I watched as she raised her eyebrow and tilted her head, letting me know whoever was paying me this visit wasn't someone I should keep waiting.
"Excuse me gentlemen, this shouldn't take too long."
As I closed the door, I turned to her. "Who in the world…"
"It's President Killic."
My heart dropped.
I had been avoiding my grandfather for weeks. Not only was he not an easy man to get along with, but every time he was around, some shit went down. I wasn’t in the mood for one of his tantrums, let alone, one of his tirades.
I knew that my circles weren't clean, and I had killed to defend my family, but I had also been kept in the dark about a lot of things. Business that I still saw traces of and questioned.
When Stephanie and Elizabeth disappeared, we knew something had gone wrong. They were either in on it, or they found the product and ran with it. Stephanie couldn't have built the empire she currently had when she had nothing to begin with. Not unless Alan left her something she couldn't deny taking for herself.
Her funeral was a famously orchestrated shitshow. One that my grandfather and his allies ate up. I, on the other hand, didn’t believe for a second that she’d died on me. It just didn’t make any sense. Weeks later, I was getting word that shipments were catching on fire, clients were being stolen, and my docks were being infiltrated by those seedy bikers. I knew she was getting back at me for what I did to her, and I wouldn’t have expected any less.
I figured she might slip at some point and reveal her location, but as the years passed by, I realized that would be a long reach. With my grandfather in charge, she’d never come out of hiding. It was a freedom she couldn’t have. If he ever found out she was alive, he’d make sure she paid for everything she had taken, as insignificant as it now was.
It took me seconds to realize she was alive, years to realize that she had entered in this game with me, and when I’d find her, which I would, I was going to keep her for myself.
Opening the door, I walked into my office, careful not to make any sudden movements. He was still formidable and intimidating in his old age.
"What took you so long?"
I bowed my head and stood near the door as he berated me. "I don't like to be kept waiting."
I kept my gaze down, careful not to look him in the eye as it was considered a great disrespect.
"I apologize, Grandfather."
There was a long pause and I briefly shut my eyes as I heard him approach.
"Look at me," he ordered sternly.
I raised my eyes and focused on his nose. His eyes were black like his heart, and I couldn't bear to look at them. Besides, I didn’t want him to see the hatred I had for him reflected in my own.
"Have you been hiding secrets from me?"
"No, Sir."
He took another step towards me, bringing him toe to toe with me.
He slammed his fingers on my temple angrily. "Think, Caleb. Why would I come all this way to ask you that question?”
My eyes finally slipped down to his and the hatred burning in them startled me. "I have not been keeping secrets,...Sir."
He narrowed his eyes on me, and the sudden slap across my cheek caused me to stumble. I shook it off and stood up straight right where I'd been standing.
"No secrets, Sir."
He slapped me again, the sting burning along the expanse of the side of my face. I was prepared for that blow. And I barely flinched. I knew that angered him, and with his anger came another blow. This one made me taste copper.
"I know that you've been playing games with that traitor."
“I don’t know what you are talking about, Grandfather.”
"Do not lie to me! The whore! The one you helped escape!"
