Page 117 of Stand: Part One

I eyed Sid with the kind of warning that most men instantly pissed themselves over. The kind that cautioned them that death was just a hairbreadth away if they spoke one more wrong word. And it made Sid immediately freeze in place.

Standing from my chair, I pulled on the sleeves of my shirt under my jacket and slowly made my way around my desk. My large frame towered over the frail man, the white coat he continued to wear a bold contrast against his still flushed face. And while my imposing presence might make a lesser man tremble, Sid didn’t visibly cower.

I could respect him for that.

“Not that you’re entitled to a single explanation for anything I do that concerns my wife, but since you seem so inclined to actually barge in here and demand one, I’ll satisfy your curiosity with this—one way or another Sid, I will always get what I fucking want. You should know this by now.”

“Even if it’s just pure delusion?”

“Whose, Sid? Hers or mine? Because I have no problem with it being hers for as long as it takes.”

“You honestly think it will become truth? That eventually she’ll really believe that she actually does love you?”

The sneer that crawled up my face had to be as maniacal as I felt. “It’s a strategy I’m more than willing to explore.”

Sid shook his head. “This will backfire on you, Darren. You’re making a grave mistake,” he argued, then turned to cough into his elbow again.

I scoffed and reached into my pocket for my ringing phone.

“Your opinion is noted. Now get the fuck out of my office before I remove you myself.” I turned away to glance down at the number on the screen, ignoring Sid’s grumbling as he stormed toward the door. “Oh, and Sid,” I called again, watching him pause in his steps. “Don’t forget to wash the blood out of your coat before tending to Jaden’s mental health again.”

His facial features softened for a moment, but the alarm flashing in his eyes was almost comical. He should know by now nothing could stay hidden from me. The truth always made its appearance eventually, even if I had to drag it out of the shadows myself.

Dismissing his mortification, I turned back to answer my phone.

“Yeah?”

“Matt’s been sighted. He’s in Chicago.”

I paused, elation quickly lifting my mood entirely.

Finally.

I’d entrusted Dean and his team with the riveting task of tracking Matt down, and as usual, I was pleased with his results.

“How long ago?”

“I’m watching him right now.”

“What is he doing?” I asked.

“Having dinner at a public restaurant.”

My instincts immediately flared. Matt wouldn’t allow himself to be seen so openly knowing he had a massive target on his back, which meant only one thing. He was purposely trying to draw me out.

Be careful what you wish for, Matthew.

“Sounds like someone wants my attention,” I mused.

“Agreed.”

The question now was why he’d chosen Chicago of all places? He couldn’t possibly believe he would be safe in divided territory. I doubted it was a happy coincidence. Maybe he thought I might actually behave myself because of it.

After all these years, the fucker hardly knew me at all.

“As it so conveniently turns out, I have to be in Chicago for an event in two days. Keep a tail on him. I’ll be there in six hours.”

I hung up the phone just as Scott and Daniel came back into the room.