“I have other plans for him,” Jack replies. “You, on the other hand, have a mess to clean up, and I won’t always be around to give you solutions.”
“I will not marry a Thayer,” I repeat.
Even though I know it’s the smart move.
Anyone who isn’t London holds no interest for me, and if it means having to find other ways to secure an alliance, I’ll figure something out.
“Marry the Thayer and keep your plaything on the side.” Jack’s voice is sharp and cold. “You know it’s the best way to clean up your mess.”
“I will not marry someone I can’t be faithful to. Even I have standards, and I’m pretty sure screwing with a Thayer after marriage won’t help matters.”
Jack sets his glass on a table. “Mathew, do you want to remind your brother of what’s at stake?”
Mathew rolls up his sleeves. “With pleasure.”
“This is between me and him,” I say without looking at Mathew. “Unless you want to reset your shoulder again, back the fuck off.”
Mathew advances on me, the gleam in his eyes growing more pronounced in the dim light of the room. “Unlike you, I know how to take orders.”
I ignore him and look to my father, who is behind my desk, pouring himself another drink. “This is fucking ridiculous. Stop him before he hurts himself.”
Jack rummages through the mini fridge behind him and adds a few ice cubes to the glass. Slowly, he brings the glass to his lips and looks at me. “For years, you had me convinced that you were the right choice. Meanwhile, your brother has been by my side every step of the way, and he isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty.”
“While he’s been by your side, I’ve been the one expanding the empire and making us more money than any of us know what to do with.”
Mathew lunges at me. I easily sidestep him, and he skids to a halt. Then he spins and levels me with a look of hatred. I move away again, but this time, Mathew throws out a curled fist, missing me by a few inches.
I have him pinned against the wall before he finishes growling. “You’re never going to be like me, Mathew, so you might as well give up.”
Mathew and I both know our father has been pitting us against each other since we were old enough to hold guns, solely for his amusement. Long ago, I tried to convince myself it was to toughen us up, but I’ve long since accepted the fact that our father is just a piece of work.
Why am I letting either of them get under my skin?
I haven’t spent the past few years building my tolerance to their bullshit just to falter now.
I release Mathew and take a few steps back. “I am not doing this.”
Mathew spits at the ground at my feet and bares his teeth at me. “She’s made you weak. The old you would’ve done more than pin me to the wall, and you know it.”
I flash my brother a warning look. “That can still be arranged.”
He takes another swipe at me and misses, and I punch him in the side. Mathew’s eyes narrow into slits. When he launches himself at me again, I pin him to the floor.
Carlisle bursts into the room as Mathew bucks and thrashes to throw me off. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but there’s something you need to know.”
Jack heaves a sigh and sets his glass down. “Doesn’t anyone in this place know anything about manners? I can see my son isn’t the only one who’s going to be taught a lesson.”
I look at Carlisle. “This had better be good.”
“Katia and London are missing.”
I’m on my feet in front of Carlisle before I know what I’m doing. “What do you mean they’re missing?”
Carlisle clears his throat. “It seems they snuck off the property. We’re not sure where yet, but we have reason to believe it was to see London’s father—”
I let out a litany of curse words.
“—unfortunately, they were run off a bridge on the way back,” Carlisle finishes.
