“You might think so, but I’ve been running this ship for long enough to know what works and what doesn’t. If you have a problem with that, you are welcome to hand in your notice.”
Maddox turned and walked away before storming back, and Felix stood in case he was needed. All Maddox did was point a finger close to Brett’s face and said, “I think you’ve got fucked up priorities. Sir.” He turned again and exited the room.
Felix wandered over. “Everything okay?”
Brett rubbed a hand over his face. “Yeah, just a conversation that should’ve happened earlier than this. Who knows what decision he’ll make.” Brett smiled, though it was strained. “All good.”
It wasn’t, and Felix knew it, but he nodded and headed back to his seat. One day, Brett would see him as someone to confide in.
One day.
****
Chapter 2
Brett
Maddox needed a good slap upside the head, but Brett just didn’t have the energy. Living on less than three hours of sleep a night was something his body was used to, but his mind kept fighting it. Whenever he went too long without sleep, his brain shut down, and he had to rely on something to jolt him out of it. Often, it was his phone ringing or one of his guards asking him a question. Sometimes, it was hot caffeine being waved beneath his nose. And other times, it was the man who spent far too much time strutting across his mind. Brett flicked his gaze across the almost deserted room to where that man sat.
Felix.
A man who had as many secrets as Brett did.
Brett knew a lot of them, not that Felix knew that, but he probably suspected. After all, if Brett didn’t know every secret of his men, how could he pre-empt something happening? It was how he’d known Dominic had needed him the night his sister had to be rescued. It was how he’d known what Owen would do when that girl had been kidnapped. It was how he’d known to run to Nick’s aid when Malachi was found drugged. Heknewhis men.
And he would do anything for them.
Even walk away.
But that was the last resort.
He refocused on the report that had come in from the latest event. He had several debriefings to do, a plan of action to analyse and confirm, a meeting with the king and several more things on his to-do list that would probably not get done in the hours he had. But then, as he rarely slept, it didn’t matter. He had plenty of time to do it all.
His phone rang, and he stared at the number, knowing exactly who it was even when he hadn’t saved the number in the contacts. He silenced it and barely withheld a sigh. They were the last person he wanted to speak to, and that hadn’t changed since he was fourteen years old.
“Everything okay, boss?” Felix said, standing and moving towards him.
How he wished he could explain. “Yeah, just story chasers, as usual.”
Felix nodded, though he didn’t look placated, and then disappeared out the door, probably in search of coffee, and if Brett was lucky enough, he’d bring one back for him, too. His phone rang again, and he stared at it as if it were the wrong end of a gun. The calls had increased in number over the past few months until they were a daily occurrence; sometimes, several times a day. When it rang a third time, he frowned. They had never been so persistent in such a short timeframe before. It rang off and started up almost immediately. Clenching his jaw, he swiped the green button and put it to his ear, not saying a word.
“He’s at St Francis Hospital.”
The call ended, and Brett stared at a spot in front of him as his hand lowered. His mouth had dried up at the sound of a voice he hadn’t heard firsthand in over thirty years, but he had many memories of that voice doling out punishments. By focusing on the caller and not the words he’d said, Brett could almost pretend he didn’t know what the problem was. It was one of twopotential reasons he was there, and neither one would surprise him.
With an absent-minded focus, he pushed his phone aside and picked up the report he’d been looking at. He had no reason to visit. He hadn’t seen the man or the caller in thirty years except for glimpses of them when they inevitably crossed paths. But no words had been spoken.
Until now.
Did he have to go? No. Did he want to go? No. Should he go? Brett sighed. Probably. At the very least, it would give him the lay of the land. If only he could delegate that task. The one job he wouldn’t mind giving someone else and he couldn’t.
Standing, he grabbed his phone as Felix wandered back into the room.
“Heading out?” Felix asked, holding out a cup of coffee.
As usual, Brett’s heart skipped a beat at the thoughtfulness, and he took it with a small smile. “Yeah, something I need to do.” He gulped the drink.
“Want some company?”