Reggie glances at the watch on his wrist, his lips give a small twitch before he stands as well. “Yes, that will be good.”
I follow suit, not liking the idea of this man being here any longer. Something’s up, and my gut is screaming at me that we don’t need to be in Grant’s office. More than that, we don’t need him here any longer.
Planting my hands on the table, I lean forward marginally. “What are you up to, Reggie?” I demand.
“I don’t know what you’re insinuating, but I’ve done nothing wrong,” Reggie states tersely.
“He’s lying,” Emerie whispers, so softly I’m not even sure I hear her right.
My gut has to agree with her on that. He’s lying.
I glance at Grant as I straighten. My job was to make sure nothing happened to him, and I wasn’t about to see anything go down now. Not when I’ve always been one to trust my gut instincts.
Reggie was using Emerie as a decoy to get in here. To get to Grant. I know it. Grant knows it. We knew from the beginning that Reggie didn’t want an alliance. He’s always been money and power hungry.
When Reggie’s eyes slice back to his daughter, I suppose he may have heard what she said.
“Emerie, how about you join us in the family room,” Granger suggests, coming to his feet on the other side of my wife.
I meet his gaze and nod, appreciating him for doing this. I knew without a doubt that Emerie was safe with Granger and the others. Granger himself would make sure nothing happened to her. He’s been fighting underground fights for a few years now, along with Gentry. The two of them get off on the fights. They could easily go pro, but they refuse to do it.
Emerie looks to me, and I give her a slight nod. Her eyes speak volumes in not wanting to leave me, but thank fuck she trusts me. It’s there in the way she gets up without words and goes with Granger and Gentry. Gabriel stays behind to join our party.
With my wife out of the room, I return my attention to Reggie. “All right, Reg, what game are you playing at?”
“I don’t know what you’re trying to accuse me of, but I’m here only for the alliance,” Reggie snaps, hands going to his wide waist. He might think it makes him seem intimidating, but he doesn’t scare me or anyone else in this room. He more or less looks like a red-faced Smurf the way he’s standing there.
Done with his bullshit, I stalk around the table, grip the lapels of his suit jacket, and jerk him toward me. “Don’t bullshit us, Reg. We know you better than you think we do. You’ve been up to something from the start of this. You married your daughter off for a reason, and it ain’t for no alliance. You trying to pull some Tristan and Isolde shit here, aren’t you?”
Granted, it wasn’t exactly like the story, but it held similarities that don’t sit well with me. Only the Devore brothers know that I’m a history buff. I like reading it and watching documentaries about it when I actually do have time to do anything else.
The reason I enjoy it so much is due to so many things happening that seem to be repeated or used as inspiration. I like to be able to see through the bullshit before it gets to be too much and we’re left up shit’s creek without a paddle.
Hell, last year, for shits and giggles, Grant gave me the Art of War book at Christmas just to fuck with me. It was a first edition and now sits on a shelf for display in my office.
“I don’t even know what you’re talking about,” Reggie blusters and looks to Grant. “You’re going to allow your man to disrespect me as he is? I’m a guest in your house.” His eyes come to me, and he sneers. “Maybe I should have the marriage to you annulled for my daughter.”
“It wouldn’t work,” I tell him, feeling my anger growing. I won’t allow him or anyone else to take Emerie from me. “She’s my wife and won’t be leaving me. I doubt you’d even be able to convince her of such a thing.”
Emerie was mine, and I’ll protect her from this asshole and anyone else who might try to come between us or take her away.
“Calder,” Grant calls, and I glance at him. “Let’s continue this in your office instead of mine. No reason for Emerie to walk back in and witness what happens next.”
I grin at him, liking the idea of going to my office. “Yeah, we can do that.”
My office outside the one at home, or the one in one of our office buildings, wasn’t exactly an office per se. It’s more of a room beneath the house that was encased in cinder blocks and held all of the tools of my trade. My men use the room when necessary. Typically, we did our business away from the house. But it’s here for moments like this one.
Especially for moments like this.
Best damn gift Grant could give me.
Letting go of Reggie’s suit jacket, I grab his arm and motion him in the direction of Grant’s office. To get to mine, you have to go into his and through an entrance setup like the one at my house.
With Reggie in front of me and Grant behind, I usher the older man into the office. Grant closes the door behind him, and through Reggie’s shouts, I pull him to the hidden doors.
Before I can get the doors open, the window behind Grant’s desk is shattered. Unlike mine, his windows aren’t bulletproof as they should be.
Fuck. I shove Reggie away and move for Grant. The lights are cut, and all hell breaks loose.
