Page 25 of Vail

Leaning heavily against the elevator wall, I hated every floor I was putting between myself and my men. I shouldn’t have to leave on Vail’s birthday, but if I didn’t deal with Derek, he would become an increasingly bigger problem. Maybe I’d kill him today. Maybe I wouldn’t. It depended on my mood when I arrived and the stupid shit that would inevitably flow from his lips.

I tried to calm myself with memories of dinner last night with Vail’s sister and brother-in-law. How happy Vail looked. How much he enjoyed being surrounded by those who loved him. All those memories did was piss me off more since I was being pulled away from him. He hated what I did. Hated I got blood on my hands. I would make sure I scrubbed better today and not in my shower. I had a feeling I was going to get bloody.

Albert was waiting for me beside my Maserati. He opened the back door. “Good morning, sir.”

“Albert.”

Sheldon and Reghan climbed into the SUV behind us.

Then Caius appeared. I rolled down my window. “Why aren’t you with Romeo and Tristan?”

“I’m off shift, sir. Just got back here.”

“Are you tired?”

“No.” Caius had a deep, soothing voice. Not quite to the degree Sheldon did. He was good at keeping his cool too.

“Get in.”

He didn’t ask questions, simply slid into the front seat beside Albert. Caius didn’t fit easily. He was broader and taller than Albert and me.

Not knowing what I was going to find at Derek’s home, it was better to have more with me. Albert rarely fought but he would without hesitation. Now I had four men plus me. That was good enough for this little venture.

“Where to, sir?” Albert asked.

I sent him the address Barry had texted me. Outside the city limits wasn’t ideal. I had an easier time cleaning up in East Dremest, but I couldn’t let this shit slide.

We left the city, going in the opposite direction of most. Being a Saturday, traffic was lighter than normal. Soon enough, country roads lay out before us as we wound our way northwest, until we turned onto an even smaller road that didn’t have any lines painted on it. I was surprised there was a fucking street sign.

This wasn’t the first time I’d visited a buyer at their home. In the beginning, I’d sneak up on them, so they didn’t know what hit them. Now, I didn’t give a fuck and drove up to their front door.

The road had maybe four houses on it, and they were spread apart by acres of land. It made sense given the amount of products Derek bought from me. They were easier to hide on a vast amount of property rather than in the city.

Albert stopped the car in front of a large two-story house with white siding and navy shutters. The curtains were drawn over the windows, the morning sun hitting the panes. Albert opened my door, and I stepped out, not waiting for anyone. They’d follow.

There were cameras around the house, hidden where most wouldn’t see. I did though. Peering over my shoulder, I looked at Reghan. “Lawson.”

He nodded and lifted his phone. Lawson would scrub every inch of us from the security footage and turn the system off.

“Caius,” I said next.

He stepped up and, using sheer muscle, broke the door from its frame. He was the first into the home with his gun drawn. Reghan followed, then me. Sheldon was behind me while Albert stayed with the vehicles. He’d handle anyone out here. By the looks of it, there wasn’t anyone around the exterior.

I pulled my gun from the holster and watched for movement, which was easy enough to predict. The sounds of a person walking upstairs reached us. Caius stayed on the first floor to clear it. He’d go out back in case someone exited a window while Reghan took the stairs two at a time with me following.

“Don’t fucking move,” Derek seethed, a gun pointed at Reghan. He was also stark-ass naked. Reghan had his gun on Derek. If I had to bet, Reghan would hit Derek first, but he could die in the process. I wasn’t willing to lose Reghan’s life or any of the men with me today.

Before I could say a word, a muffled shot was fired, and Derek crumpled to the ground, clutching his knee.

Over my shoulder, I saw Sheldon and cocked an eyebrow at him.

“What? It’s Vail’s birthday. We don’t have time for negotiations.” Vail had made an impression on many of my guards, so after a morning with Hartley and me, I had Irene plan a party for Vail and my guards. It was going to be dinner and a movie. Oleander supplied a big screen and projector. Vail was going to love it.

“Thank you,” I told Sheldon, then stepped around Reghan, who kept his gun on Derek while kicking the one Derek held out of the way.

Derek howled in pain. “What the fuck? You come into my house and shoot me.”

“You came into my building and demanded things of me,” I said plainly. “I cut you off after you received your agreed upon delivery, and you won’t leave me the hell alone. Now I’m here to tell you to knock it off or this will be the last day you live.”

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