Chapter 29
Killian
I hear the sound of his expensive shoes clicking across the wood floors as he comes into the dark living room.
He drops his bag onto a chair and shrugs off his long coat as his eyes roam around. It takes him a moment before he spots me sitting back in the club chair in the corner.
His beady eyes dart around the room. “Shit. I didn’t even see you. Where’s Celani?” He asks, tossing his coat onto the back of the sofa.
I keep my eyes on his and don’t move. “She’s somewhere safer than here.”
He squints at me as if I’m speaking a foreign language, and he can’t decipher what I’m saying.
“What the hell are you talking about?” He demands, his voice rising. “What did you do with my girlfriend?”
His arrogant voice grates on my nerves, and I truly can’t wait to never hear it again. I slowly rise out of the chair and move over to where he is standing. He takes a step back from me, looking uncertain for a moment.
“What did I do? The question is, what did you do, Pierce?” I ask, glowering down at him. “You have some things to explain, you son of a bitch.”
His eyes widen and he clenches his fists as if he’d actually do something with them. “How dare you speak to me that way!”
I tilt my head at him. “You’re right. Celani has always said that your mother was a nice woman. You’re the bitch, not her.” I correct.
He jabs his finger through the air at me. “You can’t speak to me like this! You work for me! Have you forgotten?” He spits.
I shake my head. “Not anymore,” I respond coolly. “You see, I think you forgot the clause in our contract that talks about transparency.”
He looks at me confused so I continue. “Let me help remind you. It says that if a client doesn’t disclose critical information that may put myself or my team at risk, then I have the right to immediately terminate my services. So consider this your notice. You’re fired, Pierce.”
The blaze dies from his eyes and he stiffens, “W-what are you talking about?” He asks, attempting to look puzzled.
My hands dart out and grip the front of his suit jacket in a flash. He yells out in protest as I drag him over to the wall and pin him up against it. I lower my face to his, trying to reign in the fury raging inside of me.
I hear the back door open and turn to see Malakai coming inside. He steps into the living room assessing the situation in front of him.
“What! What is this? Let go of me,” Pierce demands with less bravado than he had before.
I turn my furious gaze back on him, and he swallows hard.
“There’s two ways we can do this, Crowell,” I offer.
“The first option, you tell me in your own words why you really brought my team here to protect you and Celani. The second option, you can keep lying through your veneers, and playing dumb, and I make you tell me why you brought us here.”
His eyes dart between me and Malakai behind me, and I can tell he’s trying to weigh his options, though he truly has none. Unfortunately his stupidity wins over his common sense again.
His breathing speeds up and he shakes his head furiously. “I don’t know what this is about! If it’s money you want then-"
I release one of my hands from his suit and wrap my fingers around his throat, squeezing just hard enough to let him know that I’ve had enough of his shit. His eyes bulge and he begins to claw at my hand.
“You might want to try again,” Malakai chimes in boredly from behind us.
Pierce attempts to nod and I wait another moment before releasing my hold. He coughs hard and desperately tries to fill his lungs with air.
“Ok!” He rasps, holding out his palms.
I move to the back of the couch next to Malakai and fold my arms over my chest, waiting impatiently. Pierce gathers himself, and a look of defeat settles over his face and posture. He scrubs a hand down his face and looks up at us.
“Fine. I’ll tell you everything.”