Page 77 of Seizing Control: Part One

As Gabriel’s reach within all levels of Australian bureaucracy starts to sink into my head, I perch on the table I leapt over this morning to get to Slash. It wobbles under my weight but stays put since it’s bolted to the floor. Scanning the flaky grey walls and the dark corners with a narrow-eyed glare, I flex my grazed knuckles as I check for cameras and listening devices.

It’s all a futile attempt to distract myself from the memories choking me.

Slash and Lily.

He said he kissed her.

I believe it.

Lily clearly has feelings for him.

His desire to goad me with the lie that he’s been between her thighs... that I don’t believe.

Not yet anyway.

I’m aware it’s bound to happen sooner than later.

If there’s any person who knows my woman as well as I do, it’s Slash. I’ve had nothing but time to think in here, and I’ve realised that he’s been more of a third wheel in our relationship than he should’ve been. We allowed him to act as our mediator. Told him our secrets. Trusted him with our weaknesses. Now that he’s declared his intention to take Lily from me, I know it won’t take him long to find the right buttons to press... and, whether I like it or not, she’ll give into him.

Lily’s brain will make me the enemy in my absence.

Her heart will start to resent me for leaving her again.

And my so-called best friend will be there to take advantage of her grief.

“Venom.” Gabriel acknowledges me with a curt nod when he’s let into the meeting room by the same skittish guard a few minutes later. “Apologies for the late-night visit, but we need to hash out some of the finer details now we have a majority of the Trinity conclaves on board.” He avoids my eyes as he strides toward me. “Your position as my successor received unanimous agreement amongst my—our—people. Everything is in place to make the alliance official, and our plan to deal with Salvador Rocafort-Porra before he can take out the other heads of the US conclave is ready to commence.”

“Hmmm.” My churning gut tells me he’s hiding something from me. As strange as he can be sometimes, Gabriel is fastidious about eye contact and handshakes. Both things have been missing during this conversation. “Sounds like you’ve been busy.”

“Things will calm down soon enough.”

Setting his ever-present briefcase on the table, Gabriel flips the locks and begins sorting through his paperwork. He pulls two manilla folders stuffed to the gills free and slides one over to me while he opens the other one in front of himself. Once more, he averts his gaze to concentrate on anything but me.

“You’re lookin’ dapper,” I remark, ignoring the file. He’s dressed in one of his sharper suits—a pin-striped three-piece that I’d look ridiculous in if I ever tried to wear one. “Did Dad get a court appearance this afternoon? Doubt he got bail, though...”

“No.” The usually straightforward man becomes oddly focused on flicking through the pile of papers as he mutters, “I performed a wedding ceremony.”

Gabriel’s tight voice is a dead giveaway.

Fucking Slash.

I underestimated his urgency.

“Lily’s his wife?” I pose the question that I don’t truly need confirmed in a rush. Gabriel nods. I blow out a harsh breath, quipping as evenly as I can, “Slash didn’t waste any time, hey.”

“No, he didn’t. It was unorthodox, but he wanted things done at the compound. Thought the stress of the lavish ceremony the Trinity is demandin’ would be too much for Cherub to handle alongside everything else.”

As much as the excuse Slash gave to Gabriel makes sense on the surface, I know his true intent. My taunt that he couldn’t get her down the aisle if I was already dead got under his skin. He needed to prove to us both that he was one step ahead of me. His touchy little ego required the boost—despite his earlier bravado.

It’s classic Slash.

Another fear driven response from the man who likes to pretend he’s above scheming and plotting.

His Saviour complex is overgrown.

It’s nowhere near as big as his need to be number one.

I can picture it in my head. The main bar filled with club brothers and old ladies. Lily, pretty as a picture as she walked toward him. Her brothers at her side. The rest of our generation standing at the head of a makeshift altar with Slash. Gabriel officiating. The kiss to seal the deal. A boisterous Shamrocks celebration afterward.

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