CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
– FIERO –
Floris and I are sitting in my office while I thumb through the pictures Tate sent me. Quinn needs to rest, and my brother and I need to put a plan in motion. A plan I’m wrapping my brain around to end this once and for all. I feel as if we only have one shot at this.
“Are you sure reaching out to Archibald will help us get to Cillian?” Floris asks.
“No. It’s our best option. Archibald is the connection to end this,” I muse and select a picture to add to the message I’m going to send the asshole through his sister’s phone.
My life and mindset have consisted of having control, giving orders, and basically ruling my damn empire.
I’m a cold, egotistical, driven man and having Quinn swoop in has made me stronger, and definitely wiser.
She puts everything in perspective, and I’m not talking about the business or personal side.
I’m talking about past, future, and present.
Floris places his hands on my desk and leans in. “How is Archibald the connection to end this? It’s clear to me Cillian is the one using him. This revenge shit is bigger than simply trading his sister for Cillian.”
“I only need to talk to him and offer him a deal.” I get to my feet and turn to open the safe.
“What are you doing?” Floris asks.
I ignore him and go through the archives to get the piece of paper I need. Grabbing the file, I turn to place it on the desk. It takes a few heartbeats to find it, and when I have, I lock away the rest inside the safe.
Shoving the piece of paper in his direction, I start to explain. “This is the official order our father gave to Rupert Baylor.”
Floris frowns. “The order that caused everything to go to shit.”
“It’s also an incriminating piece of paper. Handing this evidence over to Archibald will...”
“Give him the opportunity to prosecute our father and put him in jail,” Floris finishes.
“Right, and that’s exactly what we’ll give him.” I regain my seat and watch my brother’s reaction.
He straightens and nods. “Good. Finally, the fucker can pay for ruining the lives he interfered with. It’s not like our mother is still alive to suffer for his mistakes.
We couldn’t do it then because of her, even if he betrayed her.
Fuck, it’s the perfect revenge for us as well without laying a damn hand on him. Wait. Is it going to blow back on us?”
“Everything was in his name back then. He changed everything to his own damn name when our grandfather handed the business over to our father. When I bought him out, I changed it back to our family name since we both received our mother’s surname at birth.
Everything he did with the company at the time he was in charge of.
That is on him. This decision is between us.
We need to be in agreement before I offer this to Archibald.
Once we have his cooperation we can go after Cillian.
I’ve got something in mind for that motherfucker, it involves a vengeful man we have tied up in the basement, but this part needs to pull through for everything to work. ”
“Fuck, yeah, brother. Throw him in front of the lions. He made his own bed and never had one single ounce of regret or paid for his sins.” He rubs his hands. “Tell me how we’re going to do this.”
Tate took an image of his hand on Aubrielle’s throat. Her shocked face is the perfect way to motivate Archibald. I’m also adding a screenshot of Quinn wearing the wig while she’s on the bed with a cock in her hand.
Showing Floris the images on Aubrielle’s phone, I say, “I’m going to provoke him with these pictures, and order him to come here if he wants to have his sister back in one piece. Once he’s here we’ll tell him all about the bonus he’s getting if he hands us Cillian.”
“Sounds good to me.” Floris grins and I hit send.
I get to my feet. “I’m going to have Tate bring Aubrielle to Quinn’s room. It’s easier for him to watch both of them in the same space. I’ll put one of our men in front of the door. There’s a good chance Archibald will alert Cillian and plan something.”
Shooting a message to Tate, I wait for his response before I pocket both phones.
Floris follows me out of the office. “I’ll have Benny lock up the stables. We should be prepared for anything.”
“Agreed. Inform our men. I’m going to check on Quinn before having a little chat with her brother.”
“Need me to come with you to the basement?” Floris asks.
A phone in my pocket gives a notification of an incoming message. I check and share, “Archibald is heading this way. I’ll handle Micah after I check on Quinn. Make sure our men are ready for anything.”
“You got it, boss,” Floris rumbles and jogs down the hall.
I enter Quinn’s room and see my woman on the bed while talking to Aubrielle.
Quinn meets my eyes and Aubrielle turns, when she sees it’s me she says, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what my brother was up to. I’d never put Quinn at risk.”
Saying sorry and actually being sorry are two very different things. I don’t have time to acknowledge her sincerity and it’s why she’s only getting a nod from me.
“Your brother is on his way here. I hope to have a civil discussion with him to end this revenge path he’s been on and fueling Cillian’s along with it.” Pointing at Tate I add, “Tate is going to keep you two safe, so stay inside this room, please.”
With two other people in the room, I can hardly get a moment alone with Quinn.
Turning to leave I hear her voice. “Can I have a minute?”
Aubrielle gives me a small smile. “I’m gonna go stand with the asshole in the corner to give you two some privacy.”
“I should spank your lush ass for calling me an asshole,” Tate snaps.
Aubrielle shoots back a snarky reply.
I ignore their banter while sitting down on the bed next to Quinn. “How’s your ankle?”
“Better now that the doctor has taped it. I also have crutches, so I don’t have to put weight on it if I have to go to the bathroom. Rest is apparently all I need and in one to three weeks I’ll be all good. There’s only one problem.” She sighs.
“What’s the problem?” I ask, eager to fix whatever the problem is.
With an overdramatic voice she says, “Tomorrow morning I can’t stand in front of my window to watch my husband wearing his tight pants.”
A bark of laughter rips from me and the hushed banter in the corner stops.
I reach out, cup the side of her face, and lean in to touch my forehead to hers. “Then I’ll make sure you sleep in my bedroom tonight, which is ours now that we’re married. You can watch me get dressed and I’ll bring you out to the stables. You can watch me ride one of the horses.”
There’s a smile in her voice when she says, “Perfect solution to the problem.”
Pulling slightly back, I stare at her lips, wondering what it would feel like to brush my mouth against hers. Her breath hitches when I lean in. Loud knocking breaks our moment. My fucking moment.
Agitated, I stare at Floris who just stepped inside the room. “A limousine escorted by two vans just arrived.”
I turn to Quinn. “Stay here.”
She points at her ankle. “I’m not gonna run anywhere anytime soon.”
“Good. Let me handle this and then we’re moving you into our bedroom. You can order me around to hang your clothes in the huge walk-in closet.”
Again, I hear the smile in her voice. “Sounds perfect. Go. Go do your thing and I’ll be here waiting to order you around when you’re finished.”
I place a hand over her belly. “You’ll both be here.”
She covers her hand with mine. I get to my feet and place a kiss on the top of her head. Tate and Aubrielle are staring wide-eyed at me.
Ignoring both, I tell Floris, “Get ready, I need to do something real quick.”
Running through the hall, I head for the basement and open the door of the room where I put Micah. I give him a quick rundown on what’s happening and what I have planned. He keeps staring at me and after I’m done, he gives me one tight nod.
I’m taking a huge risk here, but I’m trusting my gut. Cutting him loose, I stare at him for a moment. He stays in place, as agreed so he’s out of sight and has the element of surprise if we do get attacked. I head back upstairs. Archibald enters my house along with two men I don’t recognize.
“Gentlemen,” I rumble. “Let’s head into my office.”
“Where’s my sister? I won’t go anywhere until I’ve seen her with my own eyes,” Archibald snaps.
“My office.” I spin around and couldn’t give a fuck if he follows me or not; it’s in his own benefit if he does.
Footsteps follow me as I step inside my office. Floris is leaning against the wall while the three men are standing in front of my desk.
I’ve never been a man to beat around the bush and it’s why I get straight to the point. “Working with Cillian won’t get you the revenge you crave. I’m offering you a solution if you’re willing to let me deal with Cillian myself.”
“You don’t have a solution. Now get my damn sister here so I can leave,” he fires back.
Such a damn hothead.