Chapter 2
Chapter Two
PIERCE
There is nothing more I hate than waiting. I don’t give a shit that Biff didn’t know I was coming today. That was the point. I didn’t want him to have a stack of lies and excuses ready.
This is why you never do business with friends, but I use the word "friend" loosely. We went to college together, but more than that, we were both initiated into the King of Thieves the same night.
Biff was always going to be a member. Every man in Biff's family before him had been a member of the King of Thieves, as they all attended Dartnell, one of the best Ivy League colleges in the States.
I was a nobody at the time but heard whispers about the King of Thieves and what they could do for you.
It's why I picked Dartnell to begin with.
I had my choice of colleges, full rides and all.
I worked my ass off to get there. I got into the King of Thieves because I earned it.
It wasn't handed to me; nothing ever has been.
All Biff does is sit on his ass. His time is coming, and I'm ready to collect.
Should I have loyalty to the society? That could be debated.
Merely being in it opens all kinds of doors, but they use you right back.
It's hard to have loyalty to an organization that tolerates dipshits like Biff.
He thinks he has some protection from me because of those ties.
If he does, it's hanging on by a thread.
I pick up one of the pictures on the shelf of his bookcase.
It’s him and his wife. I heard she’s leaving him.
He’s scrambling to find a good divorce lawyer.
It was my understanding that he might have literally fucked his prenup.
Piece by piece his life is going to fall apart.
The Bradford name isn’t what it used to be.
It’s now all a house of cards, using one investment venture to pay off the last.
Robbing Peter to pay Paul. One thing I don’t tolerate is fucking with my money.
I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon. I earned every dollar I’ve made, and now I’m the bank that people like Biff need to borrow from to stay afloat, but he’s getting sloppy, and I don’t want to be around when it all comes crashing down.
I prefer to keep my hands clean, and I won’t be linked to the schemes he’s been up to. I want to make a clean break from him but refuse to forgive the loans he owes me. I want repayment in full before he crashes and burns for good.
I set the photo down as the double doors to Biff’s office fly open. A tiny blonde with pink streaks in her hair stands there, her boot still in the air from kicking it. She comes in like a sparkly Tasmanian devil.
Well, isn't this interesting?
The tiny blonde has both determination and fire in her eyes.
She's pissed. Is she one of his mistresses?
Based solely on her black leggings, winter boots, and a pink sweater that fits her curves, I doubt she is one of his, as her clothing appears to be from an ordinary retailer.
If she is his mistress, he's not paying her very well. But she's gorgeous enough to be.
Her dark green eyes lock onto me and narrow, making my cock harden.
Well, fuck me. She has plump lips and a heart-shaped face, but that button nose of hers and high cheekbones make her striking.
Perfection, really. Across her cheeks and nose are glittery freckles, making her look like a real-life pixie.
“Who the hell are you?” she asks, marching right in and glancing around.
“And where is that asshole?” She rolls her eyes.
“You must be the lawyer.” The tiny spitfire shakes her head, like a mother disappointed in her child.
“Got on a thirty thousand dollar suit but still look like you fight squirrels for bread.”
I simply stare at her. What the fuck does that even mean? I'm going with it because she is by far the most interesting and entertaining human I have come across in a long time, if ever.
"Are we counting the cufflinks? That would up it another five grand."
"Good, I'm glad you got money. You're going to need it after I sue your client for stalking." I love the confidence she speaks with. It’s sexy as fuck. This spitfire is the full package.
"Stalking?"
"Yeah, he's obsessed with me." She flicks her hair over her shoulder.
"Can't say I blame him."
"Don't try your lawyerly smooth talk on me."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
"Because you evil bloodsuckers don't dream. You're a bunch of nightmares." I can't argue with that, but I want to if it keeps her engaged.
"Stalking?" I do want to get back to that.
"He's pissed. I gave him the slip and outed him to his wife."
"You were dating him?"
"Oh, God no." She takes a couple of steps back like my words assaulted her.
"He was merely a job." No, I don't believe it. There’s no way this goddess has to sell her body to make money. Not that there is anything wrong with it, but I can’t imagine it.
"You're a hooker?"
"Whoa, let's calm down there, and don't be a dick. If I were selling sex, I'd be a high-class call girl."
"My apologies." I sit down in one of the chairs next to the bookcase.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Biff comes striding into his office. I'm back on my feet as he tries to get in her face, intimidating her with his size.
"All right now, like your hairline, you need to take a step back, Cliff." Biff opens and then closes his mouth.
"It's Biff."
"Who cares?" She shrugs, and I’d bet she does know his name and she clearly has his number clocked.
"Oh, you're going to care. I have only just gotten started with you. You think you can rip my life apart, and I won't return the favor?"
She turns to glance toward me. "This is what happens when cousins get too close." It takes all the control I have mastered in my life to keep from laughing.
"My wife left me because of you," he accuses her.
"You're welcome. You don't need to be procreating. This bloodline needs to be cut off. And let’s be clear: Your wife left you because of your intended infidelity.”
"Do you know who I am?" Biff's whole face is turning red, even the tops of his ears. I step closer, worried he might strike her. Over my dead body.
"Yeah, I know who you are. You're the human equivalent of a participation trophy."
“You got a smart fucking mouth.”
“Thank you.” She smirks. “Most of you dumbasses feel that way. Hard to keep up.” Biff sees me stepping closer. I give him a look that suggests he should step back, or I will force him back myself. He takes a breath, getting his anger under control.
She’s quick-witted and clearly knows how to poke and provoke the male ego.
"Are you stalking her?" I ask because the two of them are getting nowhere even if it is entertaining.
"I haven't done anything she hasn't."
"You took all my pictures and tried to do a smear campaign on me."
"If you didn't have whoring pictures online, then it wouldn't have happened."
"If you could keep your dick in your pants, none of this would have happened," she throws back at him.
"Maybe I should see these pictures." My curiosity is piqued.
"I'm sure Clifford the Big Red Dog here will be happy to show you."
"She sets up traps to lure men out to ruin their lives."
"A girl's gotta have more than one hobby. My fingers get tired when I knit for too long." She inspects her hands.
"Maybe we all should sit down and talk about both of your hobbies." I need her name, and I can tell she's gearing up to leave already. She’s a little firecracker, and I’m finding I want nothing more than to see more of her.
“What you need to do is make sure he leaves me the hell alone.”
“What I’m going to do—”
“I wasn’t done.” She cuts him off, and he actually shuts the fuck up for once.
I think he’s more confused than anything.
He is not used to someone he deems as not important daring to do so.
Especially not a woman. “My town doesn’t give a shit if I run naked through it.
It’s pointless to try and smear me there.
The only thing that will get you is a lot of enemies from all walks of life. ”
“What town?” I ask. I’m sure I can get this information out of Biff, but I enjoy hearing her speak more.
“Did you get your manners from him?” She points her thumb at Biff. “Anyway, the town is New Hope.” That comes out smugly and with a sexy smirk. Yes, I can see how she lures men into traps. I want to be in hers right now.
I have heard of the town. It’s a small tourist destination. People have to fight to get to stay there for a weekend. Most have to travel in and leave the same day during the holiday season. Christmas passed weeks ago. I only remember because no one was working that day.
"I think it's time you leave, or I'll have security escort you out." Finally, Biff realizes that he is not going to win a battle of words against this spitfire fairy.
"You got what you deserved," she tells him, knocking that chin of hers up a few degrees, not that it gives her any more height.
"You don't want to take me or my town on. I can promise you that. You’ve been warned.
" She starts walking out of the office backwards.
"It's been lovely, boys. I hope we can never do this again.
" She grabs both door handles and slams the double doors closed.
I have to fight the urge to chase after her.
Not yet. I need more information.
"That fucking cun—"
"Watch it," I warn. A pissy scowl takes over his still red face. "Sit and tell me what the fuck that was."
"It's nothing." He stomps over to the small glass bar, pouring himself a whiskey.
“That wasn't nothing."
"She tricked me. I met her at a bar a week ago for a date."
"What bar?" When he says the name of the bar of a hotel down the street, we both know why he was there. It was meant to be a hookup. "You need to leave it be."
"Why? She already ripped my world apart. I got some spare time on my hands now that my wife took off to Europe."
"It sounds like you had too much spare time before your wife took off." Biff shoots back his whiskey. "This isn't going to go over well for you right now." He doesn’t need a bigger scandal.
Sure, investors, stockholders, and CEOs fuck around on their wives, but they don't let that shit get out there.
There are some that don't. I don't fuck around with cheaters.
If you are willing to betray the person you chose to spend your life with and have children with, whom you claim to love, then you will fuck me over in a heartbeat.
"I'm working on it." He runs a hand down his face. Biff is talking about more than the bullshit around his wife. I'm here because his side of the street needs to be cleaned up.
"I'm close to pulling your loans back," I warn. I was going to pull them altogether, but now things are interesting, and I might need to have this over his head for the time being. It's always good to have leverage. It can often be priceless.
"Give me time. There is this new pharmaceutical—" I hold my hand up to stop him, and he pauses but only for half a breath. "We're Kings." It took him no time to pull that card, but I knew it was coming.
I don't want to be a king. Not in their world. A king of what? The higher you climb in that society, the more you see the smoke and mirrors.
"I want everything you have on the girl." His brows rise.
"Yes, on it." He nods adamantly, thinking I'm going to look into her for him. "Stay away from her. You'll make it worse."
"Understood."
It's a lie. Biff has never understood a goddamn thing in his life. But he will if he goes after my little pixie.