Page 90 of Coercion

“Well, what?” I ask.

“I take it you’re making a play for the family heirlooms?” He states.

“Of course he is.” Noah bristles. “His wife is a Holtz.”

“Gunnar won’t just roll over.” Jace warns like we’re all fucking idiots. “He’ll be expecting something like this.”

“What do you suggest?” I ask, curiously.

He shrugs, acting more nonchalant than is believable. “Just saying. That’s all.”

Noah rolls his eyes but it makes me wonder all the same – am I being naïve? Am I missing something? Between Nico and myself we have an army poised to step in, to takeover. He’s already done the brunt work, speaking to the other families,smoothing things over and ensuring there will be no reprisals and yet, something niggles all the same.

I feel like we’re missing something obvious.

“Any word on the brother?” I ask. Surely if anyone’s going to throw a spanner in the works, it’ll be him?

“Nothing.” Jace says, shrugging. “We tracked the vans but they all came up empty. The man must be having help from somewhere.”

Of course he’s got help. No way the bastard is able to simply attack our enterprises all by himself.

For a moment I wonder what will happen when we do catch him, does Ruby love me enough now to forgive me murdering her brother? Will it even come to that?

I snarl, already knowing the answer. Of course it will. Jett is a threat, not only to me, but to Ruby. He won’t simply sit by and let her takeover their family’s empire.

No, he’ll rise up and challenge her… and then we’ll have a damned civil war.

Sibling against sibling. Holtz against Holtz. I don’t want to see the sadness and betrayal in Ruby’s face when that day comes.

No, better I finish this before it even starts.

Better I eliminate him from the board before he can make any further moves.

“Keep looking.” I say to Jace. “And the rest of you, get back to work.” I add before grabbing my things. Suddenly I need to be there, back with my wife, ensuring that no one has tried to steal her while I’ve been away.

But when I pull up to the house, I see the waiting car. My eyes narrow and though I know this could be about anything, why else would he be here?

I get out, shut the door, and stride towards the arsehole smirking at me.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

“Is that any way to speak to your ally?” Gunnar says, tilting his head.

“I have nothing to say to you.” I state, walking past, the sooner he’s put in his place the better. Besides, he must know we’re pulling the rug out from under him, surely he’s not that stupid? I’m half tempted to pull out my gun and put a bullet in his head right this very second.

He follows behind me, shadowing my steps inside the house and though I’m itching to push him out, I need to be smart here, as far as he’s concerned we’re all still in bed together, that nothing has changed with Levi’s passing.

I don’t want to reveal our hand too early and fuck everything up.

I just need a few more days, a bit more patience.

“I came to see Ruby.” He says loudly.

That makes me pause. “What the fuck do you want with my wife?”

Is that his game, is he trying to undo our deal, is he trying to renegade on everything? Well, he can fuck right off. No one is taking Ruby from me. No one is taking my wife.

“She didn’t tell you?” He says.