Page 24 of Clover

Harley may have been the result of me experimenting to find out which combination of drugs benefited my little games, but it is now our newest fad drug hitting the market. It’s a hit among the partiers and the younger crowd. Now, if we could only get our distribution beyond the eastern half of North Carolina.

Greensboro is home, but my penthouse in Charlotte serves as my second home. This is where I had to take Clover, so for now, this is where I stay. Today I have a meeting with my brother and sister to discuss our plans for the future. We’ve been discussing things for years now and are finally sick of waiting. It’s time to take action and place ourselves at the top of the food chain where we belong.

The three of us are in my corner office tonight. The setting sun glowing behind the neighboring buildings. Our offices are on the fortieth floor of the forty-seven-story sky scrapper in downtown Charlotte. We would have taken the top floors, but they were already claimed by the building owners. Briefly considered buying the building, but that’s too much of a headache dealing with tenants and maintenance. Instead, we settled for the highest floor not already under contract. Setting up our hedge fund and investment firm, Shaw Capital Management, on the fortieth floor. Which includes roughly fifty managers, assistants, and receptionists, as well as four corner offices occupied by myself, Oxana, Jaxon, and my father, Preston. Our secondary office in Greensboro is smaller, but where I tend to spend most of my time.

I started out in this office, but when the time came to expand our business, both drug and money managing, I took the initiative to take control over it. Building our offices in Greensboro that currently only has twenty employees. Not only do we like to rule in the production and sale of illegal narcotics but in playing the stock market and making massive returns on investments, we know are going to skyrocket or sink.

My sister Oxana stands near one of my corner windows, leaning against a dark credenza sipping bourbon from a crystal tumbler. Her dagger-sharp blood-red nails tap incessantly, making an ‘I have better things I could be doing right now’ rhythm.

“What is going on with Phoenix Colton? There’s been far too much noise coming from him and his ridiculous family the past couple of days.” Her voice is sharp and piercing yet with a pleasant feminine ring to it. A tone she’s perfected over the years. Using her figure and good looks to her advantage while simultaneously convincing them to do whatever she wants out of fear that she could stab them at any minute. The woman is a narcissistic psychopath, and I couldn’t be prouder to call her my sister.

“Not sure. I think he has some anger issues he’s working through.”

“You know what she means, Braxton. You’re stirring shit up with them and causing friction where unnecessary.” My other sibling Jaxon says from one of the ultramodern metal chairs across from my desk. Only the seat cushion is upholstered with stiff black leather. Seats which I know for a fact are just uncomfortable enough to make a man shift every so often. To keep people from getting too comfortable and staying beyond their welcome. Just the way I like it. I don’t want people to be comfortable and relaxed in my office. I need them to be on edge and unwilling to fight back. Jaxon is not as naturally venomous as my sister and me. Although he is the oldest of the three of us, Oxana and I take the lead on most things. Jaxon is more than okay lurking in the shadows and letting us take control. Even when Oxana was named the newest council member for the Shaw family. It used to be my mother, but when she became too complacent in her position, we needed to place a new fresh mind on the council to achieve our goals. Oxana was more than ready to step up.

Crossing his ankle over his opposite knee, he shifts and glares at me across my desk with his soft but deadly brown eyes. He unbuttons his purple blazer revealing a soft grey dress shirt underneath, the top two buttons undone and no tie. His sense of style is more colorful than my own and a little more casual. Usually a suit, but with a plain tee shirt underneath and never a tie. The day I see Jaxon wearing a tie will be the day our father dies because his funeral is the only reason he’ll ever tie one around his neck.

“It’s fine. He’s just throwing a tantrum. I can handlePhoenix Colton.” Speaking his name leaves a rotten taste in my mouth. I cleanse it with a sip of my single malt whiskey before setting the smooth-edged tumbler down on my glass desktop. Leaning back in my much more comfortable chair than my ‘guest’ chairs, I relax a little.

“See that you do, little brother. Your fascination with torturing the Colton’s will not get in our way. We have more important things to focus on right now. We’ll get those inbred Neanderthals in due time. Just be patient.” Her voice is flat and unimpressed as Oxana crosses her slender toned arms over her chest. The low-cut red silk top bunching slightly under the movement. She’s so slender yet fit that her clothing seems to hang on her like a supermodel. Most men appreciate her body which she knows and uses to her advantage every chance she gets.

“And handle it quietly. Stop making waves.” I turn to face Jaxon again. Giving him a grin ensuring my confidence in my ability to handle Phoenix Colton.

“It’s not a problem. He’ll give up his little endeavor soon enough, and things will be quiet on the Colton front once again. Oxana can plot to her heart’s content to disband and demolish the Syndicate without them suspecting a thing.”

“Are we sure we want to disband the Syndicate? What’s so bad about being organized and delegating aspects of the business to people more equipped to handle them? Less shit for me to deal with.” Jaxon asks in a condescending tone I’m all too familiar with. He hasn’t exactly been on board a hundred percent with our plan since Oxana started on her journey to be the Queen Bee. Only giving in and going along with it because he was outnumbered and overruled.

“Yes, we do need to disintegrate the overbearing suffocating ignorant council of imbecilic has-beens so we can clear the path for us.” Oxana barks at Jaxon before turning her black eyes on me. Crossing the room with sharp clicks of her stiletto heels echoing off the hardwood floors. “Andyouwill not fuck it up because you got a tingle in your dick for some hussy you found in a bar. I have plans, Braxton, and you will not jeopardize them. Not now that I am finally on the council and able to start making changes.” My sister the ever-effervescent ladies and gentleman. The only thing greater than her desire to sit on the top of the pyramid is her cruelty. I have no doubt it will get her what she wants someday.

“Don’t worry, your pretty little psychotic head Oxana. I know what I’m doing, and I will not jeopardize anything.”

“See that you don’t.”

She can threaten me all she wants, but I would never allow the Colton’s to hinder our plans. Playing with my new toy is just a perk of what’s to come. Irritating and antagonizing my childhood nemesis is merely a side game to pass the time and salt the wound. In the end, it won’t matter. Clover doesn’t matter, Phoenix doesn’t matter, and the accords and council won’t matter.

Chapter 13

Phoenix

Back at home, I’ve been able to get a few hours of restless sleep, mentally and physically preparing myself for the inevitable shit storm coming my way. When I returned home with the news of Clover's possible whereabouts, I didn’t stop for a second. Grabbing my gear and whatever I think might be necessary. Until it was brought to my attention that we were still waiting on Blake to hack into his system. As well as the fact that we needed an update on Braxton’s location, not to mention figuring out what we might have to deal with once we arrive at his penthouse.

As such, I was forced by my relatives to try and get a little rest before we set out. It isn’t exactly what I wanted to do, but once again, my rational thinking was being smothered with a pillow by my impatient adrenaline-fueled need to get to her.

Lying in bed smelling her scent on my sheets causes me a pain in my chest I’ve never known before. Not even with Robin’s death. This pain is a longing deep inside my soul. A need to have her close and safe by my side consumes me. Forcing my heart into my throat and a hole inside my gut. All these emotions flooding my system have been knocking me on my ass. It’s strange to think that I lived for so long, suppressing them. With how I’m reacting and behaving, it’s not that big a surprise. Irrational behavior and reckless actions topped with crippling mood swings are not really how I like to spend my days. For Clover, I would endure every emotional feeling and mood swing because it means loving her and possibly her loving me.

Clover is a brilliant warm light shining on my black soul that is filled with blood, pain, and sex. Now where there used to be only darkness, there is a ray of sunshine making my life more than the Syndicate’s enforcer. There is joy and love and even a little hope. I was fine with my life before her, not caring that my soul was tarnished black. Now I don’t think I could ever go back to the loveless, empty nights sleeping alone in my cold bed. Her warmth still lingers here, and no matter how much time passes, it will always remain here. I’ve known since the first time I had her in my bed that no other woman would ever take her place. No other woman can compare to her and her smile. Her kindness and big heart, or her smart mouth and strong spirit.

Nervous energy keeps me awake, staring at the ceiling as the moon begins to fill the darkening night sky. Speaking to the empty silence of my room, I promise that I will get Clover out of his clutches. I won’t let her down, not like I’ve let people down in the past. I always get the job done no matter what the assignment, but I can’t say I’ve done as much in my personal life. Missing out on Sunday brunches at the bakery because I was too hungover to get up. Ignoring invitations to concerts, forgetting Emeralds high school graduation. Not my best moments.

It’s not that I don’t love my family. They’re fucking awesome. It’s just sometimes it reminded me that I wasn’t good enough to have a family of my own. I let down Robin by leaving her with Hunter so I could go get laid. After that, I knew that’s all I would be good at. Fucking and letting people down. It was because of my selfishness that Hunter was left alone to protect her. That’s me, the selfish sex-crazed asshole who only looks out for himself. Or so people think. Thought? I may have used that to numb the pain and protect my heart from ever feeling hurt like that ever again, but that’s not who I really am. I’d almost forgotten who I was and that I could feel until she came along and bitch slapped the ego right out of me.

Now with my heart beating once again with more than blood lust, I will be the man I once thought I could be. The one that I’ll be for her. For them all, I foresee lots of ass-kissing and apologies in my future to a few people for letting them down. With Clover by my side, I’ll be able to do anything, and I will. Because she may have been alone before coming to us, but she isn’t anymore. I won’t leave another woman I love alone to fend for herself.

I can’t lay here any longer. If I don’t move soon, I’ll go mad. Instead of pretending to rest while waiting for Blake to call, I get up and get dressed. Jeans and a black shirt with black combat boots. As soon as Blake calls and gets us the plans for Braxton’s penthouse and access to his safe house security door, we’ll be in the car and on our way. It doesn’t matter if Braxton and his entire security detail are there. Killing them will be my pleasure.

Heading downstairs to do, I don’t know what, something to help calm my nerves. I make my way through the living room and notice the French doors open to the backyard. No lights are on, but I can see a form sitting in one of the chairs at the outdoor table. A red ember burning from the end of a cigarette of some kind. As I get closer, the figure comes into focus. Beau is sitting in the moonlight smoking a joint and staring off into the distance.

“Haven’t seen you smoke in a while.” He turns to watch me approach and sit in the chair next to him.

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