Page 9 of Devil Mine

He’s right.

Why would I stop fighting now?

I’m someone who makes decisions on logic and probability. I’m not one to let emotion cloud my judgment. It’s not that I’munemotional, I’m just not driven primarily by my feelings.

If I can take the same unemotional approach with my father, maybe I can convince him. There has to be an argument he’ll listen to.

I jump to my feet, grab my shoes in one hand, and dash barefoot for the door.

“I’m going to talk to him again,” I call from the door as I rush out. “Thanks, Wiz! You’re the best!”

???

Chapter Four

Tess

My father’s office is located in a more secluded part of the building, away from the noise and commotion of the main floor. He has his own private reception to help filter the people who want access to him.

When I get there, his assistant, Eileen, isn’t at her desk. I check my watch and see it’s just past twelve thirty.

Lunchtime. That explains her absence.

My father and I don’t have the type of relationship where I can just walk into his office without an appointment. In fact, I’d say we don’t have a relationship at all and this recent marriage announcement has soured what little there was.

He won’t appreciate me stalking in without warning but I don’t appreciate him trying to sell me off to his golf buddies so we’ll call it even.

I straighten, draw my shoulders back, and march purposefully towards his office door. It’s open, which is bizarre. He hates being interrupted as much as he hates hearing women speak, and that’s saying something.

In the two years I’ve worked here, I’ve never seen this door open while he’s been in his office. But I hear a voice, so I know he’s in residence.

In fact, I hear multiple voices.

Instinct and intuition warn me to turn on my heels and walk the other way, but my curiosity urges me to move closer, to see what’s happening.

A pained howl filters through the door. I know I should run, but maybe I’m not as smart as I think I am, because I inch closer instead.

I take my shoes off and pad quietly towards the door. Each office is outfitted with technology that turns the windows opaque on command when privacy is needed. Thankfully, my father has that setting turned on right now. With my back pressed against the windows, I slide to the side until I reach the open door. Pained groans filter through. Even though I’ve never heard him make those sounds before, I recognize them as my father’s. What the hell is going on in there?

My heart is pounding so hard I’m afraid it’s going to break free of my chest. Worse, I’m afraid whoever is in there with my father will hear it. It’s an impossible thought but my heartbeat is echoing so loudly in my ears it seems even more improbable that they not be able to hear it.

I flip onto my stomach and push myself all the way to the edge of the door. When I reach it, I look around the lip of the frame and get my first look at the scene.

My father is on his knees, head bowed, bleeding profusely from various cuts on his face. A man stands in front of him, tall and well-built, brass knuckles strapped on his fingers.

Horror locks my muscle in place, my fight or flight instinct telling me to freeze instead of run. I’m powerless to move and for some reason, I can’t look away.

Another man stands off to the side, one arm resting on his belly, the elbow of the other propped on it as his face rests in his hand. He’s older and looks on at the gory scene impassively.

My gaze is forced back to my father when Younger Guy grabs him by the hair and yanks his head back.

“It’s not a hard question,huevón,” he growls. “Where the fuck is our money?”

“I told you, I-I don’t have it.”

Dissatisfied with the answer, Younger Guy jerks his knee upwards. It smashes into my father’s face. Blood explodes from his nose and splatters across all the nearby surfaces.

“I find that hard to believe,” Paunchy Guy says, stepping closer. “This entire building, a townhouse in Kensington, a mansion in the countryside, three houses in Greece, Italy, and France, a villa in Bali and you can’t repay a little twenty million pound debt?”

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