“I have things to do today, so why don’t we just cut to the chase, since you’re already wasting my time. I’m a very busy man, and I don’t appreciate accepting a meeting with someone who can’t even bother to show his face.” I rested my arm on the back of the booth and looked around the table. “I guess I’m stuck with you all. I’m sure you’ve no doubt summoned me here in an attempt to persuade me to join the organization or turn over the estate.” I swirled the scotch in my glass, adding mildly, “And I can assure you, just like I’ve said since the very beginning, neither of those things is ever going to happen.”
Looks were exchanged across the table, and one of the men who hadn’t introduced himself started a bit nervously. “I think we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot.”
I couldn’t help but scoff at that, whoever in this organization had orchestrated that attack on me—starting off on a bad foot didn’t even begin to cover it. The retribution that was in store for them if they attempted that little trick a second time would cost them dearly. I’d already begun to identify key financial pillars across the members of this organization, and I wouldn’t hesitate to start bringing those pillars down if I needed to.
The man continued, “Your father built a great many businesses that were beneficial to him and his business partners, and since you’ve decided not to follow in his footsteps, we are merely suggesting that if you were to turn over the estate, we’d make certain you were fairly compensated.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt that one bit.” I scoffed, filled with ire.
Richard laughed, the sound crawling over my skin like a dying insect. “Carter, you are a man of great potential. That is very clear, but so was your father. A great man, whodiedfar too young for very avoidable reasons.” He gave me a look that made my skin prickle as he continued. “Don’t make the same mistakes your father did, or you might end up like your mother.” Richardmused, and my heart might have stopped beating as he finished by saying, “Collateral damage.”
“Excuse me?” I uttered, my blood running cold.
“A tragedy. Truly a tragedy.” Richard said, leaning back with enough smugness that I couldn’t help but let the question blossom in my mind. Was he admitting to involvement in my parent’s deaths? Or was he just toying with me? What would the motive have been, if this entire table was so obsessed with the money my father made them? Why kill him,kill my mother?Another look was subtly shared between several of them.
“What exactly are you implying?” I asked, gripping my glass of scotch, while something inside me finally started to unravel after years of keeping it at bay.
Samuel spoke, “Withyourrecent accident, we figured it would be a good time to reconsider your membership with The Society. You’ve been so diligent in ignoring the invitations for the last several years. Perhaps your altercation has persuaded you?”
My heart was pounding as the pieces started slowly falling into place, as I started to read between the lines, wondering if it could really be true.
“Accidentshave been known to happen when the rules aren’t adhered to.” Richard shrugged.
I knew better than to let my emotions get the best of me, because the moment I did, I’d only be playing into their hand, so I kept my face stoic, neutral, wondering what rules he was referring to, wonderingwhat exactlymy father had done in this organization.
“It wasn’t anaccidentthat I was drugged and attacked.” I offered with a thin smile, feigning stupidity. “Don’t deceive yourself into thinking that it will work a second time.”
Richard smiled and didn’t even bother denying it. “We would never.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed several muscular men hovering a bit closer than they had been before. “You want the estate. Why?” I demanded.
“Start by accepting your invitation, and then we’ll talk.”
My temper flared as I noted all the exits, all the bodies, and all the weapons in the room. I knew with a broken bottle of scotch, and all my pent-up anger, it wouldn’t be too hard to fight my way out, with little to show for it.
“We’re done here.” I stood abruptly enough that the nameless man’s drink sloshed over the rim of his glass and onto the table.
“For now.” Samuel said, casting a glance at Richard.
I was already two steps away when Samuel’s words stopped me in my tracks. “You may not have any family left, but we know you have people you care about.”
I clenched my fists at my sides and turned slowly, thinking of the girl who’d slept in my arms all night.
“It’d be a shame to lose another Devereux, don’t you think? Especially a particularly beautiful one who seems to have caught your eye.”
My eyes flicked between his, and narrowed. “Is that a threat?” I asked quietly, a thousand possibilities spinning through my mind all at once.
“It’s merely an observation.” He said, nodding behind me. “You’ve already lost so much, and it’d be a shame to keep going at this rate.”
Something inside me snapped, and I hummed darkly, “Maybe I haven’t been clear up until now, but let me take this opportunity to enlighten you. If this organization and it’s members don’t back off, not only will I bankrupt every single one of you just for the hell of it—if youeverthreaten the Devereuxs ever again, I will flay every single inch of skin off your body.” I practically growled. “And if you even think about breathing inherdirection, I will make your death so slow and painful you’ll be begging for me to end it.” I didn’t dare speak Sara’s name, but I wanted to throw every single one of them through the wall. “Stay the hell away from me and stay the fuck away from the Devereuxs.” I seethed, quietly forcing a shaky breath out through my nose, and that’s when I noticed Richard’s glass.
It was untouched.He’d bluffed, hadn’t touched it, not even a sip.
Richard followed my gaze and offered me a slippery smile of a man whose power was wholly unchecked. “Don’t bother with juvenile threats when you don’t even understand the stakes of the game you’re playing, son.” He swirled the liquid in his glass contemplatively, practically daring me to accuse him directly. “Next time, you leave when we say, Carter. Or therewillbe consequences.”
“You are absolutely right, therewillbe consequences.” I threatened darkly, towering over him. “If you attempt to touchanythingthat is mine,the debt will be paid in blood.” I was trembling with fury, but I kept my voice low and even as I promised, “I swear on my mother’s grave, if you ever threaten her again, you will regret it until your dying breath, and it will be my hands that decide when that is.”
“We’ll see about that.”
