“That’s not really?—”
I suck in a breath as I hear a shout from behind me, and my heart almost stops when I look around at the other side of the building, where the back stairs are situated.
They’re not generally used by the staff; everyone gravitates toward the elevators, but the rear access is kept open in case of a fire.
Flynn must have taken the back stairs so he wouldn’t need ID.
“Shit, shit, shit!”
“What’s going on?” Vince asks, blinking rapidly as he rises, looking in the same direction as me.
“Jones!” I recognize my brother’s voice instantly, bellowing from the stairwell.
“Fuck.”
I don’t think I’ve ever run so fast before, aware of eyes following me through the office as I sprint at top speed on four-inch heels over to where my brother has just emerged through the rear door.
I’m too late to reach him as he immediately clocks Gray’s office and marches over to it.
“JONES, you asshole!” Flynn’s face is bright red, and he’s striding toward the door like a madman.
I lurch around my desk, landing awkwardly on my ankle and stumbling to the office door just as Gray shoots up out of his chair, looking pissed.
“You can’t stop me, Jax, I’m gonna fucking kill him,” Flynn bellows, pushing at me to get to Gray.
“Stop!” I shout, mortified by the wide-eyed stares that are being aimed our way by every employee on this floor. “Calm down!”
“You fucker!” Flynn is like a bear, shoving against me with all his strength.
Mortified, I watch as Gray walks swiftly to the door, glaring between us like Flynn is some deranged lunatic.
“Would you calm down?” I hiss, trying to manhandle my brother away from my boss while the entire floor stares at us.
“Jacqueline, what is going on?”
“I’m just trying to?—”
“I’m gonna kill you,” Flynn says, the gold chain around his neck flying up as he tries to hit Gray.
I grab both of Flynn’s arms in the crook of his elbow, yanking them back until he makes a little grunt of pain, and keep him pinned, my face flaming with embarrassment.
“Conference room. Now! This is my work, you asshole,” I hiss into his ear. “Calm the fuck down.”
He goes still, looking behind me, finally noticing every person in the office frozen in place and staring at him. I feel his muscles relax slightly, and gently let him go, just praying that he isn’t about to knock Gray out.
Pulling at his jacket, he tugs at his clothes, straightening as I see the fire leave his eyes, but he’s still glaring at Gray as he nods to me.
“Lead the way.”
“Be calm,” I snap, and glance apologetically at Gray. “Can you?—”
“Get him the fuck away from me,” Gray says, his voice dripping with venom. He’s looking at my brother with an expression of acute rage I’ve never seen from him before.
Gray stalks out of his office and around to the nearest conference room, slamming open the door and marching inside as Flynn follows behind him.
Fuck my goddamn life.
Chapter 38
