Page 63 of Quiet Confessions: Part Two

KIAN

The next day my office door flies open and Richard James walks inside like he owns the building. For the record, he doesn’t. His skin is pale and he’s dragging a rolling suitcase behind him. He looks nervous and I try not to smile.

“Richard?” I ask as I stand and fix my tie. “This is an unwelcome surprise,” I grunt, and he shuts the door and locks it.

“Yes, well, I needed to have a chat with you, my boy,” he says, but his usual authoritative tone is lacking today. Something has this man spooked and I’m hoping it’s the Dragon. Maybe he’s already started phase one.

I pull out my bottle of scotch and a glass, then pour him a drink. He takes it from me with a shake in his hand, but I don’t acknowledge it.

“What is this chat that you need to have?” I ask, boredom present in my tone. Richard is a bit dramatic at times, and I don’t really believe that there’s a noteworthy reason to come see me.

“I need to get out of town for a while, Kian,” Richard says carefully, taking a sip of his drink. His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows hard. “I don’t think it’s safe for me to stay here anymore, so I want you to take over the company for me.”

“You mean, run James’ Industries?” I ask, surprised. The company is his baby. Things must be really dire for him to be leaving. This doesn't work for me. “I don’t want any part of the company. I’m done being your errand boy, Richard. The answer is no. Why can’t my father do this?”

“We all know that your father is too pretty and spoiled to run my company,” he says on a laugh. I scowl, because Dad’s looks help Richard James con a lot of men and women into investing in his company. It’s unfair for him to make fun of Tae.

“Get out and find another whipping boy,” I tell him. “I’m done. You deserve whatever you have coming to you.”

I don’t know what kind of trouble Pay’s grandfather has gotten himself into, but I know I can’t allow him to leave town.

Richard turns red with anger and throws his glass at my head. Ducking quickly is the only thing that saves me from breaking the thing with my face. Instead, it crashes into the wall behind me, shattering everywhere.

“Goddammit, old man!” I scream, standing tall. He’s out of ammo now, so there’s nothing to throw at me. “Get out of my office!”

Richard breathes heavily, and it would be just my luck if he were to keel over and die in here. It would be simpler. I refuse to feel badly for the unkind thoughts.

“You and your father exist because I allow it,” Richard growls and I shake my head.

“My father enjoys his lifestyle because he’s your errand boy. I don’t need to be involved in that anymore. Now get out of here,” I tell him.

Muttering obscenities that are barely under his breath, he turns to leave, and I wince at the slurs I hear. As Richard slams the door behind him, I pick up my cell phone and call Dragon at the Locked Souls Society. I need to ask for a favor.

Answering, Dragon requests a video chat. It’s the best way to ensure no one else is in the room that shouldn’t be. It’s smart.

Hitting the accept button, I pull the phone away so that he can see me.

“Ki!” Dragon booms with a small smile. “What’s happened now?”

“I hate that I’m so predictable now.” I sigh. “Richard James is a controlling asshole and is Patience’s grandfather. He’s ignored her safety multiple times, and I need him to disappear. He’s been blackmailing me for years to do his dirty little errands. I want Pay to be able to live in peace.”

“I don’t usually ask for payment in something like this, but my sister is missing. I’m worried she’s in trouble. I’ll take care of Richard, and you’ll never have to deal with him again,” Dragon reassures me. “Chastity is important to a lot of people, and she has small children at home—”

“I’ll help,” I respond immediately. “I understand the importance of family, more than anyone. Are you sending anyone? What makes you think she may be here?”

“I didn’t think it’d be so easy,” he says, relief creeping into his tone. “Spider is on his way to you. He’ll take care of the old man, then come find you with ideas of who may have taken Chastity. I’m afraid we have a lot of enemies, and many of them live in your area.”

“Of course, they do,” I mutter. “I accept the responsibility of helping you find Chastity. I look forward to meeting Spider. It’s about time I met the man who helped save my step-sister.”

Hanging up, I lean back in my office chair as I look around at the destructive path that Richard left behind. I’ll leave it for now and call a janitor to help me clean up. Then I’ll go home and wait to see what kind of magic the Society has in store for Richard.

PATIENCE

The sound of an incessant vibrating pulls me out of sleep next to Cal and Rooke. Why can’t people call at a normal time?

“Who the fuck is calling you at three AM?” Cal snaps and I groan, opening my eyes. I reach over to my nightstand and answer it without looking.

“Mellow,” I grumble, my eyes are already closing again.

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