“So, how are we going to play this?” Alec asks when we pass through the guarded entrance to Bradshaw’s estate. His fingers are drumming on his thighs; he’s ready for this to become more than a friendly chat.
Eyeing him, I say, “You’re going to keep your mouth shut. You have a way of escalating situations with that trap of yours, and that’s not what we’re here for. I talk, you keep your eyes open.”
His shoulders hunch a little. “Fine, but you gotta admit these fuckers deserve it after what they’ve put Kalista through,” he shoots back.
Nodding, I agree. “They do, but today isn’t the day it’s going to happen. We’re here to talk. Let them know we are aware of what’s going on and why. See if it rattles Bradshaw enough to let it go. I doubt it, but this is how we’re doing things. We might even get a little extra info from him, if we’re lucky.”
I pull my black SUV into the guest parking, where golf carts are lined up to take visitors up to the main house. Alec’s eyes light up.
“Dibs,” he shouts and slides in behind the wheel. I roll my eyes. Whatever. It’s a fucking golf cart, not a race car.
Somehow Alec manages to get the cart to spin its small wheels before shooting forwards. Grabbing onto the roof so I don’t fall out, I glare at him. “Dude, what the fuck?”
He’s got crazy eyes, fucking fantastic. “This thing is juiced!” he grins.
“No shit,” I say. “Slow the fuck down. We don’t want to drive through the fucking front door.”
Shockingly, he doesn’t listen to me. As we near the main house, I hold on tighter.
“Alec,” I warn, then he slams on the brakes, turns the wheel, and skids into a parking spot between two other carts.
“I have to get me one of these,” he says, stroking the wheel.
Kalista is right; my brother is childish and immature. Glancing up to the steps leading to the front door, I see a guy dressed fully in black, his arms crossed over his expansive chest, and a glare that looks very familiar. Shoving Alec’s shoulder, I nod to the guy. “Come on. Let’s go.”
We approach as a single unit, side by side. I hold my hand out in greeting to the guy. “I’m Abe Jamieson. Got an appointment with Mr Bradshaw,” I tell him as he reaches out, shaking my hand firmly.
He nods once then moves his eyes to Alec, waiting for him to introduce himself, but he doesn’t.
“This is my brother. He’ll be meeting with Mr Bradshaw with me,” I explain.
“Michael,” the guy says, then turns to lead us into the house.
I freeze. My vison blurs and goes red. My pulse thrums in my temples, and all I can see is this guy with his hand over my woman’s mouth, whispering threats in her ear. Before I can act Alec is in front of me, a stone wall preventing me from doing something extremely stupid right now.
“Calm the fuck down. You’re the level-headed one; I’m the hot head.” He smacks me up the side of the head. “Get in the fuckin’ game, Abe.”
Swallowing, I nod once, reining in the rage just itching to get out and unleash itself on this motherfucker.
Michael turns around at the door. “Is there a problem?”
Alec pivots. “Nope, no problem. My brother’s having lady problems; I’m just makin’ sure his head’s in the right place,” he says, and we continue up the stairs, following Michael into the house.
He leads us straight through the massive foyer, through a set of open concertina doors and out to a pool area. There are at least a dozen women wondering around, swimming, and draped around more guards that stand around the perimeter of the open space with semi-automatics at the ready. Neil Bradshaw does not fuck around.
“This way,” Michael instructs, leading us past the women, the pool, and the guards to an open-plan pool house overlooking the area. Bradshaw is on the timber deck in black dress pants, and a white button-down with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
He studies Alec and me as we approach behind his son. He seems to take note of everything, his eyes taking us in the closer we get. Gesturing with across the timber table he’s seated at with an outstretched hand, he says, “Come, sit. What are you drinking today, boys?”
Alec speaks up. “Nothing from you. No offence, but I like my drinks free from artificial additives.”
Jesus Christ. I glare at my brother. “Smooth,” I mutter under my breath, and he shrugs. Fucker.
Bradshaw takes it in his stride, chuckling and calling a girl over. “Taste their drinks for them. Put young Mr Jamieson’s mind at ease, would you, Karla?” he croons and the girl obeys.
“What would you like to drink, Mr Jamieson?” she purrs to Alec, sitting in his lap, draping an arm around his shoulders.
“I’m good just like this.” He grins at her, and she giggles when he squeezes her arse.
Bradshaw switches his focus to me. “And you? Do you feel the same way?”
Shrugging, I tell him, “I wouldn’t say no to a beer.” As a general rule I don’t drink when on the job, but this is a test. So I accept, especially after Alec so rudely refused.
With a click of his fingers, a chilled beer is placed in my hand by another girl, one I didn’t notice before. How many does he have around here?
Cracking the top, I take a swig. “Thanks,” I say. “Mind if we get down to the reason for our visit?”
Bradshaw nods in approval. “I like a man who gets down to business. Let’s have at it. What is it I can help you boys with?” he asks, folding his hands behind his head, kicking back in his chair.
“Your old friend, Senator Astor,” I say, and Bradshaw’s relaxed pose vanishes the instant the words are spoken.
Sitting up straight, he flicks his hand. “Everybody out,” he demands, and the women file out, leaving the four of us alone. “I must say, Abe—I hope you don’t mind me calling you that.”
“Not at all, Neil. Let’s lose the formalities and really get down to the reason I’m here.”
He waves a hand out, giving me the floor. “By all means.”
I settle back in my seat, stretching out my legs, and crossing my ankles, “Your son Michael here has been harassing my girl. Now, I’m sure you know Kalista Astor is the senator’s daughter, and I assume that’s why you’ve targeted her. The problem here is, she is not her father. So I guess what I want to know is why you’re bringing his daughter into her father’s battle?”
Bradshaw leans forward, bracing his elbows on the table, and rubs at his chin. “You seem to know somewhat more than I thought you did, Abe. I’m impressed. It’s not common knowledge that Michael is my son.”
“Let’s not forget about your youngest son, William. His role has been minute so far, and I would hope you keep him as far removed from these kinds of dealings as possible. He’s only nineteen, after all—too young to be taking his place in the shadier side of the family business, don’t you think?”
Michael stiffens. “William has no involvement in any of this,” he snaps.
Holding up my phone with the picture of the stunned boy on my screen, I correct him. “I beg to differ. In fact, he personally delivered one of your twisted little love notes.”
Michael glares at his father. “You sent him in? We have an agreement; Will stays out of this. Of all of it.” His furious glare is trained on his father.
Bradshaw rolls his eyes at his son, which personally, I think is a dumb-as-fuck move. That guy has dangerous written all over him. I honestly don’t think he cares for his father as much as he does his younger brother.
The tension radiating off of Michael is palpable, and for some reason, I feel the need to reassure him. “It was a minor role. He posed as a waiter to deliver the note while Kalista was attending a luncheon,” I explain.
Alec shoots me a what-the-fuck look, but I ignore him. I understand Michael’s reaction. It’s close to the way I reacted when Alec enlisted the day after me. And when Axel enlisted, it took three men to contain me. I am the oldest—it’s my job to protect my younger brothers. Maybe that’s why I felt the need to reassure Michael just now.
He doesn’t relax much, but enough that I don’t feel like he’s about to launch across this table and knife his father. His eyes meet mine, and I’m momentarily struck by their colour. Crystal-clear sky blue, with flecks of silver piercing me. Holy fuck. Is it even possible?
Michael notices the change in my expression. “What?” he demands.
My focus shoots to Bradshaw. “You sneaky bastard. Does he even know?”
I have nothing to back up what I’m asking. Nothing more than a gut feeling, but it’s never led me astray before today, so I think I’m on the money. It backs up my theory—this all comes back to Gina Robinson.
“Is this even about business? Really? All this shit between you and Astor, it started before Kalista was even born. Before Michael was born. Did Gina ever stand a chance at walking away from either one of you?” I keep my tone calm and neutral, watching Bradshaw’s reaction to each word that comes out of my mouth.
I’ve hit a tender spot. He can’t hide it. The veins in his neck protrude as they pump blood harder and faster than they did when we sat down. He attempts to maintain his composure, but his mask is slipping. “Do you have anything to back up what you’re saying, Mr Jamieson? Because I’m getting bored with this.”
Smiling like the cat who caught the canary, I tap my fingers on the armrest of my chair. “We’re back to being formal now? Okay, well, Mr Bradshaw, while I’m aware that the senator is standing in the way of your current project to drill in a protected zone, I also know that the feud between the two of you started years before you took over the family business or he became a senator. Gina Robinson started it all. Is that why you’re going after Kalista? Still angry with her mother for leaving you for Astor, so you’re punishing her daughter?”
His jaw locks, his eyes narrow, and his fingers are laced together so tightly his knuckles turn white. “You have no idea what you’re talking about, boy.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” I say. “I have the proof. You and Astor were high school buddies, and then Gina came along. When you both fell for her, things got heated. For whatever reason, Gina chose you initially. How long did she stay? Three, four years before she left you for him?”
Bradshaw looks as though he’s about to bust a valve. “Watch your tongue,” he threatens.
Holding my hands up in a gesture of apology, I say, “My bad. I know this must dredge up some painful memories. But you still have a little piece of her with you, don’t you, Neil? That must be of some comfort to you. Except, Astor has a piece of her too,” I muse.
Alec looks about as confused as Michael does, but Bradshaw isn’t. Michael is Gina’s son. Not just another one of his random mistress’s kids. And Michael has no idea he’s been terrorising his own sister. I’m betting he’d be none too pleased with Daddy if he knew. Especially after seeing first-hand how protective he is over his brother.
“Go ahead, tell him. It makes no difference. I have more than one guard dog waiting to step up at my behest,” he sneers.
“What the fuck is going on? What are you talking about?” Michael grinds out, he clearly doesn’t like being left out of the loop.
Both Bradshaw and I ignore his outburst. I just got the answer I came for, and a little extra information that I may be able to use to my advantage. Standing, I give Michael a card with my number on it. “If you want to know about your mother, give me a call,” I tell him.
“My mother abandoned me as a baby, what could you possibly tell me that I’d want to know?” he scoffs.
Lifting my shoulder in a shrug I tell him outright, “If you really believe that, fine. But I’m telling you now, you’re wrong.” I meet his eyes, and hope he sees the truth in mine.
Alec stands with me.
“It was an experience meeting you, Mr Bradshaw. I hope to never have the privilege again,” I say, giving him a curt nod and striding off the deck and across the pool area, past all his guards and his women.
I need to get back to Kalista now, this man is a deranged pig. He’ll find a way to get to Kalista with or without his main enforcer.