Page 118 of Stand: Part One

“Inform the trio to have Jaden packed and ready to leave for Chicago in the next three hours,” I told Scott as I rounded my desk.

“You’re leaving early?” Daniel asked as Scott promptly took out his phone to send out my instructions.

“Matt purposely, and very conveniently, revealed himself in Chicago. So I’m going to take him up on his little invitation.”

“Springing the trap then?” Scott asked as he pocketed his phone.

“Naturally,” I answered. “I wouldn’t want to disappoint him.”

“What about tomorrow’s auction?” Daniel asked.

“I think you can handle it without me,” I replied as I texted my pilots to ready the jet.

“I’ll dispatch a team to scope out the area. See what they can pick up,” Scott said.

I nodded in agreement. “Have them coordinate with Dean and his team. I want as many eyes in that city as we can find.”

Scott dipped his chin in acknowledgment, putting his phone to his ear and exiting my office to carry out my orders.

“It could also be a setup, you know. To lure you away from me,” Daniel mused.

I shrugged. “It probably is. Good thing we know how to handle those scenarios, eh?” I glanced up at him from my phone, catching the surprising worry etched into his brow. He said nothing as I scrutinized his reaction, my gaze sharpening at his obvious trepidation. Was my little brother actually worried?

“Yeah, good thing you’re doing exactly what he wants you to do,” Daniel murmured as he stepped away, running his hand through his hair.

I arched a brow. “What’s the matter, Dan? Are you scared of being left on your own?”

He frowned as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Of course not. I just don’t think we should split up our resources so hastily. It puts us in a vulnerable position.”

I rose from my desk and moved to stand in front of him, checking the time on my watch. “You know I have to be there anyway, but it’s disappointing to hear you question our strength, little brother,” I taunted before stepping away.

His frown deepened. “I’m not questioning anythin?—”

“Then make the necessary arrangements,” I said, cutting him off. “I’ll see you in a few days.”

I left Daniel to his task in my office, and made my way down the hall, the sour taste of his doubt coating my mouth. Dan wasn’t usually this apprehensive, but maybe after taking Matt’s bullet to the chest a few months ago, he was reconsidering his own invincibility.

And that kind of self-doubt was not something I had time for. He needed to get his shit together and maintain a stronghold in my absence. We couldn’t afford any semblance of weakness, and I would not let my brother tarnish our reputation.

Dominic had already done a good job at doing that and look where he ended up. Truthfully, I’d always known Dominic was bound for an early grave. He’d been a pain in the ass for most of his life, the reckless behavior counting down the days that would lead to his death and an all-out war.

It took serious talent for each of my brothers to start their own wars within the same fucking week. And now here I was, fighting both of them, cleaning up their fucking messes.

Family was really starting to feel overrated. I needed people I could rely on, people who followed orders and kept in line. People who could do their jobs without issue or complaint.

But such perfection was unachievable. Humans were flawed creatures through and through, right down to our very marrow. We were all just one mistake away from our ultimate destruction.

We just had to hope that mistake was worth it.

30

Sway

Loud music assaulted my ears, the deep bass rattling my chest cavity while brightly colored lights bounced off the walls and ceiling. A sea of bodies danced in front of us, the scent of sweat and body glitter in the air.

Women in neon bikinis served drinks to overweight men in suits while armed bouncers stood watch from every corner. With Clive and Owen at my back, I was beginning to feel claustrophobic.

Not that I was complaining since I was not only out of the house, but in an entirely different state. Clubs were just not my scene anymore. Nothing good ever came from them, especially since the last time I had voluntarily entered one, I ended up in a row of cages with no clothes or memories.