker gets up and walks around his office collecting Maxim’s toys before walking out of the room. No wonder we haven’t moved on Victor yet. We’re too busy playing romper room.
When he gets back, he sits down at his desk again and sighs. “Just wait until you have some. Then you’ll know what it’s like.”
I don’t bother telling him kids aren’t in my plans any time soon. Maybe when I’m his age, but for now, Tia and I are far too busy enjoying one another to be focused on a baby.
Jesus, that sounds awful. A baby. Those things need to be fed and cleaned and diapered. And the burping. Then there’s the spit up and the crying.
No, thanks.
In an effort to get him to focus on something that doesn’t smell or shit its pants, I say, “I need to get a phone and contact my guy in Italy. I’m sure Tia’s parents are fine, but I want to check, all the same.”
Ryker’s expression lights up. “Oh, about that. I have your phone right here. It was in the car. Victor’s guys must not be very good at their jobs. I would have looked for your phone first thing after grabbing you.”
Thrilled to see my phone, I take it from Ryker and sit back down to go through my texts. “Dickie wasn’t exactly top level.”
Just as I say that, my ribs on my right side send a message of their own as pain shoots through my torso. “Ugh, but he’s got a hell of a right cross on him. I’m looking forward to the day I get to pay him back.”
“Do you need to see the doctor?” Ryker asks, all concerned like I’m his kid too.
“No, I’m good, Dad,” I joke, looking up from my phone to see a look of real worry on his face. “Seriously, I’m fine. Like I told Tia, I’ve dug bullets out of my own body before. This is nothing.”
Smiling, he chuckles and asks, “How surprised were you when you walked in and saw her there?”
“I thought she was a goddamned delusion, man. Thanks for giving me a head’s up.”
“If I recall, I wasn’t allowed to get two words in edgewise since you were busy telling me to basically go fuck myself yesterday. Am I remembering things incorrectly, or wasn’t that you walking up my driveway telling me off?”
My guess is he thinks I’m going to apologize, but that’s not happening. I stand by everything I said yesterday. In fact, that’s one of the reasons I’m here this morning to talk to him.
“Yeah, and I think you need to hear more of that kind of thing because you haven’t moved on Victor yet. What the hell is going on, Ryker? I know he’s your brother. He’s my uncle and Cason’s fucking father. None of that changes the fact that the guy needs to be taken out. He nearly killed Tia and me. What the hell are you waiting for?”
I see by the angry expression that takes over his face that he’s not happy I’m questioning him yet again on this issue, but I don’t care. The time has fucking come to get rid of this Victor problem we’re all dealing with once and for all. If Ryker can’t or won’t do it, then he better be prepared for someone else to step up to handle things.
“We’ve had this conversation, Jaxon.”
Before he goes any further, I stand up and walk over to his desk. Leaning down, I get eye level with him. “Then why haven’t you ordered the hit? What does he have to do, Ryker? Come in here and fuck around with you personally? That’s not leadership. He has to fucking go, and it should have happened months ago.”
Ryker stands from behind his desk, shaking his head. “Do you want to lead this family? I’m still the head, so I decide what happens and when,” he says in that low voice I know means he’s on the verge of exploding.
Well, he fucking needs to.
“Nobody says they want to be the goddamned leader, dude. But if you’re going to sit in the big chair, you have to make the big decisions, and those aren’t happening. Victor took Lily hostage and threatened to not give her and Cason the baby back. Remember that? I thought you’d go after him then, but nothing happened. What is going on here that’s holding up this show? Does he have to kill one of us before you’ll accept your brother has to go? Because I’m not volunteering to be his next goddamned victim, Ryker.”
He's practically seething by the time I’m done talking, but so be it. I don’t know what’s going on inside his head, but somebody has to get through to him that this inaction is putting us all in danger.
“You don’t understand what goes into something like that, Jaxon. Until you do, sit down and shut the fuck up!” he barks.
That may have worked a few months ago, but after what Tia and I have been through, it’s not going to play anymore. “No, and if you don’t like what I’m saying, then ask any of the others around here. Ask Cason how he fucking feels about the specter of his father still looming over him. Ask Kane how he feels knowing Sophie is always in danger and he has to watch over her twenty-four seven because as a Varens, she’s fair game to your dickhead brother. What the hell does he has to do to earn a trip straight to hell, man? Whatever it is, he’s done it. It’s time.”
Leaning over his desk, he’s right in my face but says nothing. I know what he’s thinking. He isn’t sure he wants to deck me, but he’s sick and tired of me bringing up this same damn subject.
“It’s complicated,” he says through gritted teeth.
“No, it’s not!” I bellow right in his face. “It’s not fucking complicated, unless you’re trying to make it complicated, which is seems like you are. He’s got to go, Ryker! Now!”
I’m sure he’s about to come over the desk at me at any moment, but the sound of someone clearing their throat gets our attention, and we both turn to look toward the door. Kaia looks at both of us like she’s not sure if she wants to say what she came to the office to talk about or slap the hell out of the two of us.
“It’s not a good time right now,” Ryker says to his wife.
That gets him an eye roll. “I won’t bother mentioning you seem to say that a lot lately. I just wanted to let you know that Tia and I are going to the store. Jeremy and Rico are coming with us. Maxim just went down for his nap, and the nanny is upstairs in the nursery with him. Do you want some of that mango juice you liked so much the last time I got it?”
The two of us just stare at her for a long moment before Ryker turns to look at me and says, “I’ll be back, but when I return, we won’t be having any more of this conversation.”
“Then you’re going to have to block your ears because I’m still going to be talking about it.”
Ryker doesn’t respond to that and walks out of the office, leaving me alone for the moment. If he thinks I’m just going to let this issue of Victor needing to die go, he’s got another thing coming.
I scroll through my messages and see my guy in Italy reported early this morning that Tia’s parents are loving their vacation. They’ve traveled to Tuscany and are enjoying their time with wine tasting today.
As I’m texting him back, Tia pokes her head in and asks, “Do you want anything from the store? Kaia’s got a list a mile long, but I know she wouldn’t mind a few more items.”
I wave her in and take her in my arms to kiss her. “Nothing is coming to mind, but if you see anything you think I’d like, feel free to grab it. More people are coming to stay, so she’s probably shopping for them.”
Tia taps the tip of my nose and kisses me. “She says Ryker loves this new mango juice she found. Would you like me to ask her to get extra so you can try it?”
The mere thought of that makes my stomach turn, so I shake my head. “No, thanks. I’m not a mango juice guy.”
“You know, real men drink mango juice, Jaxon,” she says, teasing me.
She really can be so cute. “Thanks for the vote of confidence that I’m a real man, but the answer is still no to the mango stuff. Now if you see some pineapple juice, I’ll be on that in a hot minute.”
Tia leans in and in a low voice says, “I thought we proved you were a real man last night. And this morning.”
Pulling her to me, I hug her for being so sweet. “We did, and I plan to prove it again later.”
After kissing me once more, she wriggles out of my hold and backs away toward the door. “So pineapple juice, right?”
I nod, loving how she’s acting right now. “Yeah. And you know what I could really go for? Pizza bagels. I haven’t had them in forever. Grab some of those.”
“Pineapple juice and pizza bagels. Got it. Love you! See you in a little bit.”
She’s gone out the door before I can tell her I love her too. That’s okay. I’ll show her just how crazy I am about her later.
By the time Ryker walks back into the room fifteen minutes later, he’s calmed down from earlier, but I’m still pretty hot about Victor not being dead yet. I don’t understand what the hold up is. Yes, he’s his brother, but even that old excuse has to give way at some point.
I busy myself with reading my messages, even though I want to pick up where we left off. He seems focused on other things, though, and when Cason, Lily, Lukas, and Kane come into the house like a conquering horde, he turns his attention to them, probably to escape talking to me.
“Every Lego in the entire world is now here in this house,” Kane says with more than a hint of disgust in his voice as he walks past the office.
Behind him, Cason laughs. “You just don’t know how kids are these days, Kane. You’ll see when you have some.”
I swear that always comes off as sounding like a threat whenever he and Ryker say that to those of us who don’t have kids yet. It’s like they can’t wait for us to be burdened by too many toys and stinky diapers.
When Kane pokes his head into the room, he looks at me and rolls his eyes. “I think we’re going to need a bigger house.”
I wave him in, eager to see if I can bring him over to my side on this Victor issue. “Hey, come here. I need to talk to you.”
“What’s up?”
“We need to get Ryker on board with this Victor business. The time has come, don’t you think?”
Kane looks around, and I get the feeling he’s worried about making sure Ryker isn’t nearby before he gives me his answer. In a low voice, he says, “Yeah, but he’s not ready yet, and pushing him isn’t going to help.”
“Well, something has to. Does he have to kill one of us before it’s time?”
The stress of this whole situation is written all over Kane’s face. “I know, but it’s his brother. I need to go grab Sophie, but we’ll talk more when I get back, okay?”
“Fine, but I’m done waiting. If this can’t happen as a group, then I’ll go do it myself.”
Surprise flashes in Kane’s eyes, like he can’t believe that’s where we’re at already. He’s always been more patient than I am, probably because he’s not a Varens. I get it. He’s loyal to Ryker above all else, but the time has come for loyalty to step aside in favor of action.
Two hours later, everyone is in the house safe and sound with all their toys and everything else that they need. All except Kaia and Tia, but they’re off getting enough mango juice for the entire family to enjoy.
Ryker, Kane, and Cason finally come into the office so we can have a meeting, and I’m ready to go. All he has to do is give the word and I’ll be rolling over to Victor’s estate, guns blazing.
The mood among the four of us is tense, no doubt because Ryker has either mentioned to them what happened before or Kane and Cason know what I’m going to say. Whichever it is, we’re going to settle this issue today.
“So now that we’re all settled and moved in, can we get to business?” I ask as Ryker sits down at his desk.
“We’re not having that same conversation, Jaxon. I told you before.”
I look around the room and see Kane eyeing up the door and Cason checking out the floor. Good to know they’re willing to take a side here.
Well, if they aren’t, maybe they just need a push.
“Have you asked Kane or Cason what they think?” I ask, and I swear Kane throws me a nasty look as soon as he hears his name come out of my mouth.
Neither of them say a word. Great. It looks like I’m flying solo on this one.
Then Kane surprises me by looking at Ryker and saying, “You may not like what Jaxon is saying, but I agree with him. Victor’s time has come. He’s only going to become more dangerous to all of us. I know he’s your brother, but he can’t be let to continue like he has. Jaxon had to send Tia’s parents to Europe, for fuck’s sake, and he and Tia were nearly killed.”
I open my mouth to thank him for standing with me, but Ryker’s already moved on to Cason for his opinion. “And you? Those two can say what they want, but it’s your father and my brother we’re talking about getting rid of here. What do you think?”
I’m more than ready to remind my cousin what his father did when he kidnapped Lily and Lukas. I don’t know how everyone seems to forget the shit Victor has pulled just in the past few years. It’s like the whole family thing cancels out every terrible deed of his for the two of them.
Still looking down at the floor like he hopes to find the answer there, Cason sighs and simply shrugs. “Whatever you guys want to do is fine with me. The person I considered to be my father ceased to exist a long time ago.”
Not exactly a ringing endorsement for taking action right now, but it’s better than nothing.
Happy we might finally stop sitting on our hands when it comes to Victor, I stand up, ready to go. “Great! Then what’s the plan?”
The other three men in the room don’t move. Kane and Cason appear to be waiting for Ryker, and he’s still sitting stone-faced behind his desk. It’s enough to make me want to whip out my gun and start shooting up the goddamned place.
Just as I start to ask what the fuck is the hold up for the umpteenth time, Ryker’s phone begins to ring. It’s one of those old-fashioned black landlines you see in movies from before cell phones became a thing. It makes no sense that he keeps it, but then again, nothing he does makes sense to me lately.
As soon as he answers the call, the blood drains completely from his face. He quickly puts the call on speakerphone, and it doesn’t take long to realize why he looks like he’s going to be sick.
“So let me guess. Cason is there, of course. Jaxon? I’m guessing he hasn’t found the time to kill his girlfriend’s parents, which was the deal when I let him go the other day. And good old Kane, your trusty sidekick, right, Ryker? Did I get all the players correct?”
The sound of Victor’s voice makes me want to fucking punch something, but Ryker seems distinctly upset. He doesn’t answer his brother’s question, so Victor continues to talk.
“Good to know. Well, as I said when you answered the phone, I’ve got some family visitors myself sitting right here in front of me. Want to talk to them?”
Ryker takes a deep breath in and lets it out slowly through his nose. “I’ve been respectful about who we are to one another up to this point, Victor. Whatever you’re thinking about doing, you better reflect long and hard on it.”
I don’t understand why we care at all about whichever long lost cousins have dropped in at Victor’s house, but then I hear a voice that makes it all clear. “Ryker, we’re fine. He hasn’t done anything bad. I don’t think he will.”
Kaia sounds terrified, but the way she said we’re fine makes my heart skip a beat. Tia was with her when they went to the store.
“Your lady is being a bit optimistic, Ryker. I bet you like that about her, though, don’t you?” Victor asks with a sadistic laugh.
“Don’t hurt her,” Ryker says in a low voice that sounds like he wants to go through the phone and gut his brother like a fish.
Ignoring him, Victor says, “And she had a friend with her. Jaxon, how’s that job you’re supposed to do for me going? Now that I have Tia here with me, I’m thinking you’ll get moving on it. Tick tock, kid. Which will it be? The parents or the girl?”
Rage explodes inside my brain, and I march over to where Ryker stands near his phone. “You hurt one hair on her head, and I swear I will make your death so fucking painful people like us will be writing textbooks for years to come talking about the most agonizing fucking way to kill someone.”
The call falls silent for a second, and then I hear Tia’s terrified voice. “Jaxon, I’m okay. Kaia promises me everything will be okay. I love you.”
Laughing, Victor gets back on the phone and says, “You guys must have a thing for these sweet girls. I’ve never had one. What is the appeal? Maybe I should find out. Now before that, let me tell you why I called. No, it wasn’t to let you know I’m going to have a good time with your ladies, although I am. It was to say I know what you’re thinking of doing, brother, and I’d advise against it. I killed your snitch, but before I did, he was in enough pain to tell me what you’re up to. So I thought I’d take out two insurance policies to ensure you don’t do anything stupid. Ta-ta for now. I’ll be in touch.”
The line goes dead, and I swear I want to kill someone. Turning to look at Ryker, I ask, “So is it fucking time now? He’s got Tia and Kaia. You know him. They aren’t safe there. So what’s it going to be?”
He sits down behind his desk without saying a word, but in his eyes I finally see the rage I’ve been waiting to see for months regarding Victor. Opening his desk drawer, he takes out his Glock and sets it on the top of the desk.
“It’s time. My brother has gone too fucking far now, so we have to take care of him. I want to hear any ideas about how we’re going to do this, but it has to happen today. We can’t risk Kaia or Tia being hurt.”
Thrilled he’s finally ready to move on his brother, I push down my real fear that only Kaia will make it out alive. Victor wanted Tia dead before and did his damnedest to succeed at that. Now he’s got her right there where he can do whatever he wants.
He better fucking pray he makes the right choice because if he doesn’t, being gutted like a fucking fish is the very best he can hope for from me.