Page 29 of A Man of Wealth

“What?” Aiden asks.

“Alexis…she’s remembering more, about that day.”

“Such as?” I inquire.

“She thinks there were at least four men in the room. But she said one was on the phone and his voice was altered. She couldn’t tell who he was.”

“Does she remember what they said?” Aiden questions.

Sebastian shakes his head. “No.”

“I could hypnotize her,” he suggests.

Sebastian glares at him. “I don’t think so.”

Aiden throws his hands in the air. “Just saying, it’s one way to help her unlock those memories.”

I fight a smirk as Sebastian gives Aiden a look that says no one is making his woman unconscious except him.

“OK, I’m off. Feel free to stay.”

“Don’t kill him yet,” Sebastian half teases.

I shake my head as I head to my garage. I wave to the security guy and let him know my plans. He leaves another man at my house and follows me. I hate having these guys up my ass. I don’t completely trust them, hell, I don’t trust anyone one hundred percent. I’m sure Aiden could hypnotize me and unlock enough core memories to have me locked up in a psychiatric ward for life. Theo Sterling is a monster, and no one knows that better than I do.

I put on my favorite indie band as I drive, attempting to numb my scattered thoughts. But instead, it just reminds me of Vivienne.

I press call on my steering wheel and she picks up on the second ring.

“A phone call? To what do I owe the honor?” she answers.

I grin. Such a sassy little cat.

“Meet me at my penthouse.”

“What? No reach around first?”

I laugh at her crass statement. “Gorgeous, don’t fuck with me. We both know that you know exactly where my penthouse is. So, I expect you there in thirty minutes.” While she probably knew vaguely where my home was, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt she’s aware of my penthouse because she mentioned that I kept a residence in the city in one of her many articles. I swear to God, if this woman’s grandfather wasn’t who he was, she would have been dead long ago. Part of me wonders if her altered articles aren’t the work of her grandfather. She’s a thorn in the brotherhood’s side and keeping her safe is going to be a full-time fucking job for me.

I pull into the garage. The security guard stops and chats with who I assume is the guy stationed at this residence. I should learn their names, but I don’t do that with staff unless I know they are sticking around for a while and I’m hoping these guys won’t be.

I take my private elevator up to my home. The sole reason I purchased it was because it has an amazing view of the Washington Monument. That, and I may have outbid my own father for this penthouse in one of the city’s most exclusive apartment buildings. I smirk at that memory. He may have gotten some of my private assets temporarily frozen for a week afterward as his own special form of punishment. Asshole.

I press a button and alert the front desk security that I’m expecting a visitor and to send her up. I walk up to my rooftop deck and lean on the railing.

“Mr. Sterling, Mr. Gallagher advised that you may want to refrain from being outside while here. He cannot secure the area properly,” a young man in a suit says from behind me. I roll my eyes.

“Well, tell Mr. Gallagher that I’ll take my chances,” I grumble as I lean on my railing and look out at the city, I’ve called home for as long as I can remember.

“Very well, sir,” he says as he steps away and leaves me in peace.

It’s not silent up here, I can still hear cars honking horns, the subtle roar of nearby traffic, and the occasional laughter or yelling of people walking down the street, but it’s muffled and far away. I look at the monument in the distance and wonder if my forefathers were as fucked up as my actual father. The lies here are as deep as the Grand Canyon and as vast as the oceans. I’ve long tired of the games, yet I’ve stayed. Could I disappear? Yes. But my commitment to Sebastian and Aiden far exceeds any commitment to the brotherhood.

“Conner?” I hear her voice behind me.

I turn. She stands by the door, looking hesitant as though she’s afraid she’s interrupted me. I don’t move, so she slowly walks over to join me, gazing out at the view.

“Wow. Impressive,” she says softly as she places her hands on the railing, our pinky fingers touching.

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