Bryson closed the rooms in his mind that led to Seth and Kaydon. With steel in his eyes, he locked his mind tight before closing the distance with Regan.
He reached Regan in two swift strides. Grabbing his chin roughly, he said, “Just because you play hard to get doesn’t make what’s about to happen any less likely.”
Bryson’s fingers pressed into the contour of Regan’s jaw. He could snap his neck or break his jaw so easily. Regan would crumple like a bag of dirty laundry at his feet. The image made Bryson smile.
He leaned in, his breath hot on Regan’s neck, bringing his lips to the edge of Regan’s ear. Hand still on his jaw, he whispered, “Get on your knees.”
Regan’s jaw moved in his hand, but Bryson held on tight.
“I think today I want to play things differently,” Regan said.
Bryson had no intention of doing things differently today. Regan was a dangerous psychopath, and Bryson couldn’t afford to let him out to play. Bryson took a step back, leveling Regan with full eye contact; he needed Regan to know he would not mess around.
“The fuck we are,” Bryson said. “You have a need, and I’m here to take care of it. You want to start messing with me? You might lose your chance.”
Regan feigned boredom, leaning against the wall and yawning. “I’ll just get Sabin to bring up Seth or Kaydon. See how tough you are when they are under the knife?”
Bryson felt his control slipping.
“Or maybe,” Regan said, “I should have one of my men pay your precious Adria a visit?”
Now it was Bryson’s turn to fake boredom. Adria could handle herself. But this was the first time Regan had mentioned her by name, and Bryson preferred for things to stay as simple as possible given the circumstances.
The fact was, Regan didn’twantto bring his brothers up here. Nor did he want to hurt Adria, at least not at this moment.
What Regan wanted was for Bryson to hurt him. For Bryson to force him.
Regan enjoyed causing pain, but he had a secret.
The first time they were alone together, Bryson had planned to kill him. Bryson thought it was odd that Regan had been willing to be alone with him. But in hindsight, it all made sense.
As soon as the door closed, Bryson had launched himself at Regan. Wrestling on the floor, he bested Regan easily. Ending up on top, straddling him, with his hands wrapped around his throat. Bryson’s fingers were so close to crushing his windpipe when Regan said,“My father says hello.”
Something about the way he said it, the certainty in his eyes, made Bryson ease up. It was then that Regan spilled the beans about his relationship with Jonathan.
Once Bryson knew the truth, the resemblance to the Triune’s mouthpiece was unmistakable, and the pieces started to fall into place.
But there was still one missing.
One big giant piece that still eluded Bryson.
The three of them out of the way benefited who?
The why was a problem, but the more pressing issue was Jonathan. If something happened to Regan, Bryson knew Jonathan would go after Adria.
That was another thing Regan spilled while pressed beneath him. His father came to visit from time to time and he had questions for Bryson.
“Why are you telling me this?” Bryson asked, fingers loose at Regan’s neck.
Regan’s pupils dilated, and his tongue flicked out of his mouth. “I want to have some fun with you, but there needs to be some rules.”
Bryson felt his gut turning, but he kept eye contact with the predator beneath him. “And what would those be?” he asked.
The rules were simple. Keep their time a secret. No visible marks. If Regan died, his brothers and Adria would die. In exchange, Seth and Kaydon were safe.
So, Bryson didn’t kill Regan that day. Or the next or the next.
More times than he wanted to count he had been pulled up here to play Regan’s sick games. But his brothers were safe, and Bryson had a plan.
