I leaned back in my chair, trying to look casual. It was taking everything in my power to keep the panic from my face. I’d had no idea that Gavin was an actual threat of any kind.
At the same time, I was chastising myself for being so foolish. My contact at the DOD was Frank Chase. I’d never made the connection. Chase was a common enough name, and I had never considered the two were related. How had my men missed this? Obviously the fact had been hidden. But I couldn’t worry about that right now. Not with my father raging in front of me.
“They’re study partners,” I said calmly, even though I knew he was right—there was no way this was a coincidence. “Gavin is one ofmanypeople that Tori studies with. And even if he were trying to get information from her, she doesn’t know enough to spill any details. And she wouldn’t risk telling anyone what she does know.”
I was lying through my teeth, but the whole plan—and Tori’s life—depended on convincing my father that she wasn’t a threat. That she was harmless.
But I could tell he wasn’t buying it. His fury didn’t abate. Instead, he slammed his hand back down on my desk, crumpling the photos beneath his meaty palm.
“My children are destroying everything I’ve worked for,” he seethed. “I can tell your head isn’t in the game. If it was, this wouldn’t have slipped right past you.”
“Everything is under control,” I told him, keeping my tone as convincing as possible. “I agree, it looks bad, but the reality is: this guy has jack shit on us. He’s got nothing. Zero.”
My father was shaking his head. “It’s you two who are going to bring us down,” he said, grinding out the words. “I’ve got Luka acting like an ignorant child, drowning himself in booze and blowjobs, when he should be manning up to take a spot at the helm of this business. And now here you are getting so cocky you’re willing to ignore an obvious threat.”
Thinking about Luka, a wave of empathy and guilt hit me. We were brothers, just a few years apart, but we’d always reacted to things in completely opposite ways. Realizing just how vile the family business was, I had hardened and buckled down, determined to take down my father at any cost. Luke, instead, had cracked.
“I’ll get Luka under control. He’s my responsibility now,” I said evenly, hoping it would appease my father.
It didn’t.
He leaned across the desk toward me.
“Fuck Luka. You have to be the strong one here. Your wife is going to be a liability. You’re enamored with her pussy, but now that she’s not standing in front of you to distract you, you need to remember why you married her—and it wasn’t to get your dick shined.”
I bit back the rage boiling up inside. “Just stop—”
“This is about the company!” he cut me off. “Remember your loyalties here. You need to get your priorities straight and keep your wife in line. Don’t think for a second that she isn’t disposable.”
“My prioritiesarestraight!” I stood up, my fists clenched. I couldn’t help myself—I’d stayed in line for his man, but threatening my wife was crossing the line. “My wife comes first, the company second.” Even if the company I was interested in protecting didn’t look like the company my father wanted to run. “And don’t you dare ever insinuate that she’s disposable again. She’s part of me, and if you want me at your side, you accept her as well.”
We glared at each other, at an impasse.
Both of us knew that my father needed me. Even though he still maintained control of KZM, he had conceded enough responsibility to me over the years that he wouldn’t have been able run it without me.
But he was stubborn and cruel and never, ever apologized. I didn’t expect him to back down from his threat, but he knew that he couldn’t do any of this without me, which meant that I had leverage against him. I could keep Tori safe. For now.
My father swept his hand across my desk, scattering the photos across the floor, and then turned to stalk out of my office without a word.
I gathered up the pictures and threw them in the trash. Nothing was resolved between us, but I was resolved to get the ball rolling on ousting my father from power. I had allies in place already—and as the adrenaline left my body, I realized that my father had unknowingly given me more than just threats today. He had given me a lead, a connection that I could use to my benefit. I knew exactly how I could use Tori now, and keep her safe at the same time.
Sitting back in my chair, I immediately assembled a list of things that needed to be done. The sooner, the better.
First things first, I called Dmitri and let him go. I told him he’d get a nice severance bonus for keeping his mouth shut, and that I’d hunt him down if he didn’t. I knew I’d have to find Tori a new bodyguard, but I could handle that after my next task.
Although I disliked prying into her things, I reasoned that when it came to Tori’s safety, it was okay to do a little digging—so I got on my computer and accessed her cell phone records. When I had the number I needed, I left the office. There were too many eyes at work and not enough of them were trustworthy. My father had spies everywhere.
I had my driver drop me off at Maggie Daley Park, and I walked to an empty bench far from other people. I didn’t want to take any chances. Then I pulled out my phone.
I knew I was taking a risk, but I had a feeling this was someone I could trust with Tori’s security, and that alone was enough to make me dial the number.
Gavin Chase picked up after a few rings. “Hello?”
“This is Stefan Zoric,” I said.
“Go to hell,” he told me.
“Wait.” I didn’t blame him for the less-than-warm response. The last time we’d spoken, I had threatened to kill him if he went near my wife again. “I think we both want the same thing.”
