I don’t realize I’ve taken a step forward until my father puts a hand on my arm.
He leans sideways and pretends to brush lint off my shirt, his voice dangerously low. “Either keep yourself in check, or I’ll have someone do it for you.”
I tear my eyes from Michael’s face and look at my father. “You’re just going to let what he did to the warehouse stand? What happened to making our enemies pay?”
A muscle ticks in Jack’s jaw. “We have nothing on them, so unless you have the men to launch a war, I’d suggest you keep your fucking mouth shut.”
As much as I hate to admit it, he’s right.
My father didn’t come out on top in a world as dangerous as ours by making baseless accusations and reckless decisions. While he might have operated in the shadows more in recent years, underneath the cool, composed exterior is a man who knows how to be slow, methodical, and precise.
And he will surgically remove me before allowing me to ruin everything he’s built.
Again, I remind myself that being his son won’t spare me from his wrath if I don’t keep my anger in check.
The last thing either of us needs is to be seen bickering in full view of our enemies.
It’s exactly why he’s making a power move like this here, where he knows I’m less likely to push back.
Conniving son of a bitch is showing our enemies he can bring me to heel.
It’s humiliating in all of the right ways, but I have to give him props.
There’s more than one way to strip a man of his defenses, and Jack is nothing if not creative.
At least he hasn’t chosen violence.
Another long moment passes before he leaves my side and goes to greet some of the people in attendance. Someone pulls out a chair with a screech, and he offers them a bored look. Then he sits down, and the air in the room changes. Several pairs of eyes are on me as I join him at the table and avoid looking at Michael.
I’m determined not to let him get under my skin.
That’s probably what he’s hoping for. Don’t give him the satisfaction of seeing you lose your shit in front of all these people. You know how hard it is to exhibit strength once they’ve caught a whiff of weakness.
I’ve worked too hard to be the weak link.
I school my features into careful neutrality as Michael pulls out a chair opposite me, and after a brief hesitation, Lance does the same. One by one, everyone sits, and the room quiets. Slowly, my father leans forward, and every eye in the room is on him as he clears his throat.
“I know you all know why we’re here.” His voice is even and controlled. “We’ve all been allies for a long time, and that partnership has served us well. Look how well we’re all doing.”
A murmur of agreement rises.
Jack links his fingers together and looks over the room slowly. “I know there have been some disagreements, but with everything happening, I wanted to remind you all of how much easier it is to work together.”
Another murmur rises.
Lance shoots me a look. My face gives nothing away until he begins to squirm. Eventually, he shifts and looks away, sweat breaking out on his forehead.
I’m going to make you bleed, you little rat. If you thought things were bad before, you haven’t even come close to what I’m capable of doing. Just wait until I can get my hands on you.
One way or another, Lance and Michael are going to find themselves alone with me, and by the time I’m done with them, they’re going to wish they’d stayed hidden.
“… the terms of our partnership have been in place for a while, but they are open to renegotiation under the right circumstances,” Jack finishes with another look around the room. “Let it not be said that we are unreasonable.”
Silence meets his statement.
Jack’s expression hardens as he pushes back his chair to stand. “Let me be perfectly clear that I will find out who was behind the attack on our warehouse and the incident with the girl, and I’ll make the person responsible wish for death.”
Behind closed doors, he might give me grief about London, but I know he won’t let anyone sense the tension in our ranks.
