Page 17 of Stalker

There were now six cops, all of them advancing with their weapons pointing at both of us.

I backed off, keeping the smile on my face. I’d been prepared for the jerk’s next reaction. The moment I turned my back to walk away, he issued a primal roar.

With a sharp turn, I drove my fist into the center of his face.

Down he went.

As I walked up the slight knoll, people from the crowd began to clap.

* * *

“We have a hero in our midst. Maybe we should open a bottle of champagne.”

The statement was made as soon as I walked into my office. I’d already seen the curious looks from various employees as I’d walked into the building owned by the Blackwell Group. I glared at my brother and moved directly to my desk, noticing Xander wasn’t the only one lounging in the leather chairs offered to guests.

I thumped down, still glaring from Xander to Zach, my two brothers wearing the same mischievous grin.

Meanwhile, Christopher Canton, the fourth board member and company attorney, was actively reading something on his iPad. As usual, I suspected he was worried about lawsuits.

“Oh, fuck off,” I said in passing. “What the hell do you know?”

“Only what theTribuneposted this morning. Including art. I guess they needed a feel-good piece.” Christopher leaned over, sliding the computer across my desk.

I barely looked down. Unfortunately, the photograph had a clear shot of my face, which had led to the ridiculous headlines.

Blackwell Vice President Proves Himself a Dark Knight After All

Snorting, I didn’t bother reading the article. The reporter thought it cute to highlight our most popular and lucrative reality game with a twist to the name. While even bad press was considered good press, the article pissed me off.

“So, you’re a hero now,” Zach said as he leaned back in his chair, his bulk managing to lift the front two legs off the floor.

“You want to put your feet on my coffee table too?” I snarled.

“Matter of fact,” he answered and planted one Hermes Giovanni leather loafer on the glass surface then the other, “I think I will.”

“The article isn’t bad. The woman you saved is some diplomat’s wife. She thinks you’re the perfect savior.” Christopher grabbed the iPad, pinning me with his scrutinizing eyes. “Now the perpetrator, on the other hand, is suing you. Or so he spouted off.”

“Let the fucker sue me. He’d lucky I didn’t rip out his throat for what he did.” I meant that too. I’d come very close to ignoring that people were watching or that I was supposed to have a conscience. I’d seen blood in my eyes and that never boded well for the idiots who dared cross me.

“Get this,” Christopher continued. “The perpetrator’s daddy is some bigwig in a pharmaceutical firm. He’s already vowed to free his son from this tyranny.”

“He was caught red-handed trying to assault a woman, for God’s sake.” Xander laughed out loud.

“True justice doesn’t always matter. It’s all about money and influence.” Zach lifted his eyebrow as he turned his head in my direction as if wanting me to weigh in.

“If the fucker doesn’t serve time, he’ll face my wrath. Plain and simple.” I was being honest. I’d read the paper. I’d also seen the jerk’s father maligning the attack on his son and expounding on the fact the young man was a Rhodes Scholar and a former college athlete. So what? Drew Monahan might be a pillar of society on paper, but I knew better than most that every man had two distinct sides.

Good and evil.

“He is under investigation for several attacks over the last year. Maybe you managed to catch a serial rapist. Imagine the mayor giving you a key to the city.” Xander was teasing me, which he’d loved to do since we’d reconnected almost fifteen years before.

“Bastard,” I told him, allowing a growl to surface. No one would ever be able to call me a hero. “Maybe I’ll do the city a favor and cut out his throat to save the taxpayers money.”

“Good idea,” Zach chimed in.

Christopher sighed and glanced at his watch. “Is it too early to start drinking? The three of you are going to drive me to an early grave.”

While Christopher wasn’t family, he knew more of our secrets than anyone else, with perhaps the exception of the two women who’d somehow entered into my brothers’ lives. Granted, they were beautiful and cunning, both girls a little bit deranged like the three of us. Christopher was mostly on the straight and narrow, trustworthy yet toeing the gray areas of law to keep us protected.

---