“What thehellare you doing here?” Melissa seethes.
When I don’t answer, her gaze shifts to Karson. “Get out of my house!”
Karson drops Andy carelessly to the floor. He groans and curls into himself.
“Wake up sleepy head,” Karson says, nudging his foot.
“Ashlynn,” Jack booms. “What the fuck is going on?”
A slow smile spreads across my face.
“Family meeting,” I reply, stepping closer. “Just waiting on one more, and then we can get started.”
Behind me, Karson drags Andy closer to us by his ankles. Melissa rushes to his side.
“Tristan,” she breathes and drops to her knees. “What the fuck did you do to him, you monster?”
My teeth grind as she spews insults and empty threats toward Karson.
Squatting down next to Andy, Melissa’s eyes meet mine. Rage simmers behind them.
“The only monsters in this room are you and Jack,” I tell her, my voice cold.
“My brother will–” she starts, but the words fall when Elias now steps into the entryway from the back side of the house with a handcuffed and bloodied David Pierce–her precious brother and Andy’s father.
“Your brother’s not in much of a position to do anything. Are you David?” Elias tells her, pushing David toward us.
“I’m going to sue the fuck out of you people,” David claims. “You’re all making a major mistake.”
I look around the space, unbothered by his threat. Karson stands at my side, watching Melissa fawn over her nephew, disgusted by the sight. David stares at Jack, who still has Maverick’s gun pointed at him. Cole stands at the top of the stairs, his hands braced on the banister. Elias waits at the bottom on the steps.
“Good,” I say. “Now that we’re all here, let’s get started.” My gaze slides to Jack, who lifts his chin. “Where’s my file?”
“What file?”
Maverick hits him with the butt of his weapon. Jack grunts and doubles over in pain.
“Don’t play stupid, Jack. Answer the question.”
“The one you had erased. I know you have one, because you keep records of everything.” I walk toward him, stopping when we’re toe to toe. His head tips up to look me in the eye.
“I want it. And anything you have on my parents. Now, where is it?”
“You ungrateful little bitch,” Melissa hisses. My eyes never leave Jack’s as I wave her off.
“Not now, mother.I’ll be with you in a minute.”
Jack’s jaw ticks before he slowly stands up fully, towering over me.
“A safe in my office,” he mutters. “Behind the bookshelf.”
“Code,” Cole barks from the stairs. Jack looks up at him.
“It’s a fingerprint–” he starts. Elias rushes over to him, grabbing him roughly by the back of his neck.
“Move. Now.”
They disappear up the stairs, and my attention turns back to Melissa.
