Page 11 of Deadly Rival

Shit. He knows me too well. I take a second to reorder my thoughts, stripping nuanced argument down to bare essentials. Where to start? With the only thing that really matters. “My sister killed herself when she was fourteen years old.”

Kendrick’s face softens, though only for a moment. I half expect him to interject and ask me what the hell that has to do with anything, but he’s too smart for that. After a second, I continue. “Ophelia Calder pushed her to it. She and her friends bullied Maggie until she couldn’t take it anymore. Dad wouldn’t do anything to stop it, of course.”

I don’t try to hide the bitterness. “All he cared about was the Calder contract. And after she died, nothing happened. They squashed the investigation. That fucking woman—” I jab a finger down, toward medical. “—never got a single day ofsuspension. No punishment. Nothing. And when I confronted her, Harrison stepped in.”

Kendrick makes a noise low in his throat. “I’ve heard the Calder heir is every bit as cutthroat as his father.”

I snort. “You could say that. The recovery from that day…” I shake my head. If Kendrick pushes me, I’ll give him every sad little bit of teenage trauma. The weeks in the hospital. Dad pulled me out of school and assigned me private tutors, because God forbid I disrupt his relationship with the precious Calders. Kendrick can have it all and more, but he just nods.

“I think I understand. So, this is about revenge?”

“It’s about justice. They think they’re untouchable.” It sounds ridiculous, but Kendrick doesn’t laugh.

Another uncomfortable silence falls as Kendrick rubs his temples, then, thank every deity under the sun, reaches for his decanter. I need alcohol like a desert traveler needs a cool oasis. It takes all my restraint not to grab the bottle out of his hand and chug it like a kegger.

The hefty measure he pours me feels like a tentative truce. I close my eyes as I take a long sip. Heaven in liquid form.

“I understand your logic, but this isn’t what the sacred bond of Ward and Patron is supposed to represent. Look at your friends and the wonderful relationships they’ve developed. You only get one chance at this, Sebastian. One. Do you really want to spend it like this? On a woman you despise?”

He makes it sound bleak, but his words do nothing. I’ve thought all this through so many times it’s lost all meaning. None of it matters.

How much should I tell Kendrick? I hesitate for a moment before deciding. All of it. He needs to know the whole thing. “I’ve known about the Brotherhood since I was a teenager.”

Kendrick’s brow lifts at my sudden change of topic. “Really? How?”

A brief smile passes over my lips at the memory. “My father’s computers were so easy to hack. He might as well have pinned his private documents to the fridge. His files on the Brotherhood made interesting reading.”

Kendrick leans forward, lips a hard line. “What did he have on us?”

“More than you’d want him to. He had lists of some members, the location of the Compound, and information on the practice of taking Wards. It didn’t capture the truth of it, just that women were held here at the Compound and never released. Nothing on the ceremony or that they belong to just one Brother. But enough to give me an idea.”

“An idea?” The soft, dangerous note is back in Kendrick’s voice, and I try not to let my nerves show as I grip the glass.

“Yes, sir. When you approached me, I’d been planning it for years. I did everything I could to bring myself to your attention and receive an introduction to the Brotherhood. Everything I did led me to this point.”

“And what point is that?”

“The point where I ruin all three of the Calders’ lives. They have eyes in here, however hard you try to stop it. They’ve spied on the Brotherhood for years. And now, Harrison and Randall are going to see exactly what I make Ophelia into. They’re going to watch me turn her into my obedient little pet.”

Five

Sebastian

Kendrick stares at mefor so long I start to fidget. Did I go too far? Should I have held back the truth and tried to paint myself in a better light? I don’t think there would have been any point. Nothing about this situation makes me look good.

Finally, he shakes his head. The heavy disappointment in his voice worms its way under my skin. “And you didn’t decide to share any of this information? You didn’t think I needed to know the full extent of Calder infiltration? We’ve supported everything you do. The sort of long-standing security breach you’re describing could spell disaster for us all.”

Lead weights lodge in my chest as I hear the words he isn’t saying. He supported me, and he’s going to face intense criticism from the other high-ranking Brothers for his decision. I could have provided him with intel to strengthen his position but chose not to.

Shit. I’m an even bigger douchebag than I thought.

“I’ll help now. I’ll do everything I can to close the gap but…” Kendrick’s lips thin as I search for the words. “It’s already gone too far, sir. The Calders know everything. The only reason they haven’t gone public is because it suits their agenda not to. If that changes…”

“I’m well aware of what would happen if that changes.” Kendrick pushes his chair back, standing with an angry jolt. I freeze in my seat. Should I stand to match him? Stay where I am?

He points at the door. “You may go. I’ll be in touch shortly with my decision.”

I open my mouth, ready to argue my case, but self-preservation kicks in just in time. Nothing that comes out of my stupid mouth will help my cause. What would a sane person do? They’d get right the hell out of here and leave the boss to brood in peace.

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