Page 2 of Twisted Contract

We both stand around my brother’s desk as he sits and answers the call on speaker. “Hello, sir.”

“I’m sorry about your mother, but there are matters that still need to be handled.” There is no greeting. He goes straight to his bullshit. His dismissive voice almost sends me through the phone to choke him. If any of us could be labeled a mama’s boy, it was me.

“You’re a heartless son of a bitch,” I bark out.

“I’m sorry you feel that way, but we still have enemies and there is a problem with the Espinosa clan.”

“What do you mean?” I ask. This isn’t the time to worry about petty shit that our soldiers could handle while we are grieving.

“They just shot up our warehouse on Manheim.” I close my eyes and take a deep breath. As much as I hate it, the bastard is right. This is something that demands a response from the family.

“What the fuck do you mean?” Ian asks.

“Did I stutter, you dumbass kid?” Ian and my father hate each other, but this has reached a new level.

If my father was standing in the same room right now, my brother would put a bullet in his head. Maybe that’s why our father has such brass balls. “Who the hell are you talking to? I might be the product of your marriage, but as far as I’m concerned, I no longer answer to you. I hold you responsible for my mother’s death,” Ian hisses.

“Jack, get your brother in check. I already have enough to deal with. The funeral will be in three days. Clean up this mess before it gets out of hand and they think they can take over.”

He ends the call with us, and I want to bust his head.

Ian’s seething, and I see the wheels turning in Jack’s head.

“Don’t worry. He won’t be in charge for much longer.” Our old man can’t be trusted by his own children, which means he’s no longer capable of keeping us under his thumb. He’s lost his last hold on us. My mother was the only thing that kept us strong and loyal to him.

Chapter One

Claudia

I take a calming breath, and then I open the door to the state room where the party is just starting. The sound of the doors immediately draws attention to me, and my father smiles and walks directly toward me with power and status like he always does. His air of confidence is so strong that I don’t know how to combat it, but how I wish I did.

“I’m so glad you could join us this evening, my dear,” he says loudly, bending slightly to give me a kiss to my forehead. His saccharinely sweet greeting draws the adoring gaze from his many admirers, but I know it’s all a show. He’s furious that I’m late. His eyes meet mine with a look of disapproval.

“So am I,” I answer, tilting my head in a light bow.

“As am I,” Nick says, coming up to my side and kissing my cheek. I do my best not to shy away—not let everyone see my revulsion. He slides his hand around my waist as the dinner party gathers for cocktails. I hate these gatherings almost as much as I hate the pretense of this relationship. I need to stand up for myself and end this situation between Nick and me before it goes any further, but he and my father are practically inseparable and the last time I tried to talk about it, he blew me off.

The wife of a state senator approaches us. I don’t know who she is, but she’s one of those women who likes you to your face and then tells everyone in private that you’re a cunt. “So, Claudia, your father said you’re going to be working alongside Nick once you two make it official.”

“Oh, I don’t like discussing myself at these things,” I answer. It’s my usual retort because what I really want to say isthere is never going to be anything between Nick and me, and if he’s lucky, I’ll keep his secrets.

“Always so modest, isn’t she?” Nick says.

“If you’ll excuse me, I need the ladies’ room.” I walk away and then grab a glass of wine on the way to the bathroom, tossing it back before setting it on a nearby empty tray.

“Where are you going?” my father snarls.

“Just the little girls’ room,” I answer, pointing to the door mere feet away.

“Well, don’t take too long. Nick has a special announcement he’d like to make, and you need to be by his side.” I’d like to ask who he swindled or blackmailed out of a fortune, but my father wouldn’t take too kindly to that and frankly, it’s not who I am.

“Yes, Father. I promise I’ll be right there.” I step away and find the ladies’ room. As I enter, I’m quickly disappointed to find his ex-lover and assistant there as well. It seems she’s like a permanent stalker. Over the past few months, I’ve seen her around and I can’t stand the woman. “You’re like a bad fungus that just doesn’t go away.”

She stares with a murderous rage in her blue eyes. “You’re the one who won’t go away. Why don’t you pick someone else instead of my man?” she asks.

“I didn’t pick him—he picked me. If he was your man, then why is he after me?”

“Money, of course, and you’re young,” she huffs.

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