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On instinct, I glance at the kid.
It pains me to find no surprise or confusion in his features. The topic of conversation isn’t out of the ordinary. And I guess that shouldn’t shock me. If his upbringing is at all like mine, he’s probably heard his father talk uncensored about brutal crimes since the moment he was born.
“Don’t worry about him.” Luther ruffles my brother’s hair. “He’s not new to this. He’s actually just like you when you were little—enthusiastic and excited to learn everything his papa has to teach.”
Bless the naivety of Torian children.
“Speaking of teaching,” I drawl. “How are you laying low here? Where do you keep these women without drawing attention?”
He shrugs. “They’re moved often. If you change your mind and decide to come onboard, you won’t need to worry about things like that. We’re entirely covered.”
It’s my turn to kick back, leaning against the armrest while I eye him in contemplation. “What sort of money are we talking?”
“Are you thinking about changing your mind on my offer?” His brows raise, along with the curve of his lips. “You would love it, son. I know you’ve always had money, but the pussy and power are addictive.”
He’s ignorant if he doesn’t think I’ve always had all three.
“I’ve been contemplating the pros and cons.” I suck in a deep breath and let it out on a tired sigh. “I’m not entirely convinced the risk is worth the complication.”
His smile grows. I can almost see a fucking twinkle in his eye. “I knew you’d come to your senses sooner or later. You’ve always been a chip off the old block.”
“That’s never been in doubt.”
“I wasn’t so sure,” he muses. “For a while, I thought you may have become a disappointment. And I’ll be honest, it concerned me. We’ve always been a family business. We work together, and you not having my back was an insult.”
“It was an insult to have this business ru
“That was your conflict?” His face brightens. He’s just found the pot at the end of the rainbow. “I thought you had moral issues. I actually feared you’d turned soft.”
“I’m neither soft nor moral,” I drawl.
“Well, regardless, the secrecy was your uncle's decision. You two rarely saw eye to eye, and because it was his brainchild, he insisted we keep it to ourselves.”
The mention of Richard always makes my hackles rise, but to learn he’s the reason I was kept in the dark is a fucking sucker punch. Even after death, that piece of shit has proven he can fuck with my life.
“That’s all in the past now.” I let the coffee soothe me, the hot liquid beating back the rage.
“Along with my disappointment.” We drink in unison. Slow sip after slow sip. “When I got word of your arrival, I couldn’t deny my pride for you returned.”
“I’ve always been one flight away; all you needed to do was reach out.” Maybe if he’d tried, this shit never would’ve happened. I could’ve got in his head before Richard. I would’ve diverted the taint to our family name, not letting it start in the first place.
“I’m not referring to your visit. I’m talking about the prize you brought along with you.”
I stiffen.
The skin at the back of my neck prickles.
I hold myself in check, barely able to control the threadbare wisps of my anger at his knowledge of Anissa.
It’s not that I didn’t anticipate the capabilities of his spies. I knew my arrival was under surveillance. I just didn’t anticipate how strongly I would want to protect her.
“A woman bound and sedated.” He smirks. “You have no idea how pleased that makes me.”
I snicker, because how else should I respond to a pride-filled moment surrounding the abduction of an unwilling victim?
“Where is she?”
I hold my smile in place. I nail that motherfucker down, not letting it budge an inch. “In my bed. Passed out.”
I face him the way he’s always taught me to face a challenge—without emotion or investment.
Anissa is nothing.
Not a woman. Or an asset. Or a fucking addiction.
My concern for her doesn’t exist.
“Passed out?” He clucks his tongue, his eyes dancing with excitement. “Keeping them conscious and fighting is the best part.”
I laugh and contemplate pulling the gun from my waistband.
The thirst for bloodshed beats through my veins. The desire to claim retribution for all his transgressions is a pulse throbbing through every organ, pummeling every limb.
But that kid.
That fucking kid is still here, staring up at me, taking in the horrors like a vacuum.
“Her enthusiasm to escape has grown tiring.” I finish the last of my coffee and place the mug on the table. “Sometimes I need a break.”
“Now your weariness makes more sense.”
“I assure you, it’s all been in good fun.”
He chuckles again, and the pride I see in his face sickens me. He’s never looked at me this way. Judgment has always accompanied his praise. Bitterness has come hand in hand with each of his compliments.
Until now.
He’s finally seeing me as a worthy son to his inheritance when all I want to do is spit in the face of what he has to offer.
“I assume you’ve made preparations for when you grow tired of her.”
I incline my head. “Yes. She’s going to take a long walk off a short pier.”
“Good idea.” He nudges Tobias in the ribs. “People disappear easily out here, don’t they, son?”
The kid nods, the movement wrought with hesitation.
It’s fucking draining to watch the boy. He’s this i
I can’t take my eyes off him as my father fills the passing minutes with whimsical stories about the women he’s conquered. The beauties from Spain who were barely in their teens. And those from the US who are always harder to break because they’re used to a life of freedom and unending human rights.
I sprinkle the conversation with my approval, convincing him I’m impressed while the need for revenge builds behind my ribs.
“And how are your sisters?” he asks. “I’ve told Tobias about them. Stella, too. I’m hoping you’ll convince them all to come visit us soon.”
“Of course.” I don’t comment on the ease with which he switches from the topic of rape to settle on his daughters and granddaughter. I don’t let him know every breath he takes makes me grind my teeth harder. “All you need to do is tell me a suitable date and I’ll have them on the jet.”
He nods, seeming appeased, while Tobias yawns.
“Your boy needs sleep.” I jerk my head in the kid’s direction. “Do you want to set him up in one of the spare rooms?”
“No. I never pla
“Okay.” I stand and follow them both into the open space away from the sofa.
It’s time to act.
Now or never.
Everything slows to the precious seconds between each thunderous pound of my pulse. The sound echoes in my ears, becoming a driving force. All I need to do is move the kid out of the way.
“You can come for a tour of the house.” My father turns to face me. “And I can take you to one of the functions I host on a regular basis. You can see my business in action.” He pauses, a grin spreading from ear to ear. “Bring your toy. She might enjoy the learning experience.”
“I think she’d disagree,” I grate. “The little bitch is hard enough to handle already.”