Page 8 of Crave

One way or another, I was finding out what happened. I headed back to my room, finding Theo leaning against the doorway to his bedroom. “That was entertaining.”

My lip curled. “Where the fuck were you?”

He gave a shrug, not answering. I glanced at his pupils and shook my head. “You’re a fucking disgrace.”

He turned as I made for my bedroom.“And you’re the fucking pride of the Ares name!”He called. “It’s only a matter of time, Silas before good ‘ol Uncle Linc comes calling, and tears our entire business apart!”

I slammed the door behind me.

Goddamn asshole!

He was right. I winced as that agony grew claws in my chest. My breaths were tight, that ache moving deeper. As much as I hated that druggy sonovabitch I called a brother, he was right. Lincoln was breathing down our goddamn neck, just waiting for the opportunity to take the Ares business for himself. After all, it was all he ever wanted right? Take my legacy. Take my life.

My cell came alight with a message.

Inbox: Video you asked for—London.

I made for my desk, yanking out the chair and hit the mouse of my computer, bringing the screen to life. There it was…waiting for me in my inbox. I clicked the link, opening the video and stopped with the mouse hovering over the play.

I didn’t know what I was in for…but I had a feeling it wasn’t good.

Chapter Three

ANGELICA

Goosebumps raced along my arms.I shivered, rubbing them. I wanted to blame it on the cool aircon air billowing out of the vents overhead, but it wasn’t. I risked a glance across the expansive room drowned in everything red cedar to him. My brother, Silas.

My chill was because of him.

Any other day he refused to acknowledge me, going out of his way to pretend I didn’t exist in his life. Today I would’ve preferred that to the chilling glare he directed my way. Our gaze met, my pulse skipped in response. His dark brown eyes never moved from mine, searching for something. But there was a twitch at the edge of his lips…a sneer. Panic pushed in and my thoughts raced.

What did I do now?

The door opened abruptly and a frantic, balding man awkwardly dressed in an expensive suit rushed in.“Right, sorry about thatfolks,” he looked down as he spoke, flopping into his chair and spun.

A thick, leather-bound folder impacted the desk with aslap. I jumped, hating how Silas still stared at me. What was his problem? I risked a glance as the lawyer started.

“As you can understand with the many holdings and private equities your father had, it's caused me a great deal of time to go through it all.

“And?” Theo snapped.

Jude cut him a look. “Theo,enough.”

But the lawyer kept going. “Some portions of your father’s business have been updated to obey his latest wishes, but there was a large portion which wasn’t…and that’s that older portion of the business and the income derived from that portion we’re having a discussion about today.”

Silas pushed forward. “What do you mean the older portion of the business?”

The lawyer’s cheeks went red. That wasn’t a good sign.

“There’s a rather large portfolio here. This,” he motioned to the thick folder. “Is basically a list of names that your father has, the…” he cleared his throat. “The ones on paper anyway.”

“And the ones which aren’t?” Silas cut across the room.

The lawyer scanned the room, seeking help or something. But no one was moving, not even Jude.

“All of the casino’s, the restaurants and other properties including all the houses are yours. That’s all water tight. But there were portions of the financial strategist holdings thatweren’t updated. Those parts were rather difficult for your father as you well know to…um, update.”

Silas slammed his hands down on the end of the desk.“What the fuck are you trying to say here?”