Page 40 of Power of Shadow

It’s new to me. I’m not an introvert like Theo, nor a womanizer like Eli, but I have my fair share of fun with women. There was a time when a different woman warmed my bed every night of the week. Over time, I grew bored with it. Not the sex itself, but…

I don’t know. Maybe I’m acting like a spoiled brat.

Maybe my father was right about me all along.

When Shadow and I are in the same room, like in that warehouse, I can feel her in the air like an aphrodisiac. Even more; we’re like two elements connected by an invisible magnetic force.

It’s hard to explain and unusual at the same time.

The guys can make fun of me all they want. My fascination with Shadow and what connects us is stronger than me. And they’ll eventually understand what I mean. We’ll come back to this one day.

The cool, detached me is suddenly confronted by a woman dismantling my defenses. With her, I forget about them and forget that they’re there for a reason. It’s dangerous.

I shake my head as we arrive at my father’s estate.

The icy armor slips back into place, hatred and indifference like swords in my eyes. I become who I was before Shadow again. I can’t wait for the day when I’ll slit his throat with a smile on my face.

Eli parks the car too fast, and we arrive at the devil’s headquarters too quickly. This time, before I can grab the door handle, one of my father’s thugs opens it for us. The bull-like bodyguard nods in greeting, knowing who we are. It’s not like I know him, but that doesn’t matter at all.

Unlike on our previous visit, Theo passes me in the hallway leading to my father’s office and knocks. The gesture makes me grimace. He means well, but it still pisses me off. He’s playing a long game, and right now, pissing off my father can’t do us any good.

After unpleasant order to enter, we walk in as one.

My father’s judgmental gaze moves over each of us as we sit down in front of his desk.

“Good morning, boys.”

My eyebrows shoot up, and before I can stop myself, I blurt out, “We’re not yours, and we’re certainly not boys. Get to the point, old man.”

Eli discreetly kicks me in the ankle. Shut up, he’s telling me.

“Don’t push it, Ryker. God only knows I should have taught you humility a long time ago.” Father rolls his eyes.

My nostrils flare.

Staring at him, I bite my cheek. The pain helps me focus on something other than wringing his neck. It distracts me from the monster he created, molded to his own needs and vision.

Eli’s the first to break the silence. “We’re here, Mr. Elliot, as you requested. What’s the reason for our visit?”

Father glances at him briefly. “Someone had the nerve to threaten the entire organization. The nerve to threaten me!” His anger rises to the surface like oil. A clenched fist lands on the desktop.

“Could you be more specific?” I ask.

“Oh, sure! The security system on our computers is shitty. Someone hacked into my computer and got their hands on some very dangerous files!” My father’s face reddens, and that gives me a lot of satisfaction.

Impossible.

Eli’s one of the best experts in the country. This guy breathes computers; he has the internet running through his veins instead of blood, and a damn hard drive instead of a brain. He has been trying to beat my father’s security for years. And yet…

It’s impossible for anyone to beat him in this race.

Theo remains unfazed, probably thinking the same thing. Eli’s leg bounces.

“I want to know who’s stupid enough to do this, and I want their head on a silver platter. And it better be soon, because I can’t fucking take it anymore, and I’m going to burn this fucking city to the ground.” James’s low voice heralds the apocalypse.

“With all due respect, it doesn’t have to be anyone from this city,” suggests Eli, whose ego has apparently been hurt.

“Don’t be a smartass, boy! I don’t give a shit where the person responsible is. If I have to, I’ll burn the entire world down!”