Chapter 7
“She’s close, I can feel it.” Ryder was practically buzzing with energy as he, Cole and I made our way across the upscale reception of Blackwood Group’s head office.
It was Thursday night and time for our rendezvous with the piece of shit girlfriend beater.
The building was, as promised, empty. No workers, no cleaners, even the security desk was empty as we passed by.
It really helped that the Trivium controlled everything, even the fathers of jumped up pieces of shit like the dickhead we were here to deal with.
Cole pressed the button for the elevator as Ryder ducked behind the security desk to press some buttons on the computer back there. He came back around the corner as the elevator arrived.
“Cameras are off from what I can see. But unless I get access to the main security office I can’t confirm for sure,” he said, and I nodded.
The last thing we wanted was for someone to see this little lesson to trap us into some fucked up blackmail thing.
We entered the spacious elevator and Cole jabbed the button for the top floor.
I couldn’t help but notice that he had been quiet on the way over here.
Despite Cole’s experience and reputation in these situations, I knew he wasn’t a fan of the more violent side of our role in the Trivium.
“I can add a jammer on the floor for extra security,” Ryder said, more to himself than anyone else. “If we get this done quickly, then we can still get back to the house in time for hot chocolate.” I shook my head and Cole scoffed. Ryder gave us both a lopsided grin.
“What, I have an itch,” he said and then nodded to Cole, “Plus she needs more attention since all he did was watch movies with her last night.” Cole scoffed again.
“It was my night, and I prefer the more subtle approach,” he said. “Plus, how do you know all we did was watch movies?” Ryder waggled his eyebrows at Cole.
“How’d you think, dipshit? I was watching you,” he smirked. “And it was so fucking painful to watch. Like some first date bullshit.”
“Fuck off,” Cole grumbled and Ryder laughed again. “Just because I’m not slobbering all over her the first chance I get, doesn’t mean that what I’m doing isn’t working just as well.”
The elevator sounded our arrival at our floor and the doors opened on a lavish open space.
“Okay boys,” I said as I stepped out on to the floor, “Time to get your heads in the game and to teach this fucker a lesson.” I didn’t need to check that they were both ready behind me as I made my way across the space towards the double doors with the gold plaque announcing Thomas Blackwood Jnr’s office.
I knew my guys would be right behind me and ready for business.
I opened the doors and surveyed the opulent office, my boots leaving faint prints in the plush ivory carpet.
Everything about this place reeked of old money and privilege, the dark mahogany furniture, the crystal decanters of ridiculously expensive liquor, even the air had a stifling scent of cigar smoke and brandy.
It was disgusting. But no more so than the man himself.
Thomas Blackwood Jnr lounged in a high-backed leather chair, one arm draped casually over the side while the other swirled a glass of amber liquid.
Despite our unannounced arrival, he didn't seem the least bit surprised to see us.
In fact, a smug smile curved his lips as his gaze swept over the three of us.
"Well, well. If it isn't the Trivium guard dogs.
" His voice was a grating drawl, the words sliding off his tongue like rancid oil.
"Here to remind me of my manners, I presume?
" I nodded to Ryder who quickly surveyed the room and then went to the wall beside the door and attached a small black box.
He fiddled with it before turning back to face us and nodded.
There was an eagerness in his expression, a predatory anticipation at the prospect of violence.
This was what he'd been waiting for all week, a chance to unleash the dark currents constantly churning beneath his surface.
A chance to make someone bleed. I turned to Cole who stepped forward.
"We're here on behalf of the Trivium," Cole stated, his deep voice cutting through the tension. "Allegations have been made regarding your treatment of Miss Everett. Allegations the Trivium takes quite seriously."
"That bitch?" Blackwood scoffed, taking a swig from his glass. "Figures she'd go crying to someone. Just another manipulative whore trying to-"
He never finished the sentence. In a blur of movement, Ryder crossed the room and backhanded Blackwood across the face with enough force to send him tumbling from the chair. His glass bounced off the carpet, sending a stain of scotch across the ivory surface.
"Do not fucking interrupt my brother ass wipe," Ryder's voice was low, controlled, but I could hear the menace vibrating beneath.
Blackwood spat a mouthful of blood onto the floor, his eyes glittering with something between rage and fear.
Good. He was starting to realise this wasn't going to be as easy as he'd expected.
"Fuck you," he snarled, pushing himself up to his knees. "My father-"
"Your father doesn't control shit." This time it was my turn to speak. "The Trivium gave us an order. And we're going to make sure you follow it to the letter." Blackwood paused, seeming to consider my words. Then that infuriating smirk spread across his face again.
"And if I don't?" he taunted. "What're you dogs gonna do? The Trivium can't touch me. I'm too valuable." Ryder laughed then, a harsh, grating sound devoid of any humour.
"You think your family money and connections make you untouchable? Is that what Daddy's been telling you?" He crouched in front of Blackwood, grabbing a fistful of his hair and wrenching his head back. Blackwood grunted in pain but didn't fight it. Not yet.
"Who do you think helped set up our little meeting tonight? And your father is a fool who has no idea how precarious his position actually is," Ryder hissed. "One misstep, one insult to the wrong person, and all those connections and all that money won't mean shit."
“What are you going to do about it?” Blackwood spat blood in Ryder’s face. “I know you can’t hurt me, not really. You are just a rabid dog on your own daddy’s lead.” Ryder backhanded Blackwood again, sending him crashing into his heavy desk.
“Wrong again bitch,” he snarled. “My father thinks he controls me, but his time is coming as well.” Blackwood laughed, surprising us all.
“Oh, you arrogant little shit,” he spat.
“You really think you are actually in control. I know more than you think, bitch boy, including what daddy has planned for that little sweet blond piece of ass cousin of yours. Maybe I’ll put a bid in myself and take my sweet time ruining that pretty face as I ruin her pretty cunt. ”
Fuck. I barely had time to grab Ryder before he launched himself at Blackwood.
We all knew that Ryder’s father held Luce’s safety over his head.
He had threatened Ryder that any misstep would put Ryder back in Lexington within his mother and Luce would be Aaron’s replacement for access to the higher ranks of the Trivium.
But Blackwood seemed to be under the impression that it was a done thing.
Ryder was livid, and it took both Cole and I to hold him back as he snarled various violent promises at Blackwood.
Blackwood laughed, like he didn’t know that he hadn’t just sealed his fate.
There was no way this man was leaving this office alive, unless it was out of the window.
"Maybe," Blackwood ground out through gritted teeth.
"Once I have done with her sweet ass, I can take a crack at your little whore too, show you boys how to really treat a woman.
" He grinned all toothy and bloody. “I mean everyone knows that you can’t even control a little non legacy piece of trash. Your time is quickly running out and that bitch will be a free for all as well. Everyone knows what happens to former failed Consort sluts. Just ask Amy.”
Both Cole and Ryder stiffened, and I felt the tension in the room ramp up to almost oppressive levels.
“What did you say?” I asked slowly and carefully.
We all knew who Amy was. She had been the Archive Consort last year, until she had had a fight with her Regents, and then disappeared less than a week later.
Most people thought that she had just gone home, but when it was investigated, her room at home had been found ransacked and her father, Headmaster Angus Williams himself, had no idea as to her whereabouts.
“I said that bitches that don’t know where to keep their noses out, get them cut off,” Blackwood spat blood onto the floor.
“Between your lack of control and the pretty little slut digging into what she shouldn't, then it’s only a matter of time before she becomes fair game.” The words hung in the air, their implication sending a spike of white-hot rage through me.
What the fuck was he talking about with digging into stuff?
And to talk about Cadence like she was nothing but a piece of ass that he could play with.
The crack of Ryder's fist against Blackwood's face echoed in the cavernous office. I hadn’t even noticed him pulling from my grip. Blackwood cried out, crumpling to the floor as blood gushed from his shattered nose.
"Don't you ever speak about her like that again," Ryder snarled, standing over the writhing man.
"Cade is ours. You don’t get to go near her or anyone I care about.
" He punctuated the statement with a vicious kick to Blackwood's ribs.
I could hear the crunch of bone, see the agony twist across the other man's face.
But he didn't cry out again. Just grunted and spat more blood onto the floor.