Standing up, I shove my chair backwards and mutter to myself.
I’m famished, and there’s no point in sitting here any longer. Tomorrow is a new day, and maybe, by some miracle, Leonard will have found some information on the streets.
Grabbing my jacket, I shrug it onto my shoulders and shove my phone into my pocket.
I walk through the mostly empty warehouse, out to my car.
The drive home is a blur of angry thoughts and unanswered questions that won’t stop circling in my mind.
How do you fight a ghost?
I park outside my mansion and slam the car door behind me, walking towards the front door, I’m thinking about myfather. Even if he did manage to convince some of my allies to flip sides, it shouldn’t be enough of them that they feel confident to attack me. I still, presumably, own the bulk of this city.
As I walk into the mansion, Jess hurries to me and hugs me. “Hey, big brother, why have you been working so late every night when you have such a beautiful wife waiting for you at home?” She’s teasing, but her comment flares inside me.
“Because someone has to stop this fucking family from tearing itself apart, and it seems that it has to be me,” I snap, stepping away from her hug.
“Excuse me,” she snaps back fiercely. “Don’t you dare speak to me like that. You aren’t alone in this. And there is zero reason for you to take your anger out on me, no matter what is going on at work.”
She’s glaring at me.
I groan loudly and press my fingers into my temples.
“Sorry,” I growl.
“Don’t say sorry, tell me what’s actually going on,” she demands, placing her hands on her hips and blocking my path. “Is it Faiz? Our darling father?”
“No, I don’t know. It might be,” I sigh. “It’s possible he’s turned some of my inner-city allies against me. We’ve had four attacks this week alone.”
She pulls her mouth to the side. “Okay, obviously that’s not good, but seriously, Kris, you’ve dealt with far worse situations than this during your time running this city. Even our father isn’t exactly the worst enemy you’ve faced. Why does this have you in such a shit mood? It takes a lot for you to lash out at me like that.” She speaks calmly, not offended by my nastiness, but rather trying to help me understand it.
“Fuck. I really am sorry,” I mutter, with far more sincerity than before. She’s right. I never lash out at her. My employees often feel the brunt of my temper, but not my sister.
“So, what’s so different about this?” she asks, pushing me to explore my own thoughts.
I chuckle, a dry sort of laugh, as realization hits me like a lightbulb switching on in my brain.
Georgie. She’s in my life, and I’m terrified of losing her. That’s why this seems more serious than it is. I have faced bigger problems and come out stronger after. This is just another challenge, but with Georgie in my life, I have something to lose. And that’s provoking me and pushing me to dark places.
“I’m taking it, by the sound of that laugh, that you’ve figured it out?” Jess says, smug, throwing me a crooked smile.
“Yes, yes. Come on. Let’s go get some dinner. What is Jeremey up to tonight? What’s on the menu?”
She slips her arm around me waist and hugs me before walking ahead of me to the kitchen. “You’re going to love this,” she says over her shoulder.
In the kitchen I don’t find Jeremey. I find Georgie. She’s wearing a blue apron over her tight blue jeans an enticing crop top that shows off her lower back.
“What’s all this?” I ask, scanning the kitchen.
It smells incredible.
“This is Chef Georgie,” Jess laughs. “I’m going to set the table. Unless there’s anything else you want me to do?” she asks Georgie.
“No, that’s perfect. It’ll be ready soon.”
Jess hurries out of the kitchen carrying a stack of plates.
Georgie sets the pan aside, moving it off the heat. She turns towards me with a radiant smile on her face. “I used to cook for Jess all the time. But I’ve never cooked for you. I gave Jeremey the night off.”
