Page 90 of As the World Falls

He barely chokes out a laugh. “You sure picked a pretty one. When I saw her up close, I wanted to do more than just touch her.”

I release my grip on his shirt just before swinging my fist, punching him square in the nose. He falls backward in the chair, sliding onto the floor. I walk over to him, picking him up by the collar again as he lies in shock beneath me.

“I’m not above killing public figures, Chuck. I’m also not above getting away with murder. Fucking try me and touch her. It will be the last thing you ever do.”

He spits blood at me, and I take pleasure in feeling the splatter of it against my chin. “Look at you. The cold king of the rich actually cares about someone.”

I drop him back onto the floor, kicking his leg as he grunts in pain. “Get the fuck out of my office before I kill you now. Do not ever come back.”

He hurries to his feet, holding his nose as he looks back at me from the door. “This is my last warning to you, James. Give up control, and I won’t do something we’ll both regret.”

I charge at him once more, and he finally makes the smart move and runs straight out of my office. Once he’s gone, I don’t know what to do with myself. I almost wish he had stayed just to have someone to take my rage out on.

Just the idea of him taking the time to see her in Boston and being near her. It made me want to kill him. Painfully and slowly.

I grab my jacket and head to my door, ready to see her now. I needed to check on her and make sure she was alright, but my door flew open as soon as I got close to it, and Tobias walked through, his face pale and lifeless as I’d ever seen before. My stomach dropped, feeling like something terrible had already happened to her.

“What is it?” I rush out, my voice barely audible.

“I need to leave. My…My dad was found dead this morning.”

I shut my eyes, a weight dropping in my stomach. I wanted to go to Cecilia even more now. “How?”

He nods like he expected it to happen. “Overdose.”

“Does your sister know yet?”

His eyes become redder by the second as if he is using all his strength to hold back his emotions. “No. I have to identify the body, and then I have to tell her.”

She was going to be devastated. All the girl cared about was having her family back together, especially after already losing her mother, and now—Damn it.

“What do you need?” I ask him, feeling the weight of his emotions coming off him in suffocating waves.

“Time. I need some time.”

“You have it.” He nods and turns back toward the door, but I stop him, placing my hand on his shoulder. “Tobias,” I murmur. He looks over his shoulder, meeting my gaze, and I squeeze his shoulder. “I’m sorry.” He swallows hard and nods once more, leaving.

I hang my jacket up and drop back into my chair, feeling utterly helpless. I wanted to go to her more than anything, but I couldn’t now. Not when her brother would be with her and give her the news. Part of me wanted to say fuck it and go to her anyways, screw what her brother thinks of it, but I couldn’t be selfish. Not now. Not when they both had lost someone dear to them.

I would just have to wait.

I pull my phone out, bring up Cecilia’s text thread, and write a text.

The office isn’t the same without your temper tantrums. Perhaps you take pity on me and come back and boss me around some.

I send the text, hoping she finds some amusement in it. If I could make her day just a little bit better before it all comes crashing down around her, I would try.

My phone dings only a second later, and I see a text from her.

Cecilia

You poor baby. As much as bossing you around sounds fun, we both know I’m not really in charge when you ask for it.

At least I got you to admit you think it’s fun being with me.

Go do some work.

I can happily return to work now that I have your validation.

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