Chapter Ten
Liam
Dragging a hard handthrough my hair, I turned back to Jacob.
He had this smile on his face that made me sick. As if he was enjoying not only the pain she suddenly experienced, but the hurt and surprise that was running through me too.
“Well little brother, it looks like we got work to do.” Leaning back in his chair, he held his hand up by his face and rubbed his fingertips together. “It's time to close this thing.”
Flaring my nostrils, I stepped over the puddle of steaming of coffee, and stalked to the table. “Why did she look at you like that?” I asked, balling my fists and resting them on the table.
Shrugging his shoulder, his brows arched high. “We've met before, remember? I was the one who came and talked to everyone a few months back. She knows why I'm here, and now she knows why you're here.”
I saw something else in her eyes. I saw fear.
“No, that's not what it was. . .” Pausing, I angled my head and glared down at him. “Why did she look at you like that, Jacob?”
“How the fuck should I know?” Stiffening his back, his eyes met mine. “All I know is that we need her lot. And you failed, you couldn't get her to sign. So, I'm taking matters into my own hands now. We can't always play nice, Liam. Haven't you learned that yet?”
Shaking my head, my jaw jetted out. “Play nice?” Huffing under my breath, our eyes never broke. “I gave you another option. She's never going to sign it over to us. That door is shut now, there's no doubt in my mind.”
“I have my ways, Liam.” His smile thinned into an evil smirk. “I have my ways.” Standing up, Jacob adjusted the trim of his blazer. “I'll call you later, some of us have work to do.”
“Whatever you're thinking, Jacob, I'm warning you not to do it.”
Chuckling, he pressed his palms against his chest as his lips feathered with a smile. “Or what? What the hell are you going to do, little brother?”
Veering my stare, I spoke through clenched teeth. “Don't test me, this time it's my decision.”
Latching onto my shoulder, Jacob gave me a hard squeeze. “You don't get a decision in this, not anymore.” Slapping my back, he quickly stormed out of the cafe and climbed into a car park outside.
My muscles were tense, trembling so fiercely I felt my nails under the skin. Opening my hands, there were deep dents in my palms, almost deep enough to draw blood.
What the fuck is he going to do?
The look in his eyes told me he was planning something, and the voice in my head was screaming not to trust him. But he was my brother, as much as he might not float on the same line as everyone else, he wasn't evil.
Was he? Was he capable of doing something else?
The twinkle in his pupils gave me a bad feeling, it wasn't built off excitement and good intentions. His voice was full of malice, layered in quiet threats.
I need to talk to Glory. I have to find her.
She could hate me all she wanted, but I had to explain myself. She needed to know the truth, I wanted her to hear it from me directly. This my only chance to make it right.
I had to make it right.
I spent hours driving around looking for her. She wasn't at her gallery, she wasn't at her apartment, or any of the local coffee shops or restaurants. She had vanished.
“Where are you? We need to talk, just hear me out on this.”
The message went unanswered—everymessage I sent her went unanswered.
Pulling up to the hotel, I paid the taxi driver and headed inside. There was a feeling of loss filling every crevice. This wasn't what I wanted, I never wanted her to find this way.
I should have told her who I was from the beginning.
Hanging my head, the elevator doors opened, depositing me onto my floor. Checking my phone, she still hadn't tried to call or text me back. Releasing a weighted breath, I went into my room and fell onto the bed.