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Brent

“J esus! I’m done. I’m done!” Alexander yelled from underneath me, pathetically throwing punches that wouldn’t land. I rolled off him and stood, dusting the dirt and leaves off me.

I pointed a finger down at him. “Don’t fucking touch her, man.”

He stood up, shaking off dirt and leaves from his nice white shirt. “I thought Sloane was yours, dude! Don’t attack me for wanting a nice piece of ass.”

I gave him another shove. “Don’t fucking spook her. I have her meeting with my fucking grandfather this week, and I can’t have her backing out of a really important fucking deal because you fucking raped her. Don’t fucking touch her. I will kill you; consequences be damned.”

He ruffled his hair, shaping it back into place. “Someone is getting possessive lately. What’s Sloane going to think? She’s not one to take lightly to that type of competition. Not to mention what she’d do to that little girl? I think I can safely put stakes on Fallon—that girl is such a fucking tease.”

I balled up my fists. I swore he was asking for another hit to the face. “No word of this to anyone, you understand me? I will kill you myself.”

He laughed as I turned heel and made my way out of the maze. Fucking arrogant prick.

Riding fast enough to outrun my thoughts on the highway, I headed towards the Dictator’s compound. Getting ahead of Alexander was my top priority.

Of course, he’d lay a claim to her as soon as her status came out. He was obsessed with beating me, being top dog, and being a fucking dick in general. When he was told no, he became a brute with daddy backing him up to get whatever it was that he wanted.

It was always that way.

We had our fair share of competitions, but I wouldn’t let him take what was mine. He hated losing to me; I was simply faster, better than he’d ever been, and he hated it. He hated me. Ever since I separated myself from his side, it was every man for himself.

And I sure as hell wouldn’t let him get to Fallon first. He would ruin her.

Slamming open the front doors, I trudged through the foyer on a mission. My rage was hot in my blood, reaching its boiling point.

“Brent, welcome sir I-“

“Grandfather, now,” I growled to the butler.

“Of course, mister Vaughn. Right this way,” his tone softened, not willing to dare my anger. He’d seen plenty of my outbursts that sent men to the hospital and today was no different.

If he touched her, I would sever his hands and make him eat them.

My grandfather sighed, knowing full well I was about to irritate him. “What now, boy?”

I couldn’t help my tone, even knowing he may hit me for it. “Alexander Fitzgerald is trying to spook the Montgomery heir.”

“Pray, tell, what are you on about?”

Letting out a restless breath, I continued. “Ever since the news came out about her, he’s been relentless in pursuit of her, and I’m convinced he’s trying to sabotage the relationship between our families.”

He sat back in his chair, a contemplative look on his face as he lit up a cigar. “Since when were you two at odds with one another? I seem to recall a time when you both were glued together, running amuck and getting into petty crimes together. Is this a little dick measuring game between the two of you?”

I tried to calm myself, flicking an invisible piece of lint off my shoulder. “When it comes to business, I have no friends. I sure as hell don’t need him and his daddy getting into our affairs.”

With a flick of his wrist, an employee was at his side, bringing him an ashtray and glass of liquor. “Tell me more about the sabotage, then. As I’m aware, this family of theirs seems to be tearing at the seams, grasping at straws. The investigation seems to have spooked some amongst the top of the food chain. Whistleblowers are willing to come out and speak about things they’ve witnessed, and I worry the Wilder family cannot keep up with their end of the bargain to silence them.”

Tapping my foot impatiently, I chose my words carefully. “Which is exactly why the Montgomery heir needs to be...reigned in a direction. Quickly .”

His eyes flashed something dangerous before taking another puff of his cigar, smoke curling around him. “Does she show signs of not wanting to deal as her mother did?”

The question threw me off guard. Did she? What was she going to do? Was she briefed properly by her company? Was I fucking things up? Rubbing the back of my head to compose myself, feigning a yawn, I replied, “As far as I can tell, no. If she keeps being pursued by Alexander...”

He held his hand up. “I got it. Don’t worry about him. I also have your next assignment of employees to deal with. Don’t come back until it’s finished. Dismissed.”

His employee handed me an envelope and ushered me out of my grandfather’s office. Another round of employee management meetings to go.

I couldn’t wait to take my anger out on some of them.