Jake

“There was nothing there,” I assure my father as he stares back at me, unsatisfied. His eyes narrow, his nostrils flaring as he continues to take in one raging breath after another. “I looked through the entire place and found nothing of his but a lease with no more information than we already have.”

“Did you ask her?”

“She doesn’t know anything,” I tell him, ignoring his question.

“She knows something of value to me, Cyrus.”

I feel my adrenaline rise as he holds my stare.

“You’ve just allowed yourself to get wrapped up in the girl and have managed to forget your responsibilities. Getting laid has clouded your judgment and from what Gabe tells me of this girl, I can see how that can be done.”

I look toward my brother and find him smiling wide.

“He says she’s very attractive.”

Gabe purses his lips and I want nothing more than to knock the fucking look from his face.

“But it’s time for me to find a means to gather the information you’ve neglected to collect.”

My father’s words instantly regain my full attention. “What?”

“You’ve had your fun, Cyrus, and in the process gotten a good piece, from what I can assume.” My hands fist at my sides. “But I’ve decided to take a different route.”

“What are you talking about?” My blood pumps faster, making me feel lightheaded. The chair my brother sits in squeaks from across the floor as he stands.

“Don’t worry, brother,” he says as he begins to walk toward the door. “I’ll be as gentle as I can with her.”

I was moving across the room faster than my mind could register only to be grabbed from behind. Paul, my father’s flunky, bodyguard, whatever the fuck you want to call him, and Brody, his oldest friend, hold onto me from behind as Gabe stands in the now open doorway. He looks back at me, a look of triumph on his face. “I promise not to damage her pretty face.”

“Don’t fucking touch her,” I seethe as I attempt to break free from the hold I am captured in.

“But touching her is gonna be the best part.” Gage licks his lower lip and I suddenly feel sick.

“I swear Gabe, if you hurt her, or lay one finger on her, brother or not, I’ll fucking kill you.”

He looks past me, I’m sure gaining approval from my father just before his eyes meet mine once more. He offers me a wink before he walks out of the room, a deep chuckle echoing down the hall.

“She’s just a woman, Cyrus,” my father says nonchalantly as the two men guide me back toward the chair I had been sitting in. “They are a dime a dozen and we can even find you a sweet little brunette that looks like this Blair woman.” I want to fight back, I want to tell him what a sorry piece of shit he is, but I know it will only prolong me getting to Blair. I have to get out of this room and playing Zeke’s game is the only way to do so.

“I don’t like not being able to complete a job,” I say as my nostrils flare and my hands shake. “I was just sampling a little along the way, no harm in that. Plus wearing her down enough to give me the time to snoop around worked well. I got off, and she passed out.” The words felt like acid as I spoke them.

“Good strategy, boy,” my father states and both of his men laugh. “But you were thinking with your dick and unfortunately for you, I don’t like to wait.”

“You gave me a week.”

“And I changed my mind.”