Chapter 9 Ella
ELLA
“Who delivered that package?” I ask no one in particular as the tension in the air grows thicker by the second. The thought of how that is possible is disconcerting. The Langfords don’t live in a neighborhood where you can just saunter up to their front door and drop off a package.
“It was left outside the gates just as we were finishing up dinner,” Harrington says.
“Security caught footage of a black car with no license plate pull up. A man in a heavy coat and a ski mask exited the car and left the package. My men tested the box to make sure it didn’t contain a bomb or a chemical threat, and once they were sure it was somewhat safe to open, they opened it on the grounds.
As soon as they saw what was inside, they brought it to me. ”
Holy fucking hell.
“Even without a license plate to identify the car, this has to be Sergei and Yegor,” Asher says to Declan. “What I don’t know is if Yegor is still pulling strings from Russia or if he’s on US soil.”
What the hell?
“Who is Sergei and Yegor? What do they want?”
“I’ll explain on the way home,” Asher says, resigned.
“Perhaps the two of you should stay the night,” Catherine says, worry lacing her tone.
“Whoever delivered that threat knew you were here. This was an impromptu family dinner, so your schedule and whereabouts were not known by many people, which means someone followed you here. Who’s to say they won’t follow you home?
You only have Robert and Jenkins with you. ”
I turn to look at Asher, but his expression gives nothing away.
“You’re right,” he says after a moment. “If it was just me, I would take my chances, but I won’t take that risk with Ella.”
“We need to discuss all of this as a family, anyway,” Harrington says. “You boys haven’t told me all of what you know, and these threats have now made their way onto my doorstep. I will not have your mother or my family in jeopardy like this.”
Catherine asks Harold for a tea service, and we all take our seats in the living room.
Asher sits so close to me that we’re touching, and he rests his hand over my knee as he begins to explain what he, his PIs, Declan, and Sterling have uncovered.
I have a hard time following everything since TDC Oil and Greenspan are new to me, but I follow enough to get the gist. TDC Oil is directly threatened by Greenspan, and they’ve been trying to take out that threat for the past thirty years or so.
Asher’s grandfather was accidentally murdered by men who kidnapped him to make demands and threaten him, and they covered up the murder by staging a car accident.
My stomach nearly bottoms out when Asher divulges that he was with his grandfather that night and was also kidnapped and nearly killed the in the car accident.
And he was only a boy.
“TDC is no longer content to make trouble from the shadows,” Asher says, rubbing his palm across his jaw. “They are overtly coming after Greenspan and anyone who gets in their way, which is me, my brothers, and my dad.” He lets out a sigh. “But since you’re with me, that threat now extends to you.
“TDC’s owner, Sergei Antonov, is incredibly connected here in the US, and his cousin Yegor Antonov is one of the heads of the Bratva in Russia,” Asher continues.
Catherine’s lips purse in fear as she takes in his words.
“Since Sergei buys most of his oil from Yegor, this affects them both, and they are both willing to do whatever it takes to destroy Greenspan since they know how close its technology is to changing the world.”
“Who have you contacted about this?” Harrington asks Asher.
“No one. I don’t trust the FBI or the CIA with this. I know Sergei has some deep connections in the government, I just don’t know who they are besides Senator Sanders, so until I do, I’m keeping my cards close to my chest.”
Harrington fingers his late father’s gold cufflinks, and I can see the unshed tears in his eyes.
I know from what Asher’s told me that Edward was an incredible man, and Harrington loved his father very much.
Edward is the Langford who changed the direction of the family.
Prior to him, the Langfords were cruel and bloodthirsty, and conquered the business world without conscience or remorse.
It was Edward who saw his family’s greed for what it was and decided to change that.
He implemented more ethical business practices and felt strongly that because he had the power to change the world for the better, that it was his responsibility to do so.
Harrington has followed in his footsteps and so have Asher and his brothers.
Yes, they’re all still ruthless businessmen in many ways, but they truly want to make the world a better place.
It isn’t lost on me how rare a man like Edward is.
When you’re born into incredible wealth and sold the lie that you are inherently better than everyone, it takes a strong character to break out of that mindset and choose a different path.
And yet Edward did. I know his death has left its mark on his son and grandsons, not just because of the violent nature of it, but because of the tremendous loss of him as a person.
“There is strong evidence that Uncle Albert was involved with Sergei,” Asher tells Harrington.
Harrington merely sighs. “That isn’t surprising. His jealousy and bitterness toward his brother were not something he hid well.”
“Not unlike Conrad with you. Or Gregory with our boys,” Catherine says in a cold voice. She’s stiffer than she was just a moment ago, as if speaking about Asher’s uncle and cousin is difficult for her. She looks between Harrington and Asher. “You both need to be careful with them.”
Asher nods. “We will, but they aren’t our main concern right now. Other than the fact that Conrad is all too eager to sell Greenspan. I just don’t know if it’s because he hates that the company is a money pit or if he has some connection to Sergei.”
“Either way, keep away from him. And keep him and his snake of a son away from Ella. You should inform Jenkins that neither of them is to be near her at work.”
The fire in her eyes and the tension in her demeanor makes me wonder if there’s some sort of history that I’m not aware of.
This is somewhat confirmed when both Asher and Harrington agree quickly and assure her it will be done.
But I don’t ask about it. Whatever that history is, I’ll leave it alone unless they volunteer the information.
I don’t want to pry into something that seems quite personal.
“I’ll start keeping a closer watch on Pussory,” Declan says. “I’ve been meaning to, anyway.”
“Pussory?” I ask, confused.
“Gregory,” Declan says with a smirk. “It’s a little nickname I gave him when we were kids.”
I hold back a smile. Of course Declan would gift a nickname like that to the cousin he hates.
“What is your plan?” Harrington asks Asher. “We need this taken care of.”
“We’re working on it now. We’ve only just had the last bits of information confirmed this morning.”
“I want to be kept in the loop, Son. As I said, I won’t have this danger threatening my family.”
Asher nods.
Harrington’s words seem to end the family meeting, and Declan and Asher stand. I follow suit.
Catherine turns to me. “I have something you can wear to bed, Ella.”
“No,” Asher barks, and then he shudders. “Sorry. That’s nice of you to offer, but I don’t want Ella in my bed wearing my mother’s clothes.”
Catherine rolls her eyes. “Don’t be dramatic, darling.”
“He’s got a point, my love,” Harrington says with a smirk.
“So what, the poor girl will have nothing to wear . . .” She trails off at Asher’s shameless shrug and Declan’s sly grin. “Oh, never mind. I unfortunately know what the Langford men are like.”
I blush. And then blush even harder as Harrington slaps her ass and shoots her a lascivious grin. “Unfortunate, hmm?”
“Ugh!” Declan groans. “Not again! Keep it in your pants, Dad.”
“Oh please, Son. You’re all aware of how you were conceived.”
Declan makes a dramatic gagging sound. “The sooner my penthouse is finished, the sooner I can get out of this hell.”
I shoot Asher a quizzical look.
“Declan just started a remodel on his penthouse, so he’s living here with my parents.”
“Which means I get a front-row-seat to their disgusting ways,” Declan says with a shudder.
Asher snorts. “You act like it’s something new, like they haven’t been this way in front of us our whole lives.”
“Hush, you two,” Catherine admonishes. “Be grateful your parents love each other.”
“We just wish you’d keep your love a little more private,” Declan says with another shudder. Then he turns to Catherine, narrowing his eyes. “Especially you, you’re supposed to be proper and stiff like all good Brits. Outward affection isn’t supposed to be in your repertoire.”
“Well, I didn’t defect from the UK for no reason, did I? Your father’s charm and flagrant affection won me over. And rubbed off on me.”
“That’s not the only thing that rubbed off on you,” Harrington says, kissing her cheek.
“No!” Declan yells again, covering his ears. “That’s it, I’m going to bed before I lose my dinner.”
Harrington and Catherine giggle like teenagers as they watch their second son march out of the room with a huff.
“Let’s go,” Asher says, tugging on my arm. “Before they get even more gross.”
“Wait,” Catherine says, turning to me again. “I will stay out of the sleepwear situation, but if you’ll follow me, I’ll get you some toiletries. I don’t know what’s stocked in Asher’s old bedroom.”
Asher presses a kiss to my cheek. “I’ll meet you back upstairs in my old room.
” But then he must be thinking about what we were just up to in his old room, because he shoots me his own lascivious grin, and I can’t help but agree with Catherine—it seems all the Langford men are insatiable red-blooded males.