Being far away has its advantages.
I always have eyes and ears on them, but there’s a difference between keeping an eye on things from a distance and bringing them back into the circle.
Oliver, especially, isn’t cut out for this kind of life, and I’ll be damned if I go back on my promise to my mother.
“I’m doubling security on our warehouses, and I’ll call in a few favors to make sure they’re both safe. I’ve got this under control,” I say.
“Like you had the security issue under control?” my father shoots back.
I curl my hands into fists and swallow back the retort.
I should’ve anticipated the ramifications of going after London and exposing what she means to me, but I didn’t care at the time.
Now, it’s coming back to bite me in the ass.
It’s not like you didn’t try to fight your feelings for her, but you saw how pointless it was. You can’t turn your back on her now.
Everyone has targets on their back because of me, and although I can’t escape the guilt and disgust that swirl throughme at the realization, I know there’s no room for anything but cold precision.
Except everything is snowballing out of control far faster than I anticipated.
The Fitzpatricks and Everetts might not have planned our self-destruction, but they put the dominoes in place, and now, they just have to sit back and watch everything crumble.
For the umpteenth time, I wonder how long they’ve been planning it all.
If it wasn’t for the deal I made with London to work at my club to pay off her dad’s debts, and spare his diner, I’m sure they would’ve found another way to screw us over, and I’m waiting to have enough evidence to bury them.
“… with the Thayers,” Jack finishes. “You’ll need to be present, of course.”
I straighten my back. “I thought the Thayers were one of the lesser families we have an alliance with.”
Jack steps away from the window. “They are, but we can’t afford to be picky about allies now. Thatcher Thayer and I have already been in touch, and you’ll be present at the next meeting.”
I nod.
“There’s talk of strengthening our alliance, and I get the feeling the old man is talking about forming something a lot more secure.”
“We can offer them shares in our more prominent businesses.”
Jack crosses over to me. His eyes drift to the scar above my eye. “You’ve been spending too much time at the club, boy. Not all deals are business-related.”
I stare at him. “You’re talking about marriage.”
His dark eyes watch me over the rim of the glass, and he purses his lips. “It’s good to see you haven’t forgotten everything I’ve taught you. Yes, the Thayers have wanted to ally themselveswith one of the bigger families, and right now, our interests are aligned.”
“I will not marry a Thayer.”
Jack cocks his head. “No? Perhaps I’ll offer up Oliver’s hand instead.”
“He has nothing to do with this,” I reply a little too quickly.
“No, but for the good of the family, maybe your brother will do what needs to be done.”
Someone coughs in the background, and I glance over at Mathew, who has been standing so still that I almost forgot he was there.
“What about Mathew?”
My twin shoots me a withering look.
