Page 17 of Vengeful Reign

“That’s it?”

“Yes, why? You can’t think my brother had anything to do with it.”

“No, I’m guessing the same thing. I saw the footage, and it shows the property looks uneventful. All three of you leave at different times, and nothing happens. No guards are seen throughout the cameras until the time of the explosion.”

“What do you mean, no guards are seen?”

“Well, I mean there are a few passing by, but not more than two or three until the attack, and then everyone comes in to fight.” That I understood. The men came from their stations after the explosion at the front gate.

“They fought and did their job, but unfortunately my brother and the nanny were still taken.” The detective’s phone rings and she excuses herself from the table, explaining that she has to take the call. We nod, and she leaves us.

My father leans forward and says, “The nanny had to be involved.”

“I think she saved him from the kidnappers, but she never gave up anything before she died,” I recall. I haven’t forgotten the words that she uttered before my father came in and pulled the trigger.

Of course, he had no idea that she was about to tell me that my brother was alive. All he had was the hate in his heart for the woman and her betrayal. She read the hurt in my eyes, and for a brief moment, we were on the same page.

For an instant, I believed I would get the answers I’d been searching for, only for her to be silenced forever and my brother to remain lost. I couldn’t imagine where he was or who had him. The damage that was being inflicted on him scared me. No, it terrified me. I wanted to kill her for letting this happen and yet, I had no recourse, no avenue, and my poor helpless brother was out there in the world with God knew who.

I glare at the man who made any answers impossible to get. “That’s because you killed her before we got any information. If you’d given her another minute, I would have had an idea where to find him.”

“I was fucking furious. She’d betrayed me, and I lost it. Who knows if he’s alive. She would have just lied to us to try and spare her life only to find a way to escape on our way to find John.” He had a fair point, and the only reason I hadn’t pulled the trigger first was that I needed information that I would have dragged out of the older woman even if I had to torture her all day and night.

This discussion is pointless. I have shed my vitriol over the past year many times, and it has done no good. “What are you doing here anyway?” I ask.

“I heard rumors that the governor is making waves again.” Another fuck who I hate as much as my own flesh and blood.

“Maybe stop having a pissing match every time you two encounter each other, and then he wouldn’t be digging for shit.” I don’t need the added problems my father decided to bring when he bumped heads with the governor. The man already has an inflated ego after getting elected illegally. This state is corrupt as fuck, so it’s nothing new that he’s one step away from being as guilty as us. It’s not like he doesn’t commit crimes, but he’s smooth about keeping it secret. Unlike my father, who wants to just display his mess in the old politician’s face like a giantyou can’t touch me—fuck you.

“I hate the bastard.”

I nod, acknowledging the resentment, but not caring because I have more important matters that take precedence. “Understood. I’ll investigate his activities and get back to youon it. Is there anything else? I have a meeting to attend that requires my full attention.”

“Don’t let this slip by. The governor is getting too ballsy and can be a major problem.”

“Understood. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

I take my leave of my father and do my best to ignore whatever he has to say.

I can’t handle his nonsense or even look at his face and not want to break his jaw as I’m still thinking about what happened to my brother. It’s his fault, and I want him to pay for my brother’s disappearance. For nearly two months, I believed my little brother was dead, and then I learned he was alive. Then, my father killed the only fucking person who could tell me where my brother could be found.

All I want to do is beat his brains in. I pass by his detective as she looks at me with her mouth open. I wonder what she’s up to. Something in me screams that she’s not really investigating my brother’s abduction. My guess is she’s working to get at the fucking governor because that’s all my father cares about. I’ll find out one way or another.

My driver opens the door for me, and I slide into the back of my SUV. Just as he does, my phone rings. “Fuck. Another interruption. Sometimes these things are a nuisance.” I take it out of my inner pocket, and it’s Giles. I haven’t heard from him in a long while. The last time was when I sent the entire crew a picture of my brother and asked them to be on the lookout for anyone trying to claim the small boy as their own.

“What’s new, Giles?” He’s probably interested in an investment deal.

“It’s the strangest thing. I know I haven’t seen your family in a long time, and maybe it’s out of place, but I’m handling business in Philly right now.” He pauses, and that irks me more than it should. After having dealt with my asshole father, I’m just a little on edge.

“And?”

“Well, I know your brother’s missing.” My heart is in my throat.

“Get to the point, Giles.”

“There’s a little boy with this woman, and he looks like John. I know little boys look alike at this age, but she called him John, and, well…”

“I need a picture.”

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