Chapter 15 Resolutions #2
Glancing back to the computer screen, I focused on the one thing that my entire world centered around, and sighed internally.
So much had changed since she’d come into my life, and it was only because I was willing to make those necessary changes in order to keep her at the center where she belonged.
All along my desk were photos of her—our wedding, our honeymoon, candid shots of her day to day.
I still found myself scrolling through the very first set of photos I took of her for the auction catalog all those years ago.
My favorite pieces of her artwork hung on the walls of my office, the drawings and paintings a reflection of her mindset I had no other means of accessing.
She was everywhere to me, the very air I breathed, and even though that air was rife with deadly toxins, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
My obsession with this fiery little demon had cost me so much more than I could have ever anticipated, and yet…
I didn’t give one flying fuck. I’d torch everything I owned if it kept her tied to me, and then I’d rebuild our lives from the ashes.
But the fact that I was absolutely willing to do all of that just for her violently pissed me off.
I had killed my own brother for her without a second thought, and regretted none of it.
Jaden shouldn’t have this much control over me, this much power, but she did, and there was simply no way around that. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I would blindly chase this woman right into my own damn grave and not regret a single step.
Did that mean I loved her? Was that what this uncontrollable compulsion meant?
No, it couldn’t be that, because deep down, I knew the truth.
Whatever it was that I felt for this wild little menace could not be love.
Because whatever I felt was so much worse.
It was ugly, and black, and toxic. And a goddamn death sentence for us both.
But I signed our names on the dotted line anyway, dragging Jaden down a path that led us both straight to a hell built from the bones and blood we’d violently ripped from each other’s battle-torn bodies. It might be dark, ruthless, and chaotic, but it was ours. And no one else’s.
The sound of my phone ringing stole my attention from the security footage just as Sloane and Katherine came into the picture.
I internally groaned as I checked the caller ID, answering the phone before I changed my mind.
After having delt with enough drama in the past week for an entire lifetime, I wasn’t in a hurry to take on more, but his call was never one to be ignored, no matter how much I wanted to.
“Lewis,” I answered in greeting.
“Sir, I’m sorry to bother you, but it’s urgent. Unfortunately, I have some very disturbing news to report,” he replied, his voice slightly shaken.
Of course you do.
Lewis was part of my nonexistent shadow team, the one that watched and listened from the underground and reported anything of value back to me.
He was the most expensive pair of eyes and ears on the entire planet, but he was well worth it.
Out of all of them, Lewis had proven to be the most reliable, which meant any time he called, there was a sixty-five percent chance he was calling with bad news.
“I’m listening.”
“Word has reached the ears of some of the other families and syndicates that you have lost your bargaining power,” he spoke quickly.
“They’ve been told that whatever evidence you may have previously held over their heads has gone up in flames with the destruction of your server farms. And because of this, they plan to rise against you. ”
My silence at his words did nothing to ease the tremor in his voice, and like the anxious little fuck he was, he continued to talk.
“Even worse, sir, another rumor has also spread that the Duvalls were framed for your mother’s death.
That she orchestrated the entire war against them to save you and your brothers from your father’s influence.
As you can imagine, this belief has caused much disarray, and only further motivates their intentions. ”
I suppressed the growl that was ready to erupt from my chest, willing myself not to crush my phone in my hand.
Instead, I forced myself to focus on gathering as much information as I could from Lewis.
I would need to prepare for the impending bloodshed that was likely headed my way if I didn’t act tactfully.
“How soon do they intend to move?” I asked, keeping my voice even.
“I’m not sure. In the next few weeks, most likely. I don’t know the details of the plans yet, but as soon as I do, I will report back.”
I exhaled deeply, releasing some of the tension growing in my chest. If the details hadn’t been worked out, then it meant they had no idea what they were going to do yet.
Which also meant there was still time to divert their objectives into something far more profitable for us all.
Otherwise, I’d have to orchestrate one hell of a massacre.
“Thanks, Lewis. I appreciate the call.”
“Of course, sir.”
After hanging up, I set my phone down on my desk and rolled the tightness from my shoulders.
“What crises do we have on our hands now?” Scott asked as he stared at me from across the room.
I sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of my nose as a headache started to make itself known.
“The crises we’ve been hoping to avoid since Jaden revealed that goddamn letter. And the other one that our so-called allies stupidly believe makes them all instantly invincible now.”
Scott was silent for a moment before he cursed under his breath.
“How do you want to handle this?” he asked.
I rubbed my hand against my face, dragging my fingers through my hair as my mind raced for a solution that didn’t involve killing every single one of them. Bloodshed could be so fucking expensive sometimes.
“Organize a meeting with all the leaders,” I said. “Bring them all here to renegotiate their contracts and territories, incentivize them that making more money is far better than the cost of spilling blood.”
“And if things go south when they get here?”
If things went south, then there was only one resolution left on the table.
“Then we’ll have the most convenient massacre we’ve ever executed.”