Page 69 of Coercion

I’m going to mould her, hone her, turn that loyalty onto me.

I’m going to make my wife fall so deeply in love with me she won’t even notice the blood of her brother dripping from my hands after I’ve taken away his last breath.

I endup working later than I mean to. Though my mind keeps drifting to my wife, indulging in all the ways we could be spending our evening if we were together, sadly work has demanded my presence.

I send word to Sidney that Ruby shouldn’t wait up, but I like the thought of her doing it anyway, of being there, all dressed up, needy and desperate for me to come home and entertain her. Hell, even if she is asleep, I’ll wake her up and spend a few hours enjoying her, after all, she deserves a reward for her show of devotion from last night.

My lips curl at the thought, of having her naked and spread wide, of her needy cunt weeping with want.

Perhaps I’ll start with my tongue, torture her a little until she’s a hot sweaty mess and she’s begging me for mercy.

We’re sat in the bar, and though it’s packed, everyone knows not to stray too close.

These meetings might seem public but they’re anything but. This is where we have our little chats, where we speak to the eyes on the ground, where we ensure everything is running smoothly and no shit is brewing in the shadows.

Across from me, Noah is detailing some new conspiracy he thinks he’s found. Blaine is twisting a knife into the table like he’s trying to carve out its secrets. Nico is beside me and though we’re listening, I can tell he has other things on his mind. The alliance with Levi being one. So far they’ve given us some routes but nothing of consequence. I’m starting to wonder if it’s all a bluff, it there’s nothing really there and his entire empire is made of smoke and bullshit.

Jace is on the phone, pacing. He keeps glancing at me and then back again. I know he still has some contacts in Holtz’s businesses, and I know he’s already trying to leverage that as best he can.

When he gets off the phone, he looks physically shocked.

He walks over, crouches down between me and Nico and murmurs about needing a word.

We move to the back room, where it’s more secure, and as soon as the door is shut, he starts talking.

“Levi is out.”

“What?” Nico says.

“He’s…” Jace shakes his head like he can’t quite believe it. “He’s had a stroke.”

“A stroke?” I repeat.

“Yeah, he’s in the hospital, they’re monitoring him but it doesn’t look good. Word is he won’t make it till morning.”

“Seriously?” Nico growls. “After all that bastard does, he gets to sign out with a nice painless death.”

“I don’t think a stroke is painless.” I say.

“But it’s nothing close to the shit that man has inflicted on the world.” Nico growls.

“Who is taking over?” I ask, but I already know the answer before the words leave Jace’s mouth.

“Gunnar.”

“Of course it fucking is.” Nico growls.

“We’ll need a meeting with him. We’ll need to affirm that this alliance still stands.” I say.

Nico pulls a smirk. “Worried you’ll be losing your wife?” He murmurs.

“Not for a second.” I snap.

No one is taking her from me. Even if this does go to pot, I’m not letting Ruby go. She belongs to me now, and woe betide any man that dare tries to suggest otherwise.

“We need to do some digging.” I say quickly to cover myself because Nico is giving me a look I do not like. “We need to know exactly what his condition is. We need to know who’s staying loyal, if anyone else is vying for leadership…”

“Go to the hospital.” Nico says to Jace. “Flirt with the nurses, do whatever you can to get in that room and see for yourself. I want proof. I want photographic evidence that the man is as close to death as they say.”