Page 68 of Coercion

I get into the office, holler out for Noah and Jace, and then sit myself down, staring at the security footage. I can see the shadows, see the person sneaking around and just as I expected, I can see them accosting my wife, before she smashes the glass and we all come running.

But it’s the audio that gets me.

Ruby didn’t know her brother was still alive, she’s clearly been blissfully unaware of that fact but it confirms everything Nico and I suspected since our shipments started coming under attack. Oh, it was easy to figure it out, to put two and two together and that surveillance footage certainly helped. Perhaps this was why Levi was so desperate to make a deal with us, he knew the prodigal son had returned and was afraid that his crumbling empire would disappear entirely.

“I care about Preston.”

The words repeat in my head.

Her words.

I’m a fool to get as much pleasure as I do from such a simple statement and yet I feel like a chorus of trumpets are going off in my head. I feel like she’s just declared her undying love for me.

And then my eyes focus back on that figure, on her brother. He was trying to take her from me, he was going to steal my Ruby away. I clench my fists, feeling pure rage at the thought.

If I have to, I will hunt him down, I will kill him, hell, I’ll kill any man that thinks they can get between me and my wife.

Ruby is mine.

She is always going to be mine.

“Boss?” Noah says, waltzing in like he’s just come back from vacation.

About bloody time.

“Where have you been?” I growl.

His eyebrows raise, I’m not usually one to get angry, at least not to show it.

“It’s not even gone six.” He says, like that’s an excuse.

“I’m in.” I snap back. “I expect you and Jace and every other fucker to be in when I am.”

He gulps, nodding, “Is something up?”

“Something?” I turn my screen, ensuring he gets a perfect view of the man who hours ago was inside my supposedly secure compound. “This man tried to steal my wife last night.”

“Who the fuck is that?” Jace asks, apparently appearing out of nowhere too.

“Jett Fucking Holtz.” I state.

Noah blinks like he thinks I’ve misspoken but Jace just shakes his head slightly. “I thought that kid was a goner. I thought they did him in when they killed the parents.”

“Apparently not,” Noah replies before I can.

“I want him found. I want him brought to me. I’m going to teach him a lesson about what it means to take what’s mine.”

Noah’s out the door before I can finish my sentence but Jace, he’s stood, still staring at the screen. “Do you think they know? Gunnar and Levi?”

I shrug. They’d be fools not to suspect it.

“Want me to do some digging?” He asks.

I run my hand over my face. In truth, I don’t give a shit what Gunnar and Levi do and do not know. What I care about is the fact that someone got into my house, got to Ruby, and the only reason she’s still in my bed right now is because she chose to stay there. She chose me.

“Just find him.” I say, before I really do lose my temper.

As I sink back into my chair, I try not to dwell on the fact that my wife lied to me. That she deliberately misled me. I know her intentions were good. She was no doubt shocked by her brother’s sudden reincarnation and wanted to protect him. That loyalty shouldn’t be underestimated and in a way, it’s a good thing, that she is loyal, that she isn’t a coward.

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