Finally, she nods and looks away.
“I will decide how long or short Jeremiah Harrison’s leash is. Now get out.”
Katia takes her leave, and I stare at the space she occupied. Then, I finish my drink and storm out of the office. Carlisle is waiting for me by the car when I step out into the brisk night air. I climb into the back and wait to drive off.
I spend a good hour at the warehouse on the outskirts of the city, examining the products and studying the men. When we leave, the dull roaring in my ears has faded into the background, and I can almost ignore it. Carlisle waits until we’re back at the estate and in the safety of my office before he pulls a file from his jacket.
I leaf through the pictures of Oliver. “So, he’s still keeping his nose clean.”
Carlisle nods.
I snap the folder shut and look at him. “Good. Continue to keep an eye on him and report back to me if there’s anything new.”
After Carlisle leaves, I spend a while longer going through the pictures and looking for a pattern. On the outside, my younger brother hasn’t done anything out of the ordinary, but I don’t want to be caught unaware again.
Not deciding on his punishment doesn’t mean I’ve let him off the hook.
In the meantime, it would be reckless to pretend he isn’t a danger to us all, and the longer Oliver is allowed to operate unchecked, the worse it’ll be for everyone.
I need to set aside my feelings and do what’s best for the empire and the family.
For the future, I can envision with London by my side, something I never thought I’d have with a woman.
And I won’t allow anyone, not even my brother, to take that away from me.
Sometime later, a cacophony of voices erupts outside my door. I shut the folder and shove it into the nearest drawer. The door bangs open; my father strolls in, his expression one of cold fury.
“I heard you paid a surprise visit to the warehouse today.”
“I did.”
Jack studies me, and his expression gives nothing away. “Visits are scheduled for a reason.”
“With everything else going on, I thought you’d appreciate a little proactiveness.”
There’s no winning where my father is concerned, but I can’t resist baiting him.
Jack stops a few feet away from the desk. “And the Harrisons? You better not have fucked that up.”
“They asked for more than the initial agreement, but nothing we can’t handle. An agreement will be signed before the end of the week.”
Jack turns to the fireplace. His harsh features are cast in the red and orange flames, making him seem larger than life. “There might be hope for you yet, provided you haven’t forgotten everything I’ve taught you.”
“I haven’t,” I reassure him. “I will not fail.”
Jack turns away from the fire, a long shadow cast across the hardwood floor. “See to it that you don’t. You know how I feel about failure.”
His eyes sweep over me, lingering on my side, where the bandage is barely visible under my shirt. “The attack hasn’t been the wake-up call I hoped it would be, but no matter.”
“What do you mean?”
Jack shrugs. “I shouldn’t need to explain. A man who is focused and disciplined would understand.”
Silence stretches between us as I turn his words over in my head.
Once he leaves, I make my way up to the room where London is sitting in a chair by the window, a book turned over in her lap.
She starts when she sees me. “I didn’t think you’d be up until later.”