Dangerous Escape (Buchanan Security: Glasgow #1)

Chapter 1

What time do you call this?

Leo snapped his mouth shut and turned to look at the man who’d just spat those words at him.

Sitting in a chair that with a few specks of gold and rubies would’ve represented a throne, Knox Buchanan glared back at him.

The man’s eyes looked eerily similar to his own, as if Leo was glaring at himself.

Having been an only child, seeing someone who shared his attributes was disconcerting.

It was further disconcerting to know that there wasn’t just one other man in the world who shared half of Leo’s DNA. There were two others. David Buchanan’s bastard children.

Leo turned to the other two men in the room, sitting on beige sofas that looked as if you’d stain them just by sitting on them.

Och, aye, that’s why Leo had been gaping at— the huge chandelier in the room, the grandfather clock ticking away in the corner, and the paintings sitting in gilded frames.

The space looked like a cross between Kelvingrove Museum and the luxury apartments popping up along the Clyde.

Sit down, will you? Knox interrupted Leo’s perusal of the house.

After the letter he’d received a week ago, and then the meeting he’d had on Friday, Leo should be used to such opulence. But for a boy raised in Govan, this was a bit too Bearsden.

Leo turned to the men on the sofa. The guy who’d spread out and was hogging one side of the cushions grinned at him. It’s something, isn’t it? Alasdair chuckled.

The other man who looked like he’d curl up in a ball and disappear into the beige was Neil, who just bobbed his head and waited for Leo to do the same.

Leo shrugged. Is this the place David left you?

Knox shook his head. No, it’s mine. There was a certain sharpness in his tone, as if Leo had touched a live wire. But considering this was a man who was wearing a suit on a Sunday, in his own house, and a frown because Leo was ten minutes late…

Why did you have your secretary call us?

Patrick is my personal assistant, not my secretary. Knox didn’t frown, and his voice had settled back into its posh Edinburgh accent without a spec of the turmoil from earlier. Sit down, please.

Patrick schedules all his meetings for him, Alasdair added, clearly finding something amusing in this situation; the grin was still on his face. Hence why our brother thought a calendar invite for a nine a.m. meeting on a Sunday was a good idea.

A Sunday morning where I don’t believe there was traffic on the streets, Knox said, once more gesturing for Leo to sit.

The bastard clearly didn’t like Leo looming over him.

Knox was probably used to everyone being docile lambs running around to appease him.

Leo didn’t sit—if only to teach his brother a lesson in inclusion—and jangled his phone at Knox.

It’s a Sunday, you eejit. Going anywhere at nine a.m. on a Sunday is a joke.

You could’ve slept earlier—

It’s not about sleep! Leo barked. Clearly this bastard was too far locked away in his gilded cage. Scotrail doesn’t run enough services on Sundays! And the fucking subway doesn’t open until ten. This isn’t fucking London.

Take a cab.

Leo laughed. Aye, the golden stick was too far up Knox’s arse. Why are we even here?

Sit. Down.

This was useless. Leo turned to Alasdair and Neil. Has he said anything?

Nah, Alasdair said. He’s been grumbling over where you were, even though I told him about the public transport issues. I walked here.

From Charing Cross. Knox looked shocked that people could walk from one place to another, especially in Glasgow, a famously walkable city. Doesn’t matter. Leo, sit down. I have something to say about the will.

Of course he did. When another man walked in, this one also wearing a suit and carrying files, Leo frowned. Are you another one of us we didn’t know about?

That’s Patrick, Neil murmured. Knox’s PA.

Leo found another one of those throne-like chairs Knox was sitting in and plopped down, sinking into the cushion. Fuck, this was uncomfortable too. Maybe better for people with said sticks in their arses, though.

Patrick handed him one of the files he was carrying, then disappeared as quickly as he’d shown up.

Your secretary is at your beck and call all times of the day and night? Alasdair asked, setting the file on the coffee table that centred the wee sitting area.

He’s my PA. Knox held his file up. I took the liberty to have my lawyer look at the will. Just to ensure all is in order. I also set out our individual roles in the business.

Because you’re the commander-in-chief? Leo snapped.

I have the experience to run a business. Knox raised his chin, showing just how much his sharp jaw and brutal cheekbones would look good in profile on a fucking billion-pound gold coin. He did fit the seat of the CEO—but Leo didn’t have to like it. And I read your résumés.

It was you trying to get into the server. Neil paused from studying the papers in the file. You spied on us.

I asked the lawyers. Knox steepled his hands in front of him, as if he was concocting some devious plan.

And he probably was. And they told me, Neil, you’re an ethical hacker.

Alasdair, you’re good at building connections and community, and Leo, you…

worked in HR. He said the last bit as an afterthought, as if that was the only attribute he could find about Leo.

Leo didn’t care. Being an admin assistant in a huge HR department had made him realise how replaceable and insignificant he had been in that job. Fuck, he’d hated it to his core.

Leo flipped the file open and saw his role: HR head.

Are you kidding me on? He snapped the file closed. You forget, Knox, that I haven’t yet agreed to take my share on. Or take the bastard’s surname.

Knox’s jaw twitched, and those eyes of his once more found Leo. Aye, all four of them shared a similar physical build and eyes, something they’d got from David, but Knox’s eyes were cold. You don’t get a choice. If you don’t take it on, none of us get our share.

I’m sure your expensive lawyers will sort something out for you. Leo waved at the room. It’s not like a few million are going to change your life... or personality.

If it were anyone else, they’d have brandished their teeth at him, or even lunged at him.

Hell, perhaps shouted back some insults.

Instead, Knox simply smiled. I understand how it can feel like that.

He held his hands up, then shrugged at Neil and Alasdair.

I was born in and have always lived with wealth.

In that I don’t need it to survive. But I care about Buchanan Security as well as the Foundation.

It’s something our father built from the ground up—

Neil jerked at the mention of David. Someone we didn’t know we were related to until a week ago.

Now here the man was, divvying his wealth from the afterlife. As if that made up for being a shitty, absent father.

You’re right. But he was our father. I for one would like to honour his legacy, Knox said.

We need to work together for five years. Take the bastard’s last name. And if either one of us quits, that’s it. Leo chuckled. I think the odds are against us. If it was Alasdair, Neil, and me, we maybe would have a chance.

Knox narrowed his eyes. What does that mean? None of us get to opt out. If we don’t take on the challenge, we all lose our shares.

Why couldn’t Knox see this was a mission bound to fail? I’m not sure I want his tainted money.

Let’s be honest, Leo, I don’t think you can afford to reject it. Knox turned to Alasdair and Neil. Do you have any objections?

What’s that supposed to mean? Leo pushed off the chair. You know nothing about me.

Except that you’re this close to being evicted and can’t afford to pay rent. Knox waved at Alasdair and Neil again. Are you happy with your roles—

Oh no, this fud was no Duke of Wellington sitting on his fucking high horse.

Leo stalked over to Knox and stabbed a finger so close to his face, the eejit flinched.

You have money. We don’t. That means you can screw us over and we won’t see it coming.

I know people like you, like David. Your millions and billions are mined from the blood and tears of others.

So no, I don’t want David’s fucking wealth.

So you’ll be staying on the streets?

Leo grabbed Knox’s buttoned-up collar—

Hey!

No, you listen, you bawbag. Next time you ask your secretary to set up a little business meeting on a fucking Sunday, without asking if we’re available, think again. We’re not your cronies. Fuck, we barely know each other. And out of all the three of you, I like you the least, by far.

Neil was blinking at the spectacle, but Alasdair’s grin had only widened. Neither of them was going to step in to separate Leo and Knox.

Knox gripped Leo’s wrist, as if that would get him to pull his hand away. Listen—

Why do you want us to say yes? Why do you want the security business?

I told you, Leo! Let me go before I call security.

That was so funny. Leo squeezed his collar one last time before he let Knox go. You want to run a security company but need a bodyguard to take care of you?

Fuck you! Knox pushed off the seat. I need the business, and I’d be damned if I let you mess this up for me.

You will take the Buchanan name and be the HR head, just like Alasdair will lead global affairs and Neil the IT department.

As for the Foundation, we’ll all have to chip in, but David outsourced the day-to-day running to the current Foundation’s manager.

I am asking her to step up and take over.

Is all that clear? After a deep inhale, Knox nodded again not waiting for anyone to agree with him.

Give me a minute. Then he stalked out, adjusting his collar as he went.

Leo turned to his other two half-brothers. What do you think is his deal?

He likes you as much as you like him. It’s a tussle for the eldest brother position.

Alasdair shrugged. Besides, I think we should take this opportunity.

And not just for the money. Fuck, global lead?

I’d be able to see the world. Besides, the Foundation runs on the security business’s donation, doesn’t it?

It’s all about rehabilitation of the survivors and victims of crime.

But we’ve to take his surname, and it’s David’s money. No one becomes rich because they’re good. Do I have to list out all the cruel billionaires for you? Leo waved at the chair Knox had vacated. Starting with our brother’s already obscene wealth? And he wants more.

Neil cleared his throat. As someone who spoke so rarely, Leo and Alasdair turned to catch his soft-spoken words.

I… Leo, I know you don’t like Knox. But I agree, the Foundation needs us.

And er, I could really do with the money.

My parents—the ones who raised me, I mean—are old.

My mother needs hospice care, and my father has dementia.

I’ll take the money and the surname if it’ll help them.

Fuck. Leo didn’t know that. I’m so sorry.

That’s shite, man. Alasdair reached out and placed a hand on Neil’s shoulder. How are you holding up?

Neil intertwined his fingers. David’s money would do them a load of good. I can give my mother the care she needs, especially in her last days. And have my father in a home that would cater to his needs. It’ll help me, really help. And help the Foundation. Please, Leo, please let’s take this on.

Alasdair squeezed Neil’s shoulder, then said to Leo, He’s our brother.

Neil shut his eyes. They’re my only family, and they never made me feel like I wasn’t theirs, biologically. It hurts to erase the surname they gave me, but the name is nothing compared to the benefits the money offers.

Family. Leo had always wondered what that would feel like. He was raised by a single immigrant mother who’d died when he was eighteen, and then he was shunned by her family, so he’d been alone most of his life.

Leo looked at Knox’s empty chair, took in the house with its rich ambience, then at Neil, his brother. His family. Okay, aye, I’m sorry. Yes. Let’s do it.