Jack barks out a humorless laugh. “I see your brother was right. She has her claws in you. All that time I spent teaching you how to make an enemy pay, and I should’ve taught you how to make sure a woman doesn’t have you by the balls.”
I stiffen. “You couldn’t be further from the truth.”
He stops laughing, and his eyes sweep over me, leaving unease in their wake. “I’ll admit I couldn’t figure out how it all happened, but I see it now. She’s using you, and you always were fucking weak when it came to women in distress. I blame your mother.”
“Don’t you dare talk about her that way,” I snarl. “As I recall, she affected you, too.”
“I should end you where you stand.”
I let my arms fall to my sides and spread my legs. “You’re welcome to try.”
We both know he won’t strike yet.
But even I know that everything I’ve done for the empire won’t protect me for long.
I’m running out of time, and I have no idea how to stop what’s coming.
All I can hope is that I’m able to protect London from the deadly fallout.
Just say the words. Make him believe London doesn’t mean as much as she does. You know it’s what he wants, and it’ll make things easier for both of you.
A part of me still hopes he’s going to leave us alone.
But I know him well enough to know it’s going to be anything but smooth sailing.
Sooner or later, he’s going to make his move, targeting London’s parents is proof of that, and while he has softened considerably in recent years, I don’t know if it’s going to be enough.
“Your brother has expressed an interest in the girl,” Jack responds. “I don’t understand the appeal, but I’m willing to overlook a few things if you prove yourself to me.”
Bastard.
“I will not hand her over to Mathew,” I reply through gritted teeth. “Ask for something else.”
There’s a lot I’m willing to do, and lines I have no qualms about crossing.
I’ll wage a war and leave destruction in my wake if that’s what it takes, but London is where I draw the line.
I know my brother, and I’ve had enough complaints from women at the club over the years to know what kind of man he is to them.
London might forgive me for keeping secrets and for not doing more to protect her parents. She might even find it in her heart to understand if I have to bring Noah to heel.
But she’ll never forgive me for handing her over to Mathew, even if it means not having to worry about my father.
I can’t ask her to pay that price.
Jack turns away from me and walks over to the bookcase. He runs his fingers along the spine of an embossed first edition, and the flickering flames of the fire illuminate his face. I study himfor a while longer and find myself wondering how everything spun out of control so fast.
Almost as if he’d been lying in wait all this time, waiting to swoop in and cast me aside.
That’s not his style. Jack Payne is not underhanded. His approach is more direct.
Slowly, my father pulls the nearest book out and flips open to a random page. He snaps the book shut and turns back around. “It’s a pity I wasted so much time on you. You’ve turned into such a disappointment, Mason.”
I offer him a tight nod in response.
“If I find out her little friend was behind the kidnapping, you’re going to wish you’d given her to Mathew instead,” Jack says. Every inch of him is on edge like he’s going to attack.
I choose my next words carefully.
