“Killian,” I said, as I entered my office. Fucking prick lay on my office couch like he didn’t have a care in the world. His arms rested behind his head and his feet were crossed at the ankles. He was the picture of relaxation, and I clenched my fists to keep myself from attacking him again. He seemed to relish it when I lost control.

I couldn’t believe Rachel just let him into my office like this. Something was up with her lately and I didn’t know what it was, but she seemed distracted and distant. Things were slipping through the cracks.

“Rhys, so nice of you to turn up. I’ve been here for hours,” he said, taking his hands from behind his head.

“Maybe if you’d made an appointment, you wouldn’t have had to wait so long. What do you want, Killian?” His visit was out of the blue, but everything Kill did was calculated, and pre-meditated. My temper flared.

I knew he was behind the board elections, but what I didn’t know was why.

“I have a proposition for you that I’d like you to consider,” he said, standing from the couch and plopping down in one of the chairs in front of my desk. He unbuttoned his suit jacket and leaned forward, a big smile on his face.

“I’d like to talk about how we can get you out of this little board-election situation.” His smug smile almost had me vaulting over the desk to wrap my hands around his neck, but I needed to get to the bottom of this and find out what his motive was.

“And what situation would that be?” My self-restraint creeping up to my limit.

“Cut the shit, Rhys. I know all about the stipulations of your parents' will. I know that you’re going to get nothing if you don’t sill hold your current board positions on your birthday coming up. But that’s not why I’m here. I don’t give a shit about that. I’m here for justice, for Beth.”

“What the hell are you talking about? Justice for what?” I fumed. He was a man I considered a friend and it came back to bite me in the ass. Justice?

“Oh, I think you know there’s a lot more at stake than just your bank accounts. I don’t think you want anyone to find out about what you did to Beth,” he said, rage pouring off him in waves.

“What I did to Beth? I did nothing, but try to provide the best for her. I did everything I could to keep her safe. I tried to help her.” I slammed my hand against the cold glass of my desk, so hard my knuckles throbbed.

“Helped her right into an early grave,” he said, his teeth clenched.

“You have no idea what the fuck you’re talking about.” The muscles in my neck were so tight, I was afraid something would snap. He didn’t know anything about it. How hard I tried to keep her away from the drugs. How hard it was to live with someone who’d lie through her teeth to get her next score. Put her own daughter in danger chasing after a fix. She’d been from the same neighborhood as Killian and never felt like she fit in in my world. Maybe part of that was my fault, but I did everything I could short of chaining her to the bed.

“And you think the boards are going to have an issue with Beth’s drug addictions? You think they are going to let go of the steady money that gets deposited to every one of the charity bank accounts? I did everything I could for Beth. I tried so hard to help her stay clean. I’ve been playing this game for a long time. I’m disappointed in you, Killian. I’d have thought someone like you would have had a much better plan than that. Come on,” I said, dropping into my chair. The tightness in my chest ebbing away just a bit. If that was his ace in the hole, then screw him and his empty threats.

“I’m not talking about Beth’s addiction, I’m talking about her murder,” he said, his eyes blazing, fury churning just as deeply as mine.

“Murder? Really? Why would I murder Beth?” I said, trying to keep my voice level.

“Maybe she didn’t fit in with your perfect plan for your life? Maybe you couldn’t handle that she preferred Allan to you?” he growled.

“You’re out of your fucking mind. Get out!” I ground out, my jaw so tight, my teeth ached.

“Beth didn’t die in your apartment. She didn’t die like you said she did,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. My face went pale, as the blood rushed from my head. Suddenly I realize I’ve been taking the ability to breathe for granted my entire life. Because right now, I’m in a vacuum completely cut off from everyone and everything but the pounding panic that’s racing through my body.

“Who said she didn’t die in the apartment?” I clear my throat and try to maintain my composure.

“I do. I’ve seen the real police report. The one you tried to have buried.”

“Get the fuck out of my office. You don’t know anything about my life or anything about what you’re talking about.” My mind raced, trying to figure out where the hell he’d gotten that report. Had I covered up what happened to Beth? Yes, but I never would have hurt her. I did everything I could to save her. Everything to save her and protect my daughter. But I didn’t need the news floating around about what really happened to her. Or people asking questions about Esme’s having been there.

Killian glared at me and it made my blood boil. I balled my hands up into fists, my knuckles turned white as I planted them on my desk to keep myself from vaulting over it and smashing his head in.

“I thought all those years ago we promised we wouldn’t lie to each other? You know she didn’t die that way, and I know it, too.”

“No one will believe your lies.”

“They aren’t lies and you know it. And it just so happens that I know someone who was there. Someone who knows all your dirty little secrets and someone who can’t wait to bring you down,” he said, pushing up from the chair and leaning against the desk. I bared my teeth, holding myself back.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Your parents stole my legacy from me. It’s only fair I return the favor. Your fall from grace will be so satisfying. Maybe now everyone will know just the kind of man you are. Enough with the façade, Rhys. Let the real you out,” he said, spittle falling on the desk between us. My control snapped. My future was in jeopardy. I wanted him to feel an ounce of the pain that shot through me. I tackled him to the floor, my fist smashing into his face. Like an out-of-body experience, I threw myself across the desk. His eyes widened. He knew of my restraint, but he didn’t know just how far he’d pushed me.

It wasn’t just me he threatened, it was the people closest to me and I wouldn’t let anyone get away with it. Especially not him.

He grabbed me by the collar, ducking his head out of the way of my fist, which hit the floor. Pain exploded in my hand and radiated up my arm. He flung me off him and landed a solid punch against the side of my head. My vision swam and my ears rang as I blocked his next punch and landed one solidly in his stomach. He doubled over and wheezed, putting his hand on the floor to steady himself. Blood dripped from his face onto the floor and he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his teeth bloodied. He raced at me before I could react and, lifting me up, he slammed me down on my glass desk. It shattered under our combined weight and we were both showered with shards of glass.

I groaned and rolled to my side. Killian braced his hands on the floor, small rivulets of blood covering his palms, and pushed himself up.

“I didn’t think you had it in you, Rhys. I thought all that talk about control was just the pussy’s way out of a fight, but look at you. Getting down and dirty with the peasants.”

“You threaten my family. I’ll fucking end you,” I said, seething. My fists clenched and unclenched.

At the sound of all of the commotion, Rachel burst into the room, her eyes wide with terror and her mouth wide open.

“Oh my God,” she said, her hands covering her mouth. “What did you do?” she shouted at Killian.

“I told you not to disturb us,” Killian said. I pushed myself up off the floor.

“You just said you wanted to talk. That you had something important to tell him. What the hell, Kill?” she shrieked. I quirked my head to the side. Kill. I didn’t know many people that called him that. Especially not someone who’d only met him in a professional capacity. And Rachel was never so unprofessional as to call a guest of mine by their first name. And then it hit me. She knew him! Not in passing, or because of the digging I had her do. She knew him.

“You’re working with him?” I said, storming over to her. “You’ve been reporting on me to him?”

“What? No, please, Mr. Thayer. It’s not like that at all. I would never break your trust like that. I haven’t told him anything about you.” I didn’t take betrayal lightly. Rachel was more than an assistant. She’d been my right-hand. She’d been in my house. Watched my daughter.

“You’re done! Leave!” I shouted. Tears formed in her eyes, but I didn’t care.

“And get the fuck out of my office,” I roared at Killian.

“Gladly,” Killian said, bowing. He reached out to touch Rachel’s arm and she flinched away. “You know where to find me,” he said to her before striding out the door like he didn’t have a care in the world. And he didn’t. He’d just destroyed my entire world. I turned my icy glare back to Rachel. In my own house. I shook my head. It looked like I had lost my touch. Here I thought I didn’t let things get past me. Sure of everything happening around me. And she was right here under my own nose.

“Get out,” I seethed. I couldn’t even look at her.

“Please, Mr. Thayer, it’s not like that at all. I’m not working for him. I never have been. He only asked to wait in your office. Said he had something important to tell you and he didn’t want to do it in the lobby. I didn’t know he had anything like this planned,” she said, her voice quivering and motioning to my destroyed office.

“I said get out,” I roared. She jumped and scurried out the door. I ran my hands through my hair and let out a primal scream before storming out. I needed to fix this. I needed to fix this now, but how?