Page 105 of Thorns of Malice

"Meaning what?" she questions.

I grin at her. "You'll see."

Tense silence fills the air, with the flush of anger growing more on her cheeks. She turns away, and I press the pads of my fingers together, leaning back in my chair, enjoying this more than I ever thought I would.

She turns back to me and gives me the expression she's perfected over the years. It's the one where everyone's supposed to be sucked in and feel sorry for her. Her voice turns sweet. "Dax, we used to be friends. Remember when we played the first game together on that Rachel chick? You told me exactly how to make her cry, and she did."

"So what?"

"Please, you need to help me. And we need more money put into the company. There are orders to fill. We can't do that without cash, and you know it."

"So let the orders go unfulfilled."

"It's hundreds of millions of dollars' worth. Are you crazy?" she shouts.

I pin my gaze on hers. "Have you not learned anything by now, Avery?"

She doesn't say anything.

I let the silence settle between us for a bit. Then I add, "I don't care about your company as long as you're a part of it. I'm not giving it another cent."

"You stole my money! You had no right to that!"

"It's the corporation's money. And if you don't have enough for operations, then put more in," I tell her again, which is the same answer I always give her even though she'll soon be removed.

"You know all my money went to fund part of a retainer with my legal team, and even that's not enough. I need that money," she reiterates.

I've never seen my sister in this position, but it serves her right. I repeat, "Sorry, no can do."

She rises, puts her hands on my desk, and comes a foot from my face, threatening, "I'm warning you, Dax. You don't get to fuck me over like this. If you don't put an end to this, everything you've ever done will come to light."

"What do you think I'm scared of having come out, Avery?" I challenge.

Her lip quivers. She stares at me, her eyes red. The smell of stale alcohol oozes off her.

I add, "You might want to lay off the booze. It's only nine o'clock in the morning."

"Argh," she screams, shaking her head, and threatens one last time, "I will take you down."

"I welcome the opportunity to fight you."

"Dax, what the fuck's going on?" Cooper interjects as the door flies open.

I glance over at it.

He barges in, his blond hair a mess, wearing his designer clothes. He stomps across the room, a scowl on his face.

Avery spins toward him. "Cooper." She runs over to him and embraces him.

He returns her hug.

Avery begs, "Cooper, you have to get Dax to stop this."

"Avery, go outside. I'll meet you in a few minutes," he orders.

I chuckle inside. I don't know what my little brother thinks he's going to say to me that'll convince me to help Avery, but there's nothing he can do. And his days are numbered too. The more he tries, the more it'll accelerate his downward spiral.

I'll make sure of it.

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