13 Soft Spot
Jace
The summons comes without explanation.
I should be used to it by now. Gideon’s office rarely holds good news, and it never comes without spectacle.
“He’s waiting for you.” His assistant scrambles to open the door for me.
I step inside.
Adrienne is pinned over his desk. Her tits bouncing against the mahogany. Hair falling over her face as she moans like a porn star. Gideon’s moving with all the entitlement and brutality I’ve come to expect.
I don’t flinch. I don’t look away. No surprise or shock allowed to manifest. He has no respect for women. He doesn’t expect me to have any either.
She’s been my father’s…lover since my mom left. Lover is misleading. The only thing he loves is power, money, and himself. She’s more like his most used human fuck doll.
Poor thing, she thinks he loves her. But when she’s playing house with Lucian, he has a parade of women who take her place. To him, they are all just a hole to be used for his pleasure.
“Jace,” he growls, like a starved man interrupted mid-feast, “tell me why she’s no longer an initiate.”
He slams so hard into Adrienne, her face pinches before letting out a moan. My blood chills at the mention of her.
He leans back, smirking over the top of Adrienne’s form. “Now we need to remove her, permanently.”
I don’t flinch. My jaw tightens.
He’s testing me, my loyalty, my patience. He wants to check whether I care. I keep my mask carefully in place. My eyes never leave his. Cold. Ruthless.
“I don’t think you should move too hastily. I think there’s a more advantageous move to be made.” I keep my voice flat.
He doesn’t answer as his thrusts increase in speed, and it borders on ridiculous.
“Gideon, I’m coming,” she screams.
He roars his release from behind her, his thrusts slowing. I keep my eyes on my father’s face as he puts himself away and Adrienne rights her skirt.
“I’ll expect a riveting proposal from you soon.” He smoothes his tie as he takes a seat in his chair, his smirk doesn’t falter.
I pivot on my heels and take measured steps out of his office.
Lucian is ruthless in many ways, but he has a soft spot. Whereas my father has none. Lucian heard Adrienne’s sob story and took her in. Fucking married her. Doesn’t even know that she’s been fucking his enemy for years. That she’s been his eyes and ears in Ashthorne Hall.
I thought about telling him, but how could I? He has no reason to believe me. I’m just the son of his enemy. No proof. Not like I can hand over my brain like a dossier of memories in a neat little file.
It would’ve just been my word against hers.