Page 96 of Gray Area

I just stare at Axel and try to process it all, and only look away when the elevator buzzes in annoyance at not being allowed to move. I step out and look back at him, still just as shocked.

Axel hands me a paper. “I think you dropped this,” he says. In my shocked state, I take it, even though I hadn’t been holdinganything but my key, which I still have. “Sleep well, Vivian,” Axel says, and the doors close.

I look down and see that he handed me a program from the gala the evening before. He must have given it to me for a reason, but I already have so much more to process.

Chapter 60

DECLAN

“Alright, everyone, thank you for making time for us while we are in town,” Slade says to the room of executives in the boardroom around us. We had decided to do a last-minute meeting while we were in town for the stupid fucking gala, and these poor fuckers around us probably hadn’t slept since we had announced it yesterday morning.

We acquired this company in the last six months, bought from a trust fund baby who has a penchant for hookers and a severe gambling problem. He’d needed cash quickly before he ended up dead. My dad had been so right. Being on the “right” side of the law didn’t make people better; it just made them better sometimes at hiding their vices.

This one wasn’t.

He was all over the news and needed some fast cash to pay for his lawyers. His assets were sold like old toys at a yard sale that people just wanted gone. The majority had been scooped up by Falco Enterprises, swooping in like Robin Hood. In the time since the paperwork had been signed, we hadn’t had time to explore the company, since it is too far away from our headquarters. But being in town for the event we sponsored has provided the perfect opportunity to see what it is this company does and how people are faring.

Slade does the majority of the speaking, allowing me to just sit and assess the people in the room, and to not have to juggle my hangover headache and speaking. Slade likes to talk, always has, and he is good at putting people at ease. Axel, who is also in the room, says nothing.

I stand and feel every eye land on me as I move. “We are pleased with the progress you all have made in a small amount of time,” I say honestly. “You should be proud of yourselves and your staff. Effective immediately, we will be implementing an across-the-board raise for everyone here.”

Visible relief floods everyone’s face around us, and then smiles and applause break out. Giving people money generally has the effect of happiness. I could have done without the applause, however.

With my announcement, my brothers and I close out the meeting. The employees around us stand, each coming over to shake our hands and thank us. They make their departure quickly after speaking to us, and soon it is just the three of us alone in the room.

“You still pissed at me?” Slade asks, sitting himself on the boardroom table, swinging his legs like a child.

I stack and straighten some papers on the table before me, ignoring my brother. The real answer is yes. I am still pissed,plus I haven’t been able to think of anything else except for his crazy appraisal of the worst thing in my life.

And during the hours since he’d said it, I’d realized that it is the truth.

“Come on, Dec,” Slade says, leaning sideways so now he’s lying in front of me on the table, “you know I love you.”

I took a deep breath and roll my eyes. “You are an annoying fuck.”

“Well, that’s about as much of an I love you as I expect from you.” Slade springs himself up from the table. “You can only be annoyed by the ones you love,” he says and looks over at Axel. “Right, Ax?”

We both look at Axel, and he gives a quick nod.

“See.”

“Let’s go home, you asshole,” I tell Slade, slapping him on his back and effectively ending our fight.

“Yes, please, I am dying for some malasadas,” Slade says, and Axel groans in agreement.

We turn to the door when we hear some commotion outside, and then shouting. All three of us exchange a look. Axel already has his gun out, and Slade and I quickly follow suit.

The door bursts open and we aim.

Kent, Vivian’s date from the gala, stands there, his face bruised and bloodied, his white shirt and tie a mess.

“They took her,” Kent says hoarsely, ignoring the guns pointed at him, and his sights zero in on me. “They came and they took her,” he declares to me through his split lips.

He takes a step forward and Axel is on him, taking him down and pulling his arms behind him.

Kent calls out, but he doesn’t fight back.

“Took who?” Slade asks him, training his gun on Kent’s head while Axel stays on top of him.

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