Page 67 of Black Hearts
He’d worked on getting it fixed up before I’d left, and I’d bet anything that he’d rearranged it how he liked. His changes would only serve to make more work for me once he left, but I would rather have more work than be forced to deal with him on a daily basis.
This house was mine. I chose who lived in it. If I wanted Juliet here, she’d be here, whether he approved or not. Rave was taking care of Fred, so that shouldn’t be a concern to him anymore. There was literally no reason for him to remain.
My feet took me through the front hall, though I stopped the moment I saw my father walk out of my office. My office was one of the first rooms you had to pass to go deeper in the house, purposefully so.
He wore a dark gray suit, his tie a striped dark red. His head was turned in my direction, his gaze narrowed and stern. He let out a sigh when he saw me, and he gestured for me to follow him into my office. As if I would go anywhere else. As if I was here for someone other than him.
Holding my head high, I walked into my office seconds after him—and the moment I did, he sat down at my desk and leaned back. He’d already poured two glasses of something. He must’ve done so when he watched me drive up to the front door. My father took one of the glasses and set it on the far end of the mahogany desk, closest to me, and he lifted his own to his lips, taking a small sip.
The only light that was on was a tall lamp in the corner, illuminating the dark room. The wood paneling on the walls looked good as new; you’d never know I threw a tantrum in here not too long ago.
Not a moment I was proud of.
“I was wondering when you’d come back,” my father said. “Sit down and show me what you have.” Calm and quiet, like I usually was, and straight to business. This was, after all, a business transaction. Nothing more. If he did not love his wives or his girlfriends, he definitely did not love his sons or his daughters. Not even me, his replacement.
I made no moves to sit down in either of the chairs facing the desk nor did I show him the contract straight away. I simply stared at him. The way he’d handled Juliet, how he’d spoken of her… it still made my blood boil when I thought about it.
“First,” I started, “you should know Juliet is alive and well, no thanks to you.”
“Hmm. I assumed as much.”
“Rave is hunting Fred. When he finds him, he will bring him to me, and I’ll kill him.”
That got my father to smirk. “Ah, Rave. I did see that you put him on watch for the last year. I’m sure he’s missed a good hunt.” He took another sip of his drink. “Truth be told, Markus, I still have a hard time believing it. You were the best of my first-borns. You showed such promise, and for years, you did a good job. You got Lincoln and Ed back, and you brought in Killian and Stella—two very industrious people, when it comes to torturing and killing. You brought in William Briggs, who has a mind for what we do here.”
My father never complimented people. I knew there was a but coming.
“That said, you’ve also lost Vaughn. You let him go wandering about with some girl. You kept watch on the Fitzpatrick twins without ever trying to bring them in, even though we know for a fact they’d make a good fit here, provided they follow orders. You let Fred Osborne kill over a dozen girls, knowing he would put us at jeopardy if he was caught by the authorities. We have all the money in the world and the best lawyer in the country on our side, but any extra eyes on us and what we do here are unwelcome.”
“You speak of things I already know,” I whispered.
“You’ve done well furthering our business. We have eyes and ears in more places than I could’ve dreamed of fifteen years ago, more money, more influence both in and out of the state, and yet…” My father leaned forward, holding my stare. “Look at us. This estate has enough room to house ten times the people who live here. It is something I’ve been aware of for a long time. We’re a dying breed of animal.”
“Perhaps, then, you should’ve had a few dozen more children.”
My father chuckled. “Or perhaps I’ve been too narrow-minded when it comes to my brothers and theirs. Perhaps I’ve kept them away for too long. It could very well be they are exactly what we need.”
I glared. “You can’t be serious.”
“I’m working with what I have.”
I strolled over to the desk, ignoring the offered glass of hard liquor and tossed down the folder containing the contract. “You don’t have to work on it any longer. This house, our business, whether or not it’s full enough—it’s my concern now, not yours.”
“And why should I believe that you can handle it? Look at how you handled things with the Osborne girl.”
My hands clenched to fists, but only for a moment. I leaned down, setting both hands on the desk, and stared at him hard, unblinking. “She’s mine now, and anyone who lays a hand on her like you did will meet a swift demise. The only reason you’re still here is because you are my father. Consider yourself lucky.”
He scoffed. “The girl is a weakness.”
“No.”
He lifted his eyebrows in a mocking manner, asking, “No? Then what is she, pray tell?”
I straightened myself out, pushing off the desk, and took a step or two back. “She’s the opposite. She reminds me of what’s worth fighting for. I am not just a drone, not your body double. I am someone with wants and needs of my own, and I’m done ignoring them just so I can continuously prove myself to you. You want someone just like you? Go make a fucking clone. It’s not me anymore.”
All he could say was, “Clearly.”
I stormed over to the desk, slamming a finger down on the folder. “You’re going to read this contract, you’re going to sign it and agree to it, and then you’re going to leave these grounds and never come back, no matter what rumors you hear.”
