“Hoping…?”
“I need your help.”
I remain as still as I can. It’s been a long time since I’ve been confronted with my past, and I didn’t expect that confrontation to come from Flynn Jenson of all people.
“Alright,” I say slowly. “I’m listening, but I don’t like being threatened, Flynn.”
“Believe me, I’m not threatening you. I don’t know a lot of rich men who got that way by being kind and generous.”
I lean forward in my chair. There are dark circles beneath Flynn’s eyes, and he looks strung out. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up as I suck in a slow breath, alarm spreading through my body.Something’s wrong.
“Start talking, Flynn.”
“Have you heard of a guy named Nick Monroe?”
Oh fuck.“Yes.”
“Are you aware of what’s going on with him and my family? Is that what you meant when you told me to ask her myself?”
“I don’t know the details.”
Flynn barely allows me to finish speaking before he’s leaning on my desk, eyes urgent.
“Do you know where I can find him? There was a time when you were building an empire just like his, from what I understand.”
“And where did you get that information exactly?” I ask coldly.
“My father knew a lot of people. It’s how I first heard about you, actually. Right at the beginning, when you had a choice, and you chose the high road. It was well known that they all expected you to fall flat on your face. And then you didn’t.”
I scoff. “It took a lot of hard work.”
“Do you know where Nick Monroe operates out of?”
“Why do you need to know?”
Flynn fidgets, then stands back up. “My brother Scott did something really fucking stupid. I think he may be in trouble, and I need to get him out.” His hand is twitching at his side, and he inhales shakily. “Plus, they took Jax.”
For a splintered second, I don’t see or hear anything else, as my mind goes blank. I’m on my feet before I’ve even processed what he’s said, rounding the desk.
“Why in fuck didn’t you lead with that?” I demand. “He took Jax? When? WHEN?”
Flynn flinches away from me as I back him up against the wall, his hands coming up defensively.
“Since when do you give a shit about her? She’s a hired f?—"
He grunts as I grip his shirt and lift him up the wall. His feet are dangling freely as I press him back against the hard surface, white-hot rage coursing through me.
“You shut your fucking mouth, Flynn, do you understand me? You want my help, you ask for it, but don’t talk about your sister like that. Not to me. Not ever.”
“I—I thought?—”
“Yeah? Well, you thought wrong.”
I drop him back to the floor and stalk out of my office as he scrambles to his feet and runs after me. I walk past Jax’s desk, trying my best not to look at it as something sharp and vicious claws at my insides, trying to break free. It feels a lot like panic, and that emotion isn’t going to help anyone right now.
The receptionist watches us pass him, neon hair shining in the bright ceiling lights.
“I’m out for the day,” I snap at him. “Send my calls to Fran Morgan until you hear from me. Email anything else important.”
