CHAPTER 7: A GOOSE CHASE

AJAX'S POV:

Father had his back to him when Ajax walked in. His shoulders were tensed, his back too straight. "Today is an important day, Ajax."

His tone was the same one he used when Ajax was a boy. The one that said: You are nothing. You will always be nothing.

Ajax hated it. It filled him with rage. The same rage he'd felt as a child, standing in this very room, listening to the same tone.

"I know that," he replied coldly.

Father finally moved, turning to face him. "What was that behavior displayed in the open? You might as well have fought him in the hall."

His expression portrayed indifference—a blank stare and raised eyebrows. But behind that was a man fuming at the thought of everything being destroyed.

Ajax leaned back against the wall, enjoying his composure wiped off his face, replaced with a stormy expression. It was so easy to rile Father up.

"He touched me. My body acted out of reflex, disarming the source of the attack." He shrugged.

Father raised his eyebrows. "I told you to get rid of that stupid character. What are you? Twelve?"

"I remember you telling me to be aware or else I'd find myself six feet below the ground." Ajax tilted his head, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "Have your teachings changed because we are moving into society?"

Father approached Ajax in strong strides, hands raised to hit Ajax on the face.

Ajax didn't move.

He didn't cower, but faced his father head-on. "Do it, Father." He urged. "Show everyone outside how fake our family is. Tell our enemies we are crumbling and vulnerable to attacks."

Ajax watched his father battle internally with himself—to put Ajax in his place or continue the charade.

The society's opinions won.

His fist clenched in the air, veins protruding in his neck as Father involuntarily lowered his raised hand.

Good answer.

But Ajax didn't say that out loud. That would be a detonating bomb for his father's anger.

"You will not destroy what I have waited my whole life to get." Father spat.

His eyes blank, shoulders relaxed, and expression calm, Ajax replied coolly. "We have the same goal, Father. I'm your heir, not a total stranger."

Father said nothing to that, but Ajax could hear the internal commentary running in his father's mind.

You are just a pawn in my game.

Father took a few steps away from Ajax, heading to the door, his hands sliding into his pockets, projecting a man who had everything under his control.

Father stopped, threw a belittling glance at Ajax over his shoulder. "Put your act in check." And he left.

He must have the last word. Ajax thought, scoffing.

He pushed himself off the wall, straightening his suit's jacket. The room felt smaller now. Colder. It always did after Father left.

The door opened. Ajax didn't have to look up; he only had to listen to the sound of boots hitting against the tiled floor to know who entered.

"Boss." The man greeted.

Ajax raised his head, giving the man his attention. "Declan. What's the news?"

The buzz-cut, tall, tattooed man bowed his head in apology. "We couldn't find him. I believe he escaped the warehouse with the help of an insider."

That confirmed the answer he already knew. They had a traitor.

Not just a traitor, but traitors.

"Don't let Father know about this yet or else heads will roll."

Declan bowed again. "Yes sir."

"Anything we need to brace ourselves against?" Ajax fished out his phone, a frown sweeping into his blank expression.

Once again, he was reminded of the little incident that had just occurred a few minutes ago. He didn't even draw blood out of that insect, yet everyone was acting like he did.

Ajax should have done more than that. Cutting off his hands seemed like the best consequences of his action.

He is your stepbrother, Ajax. The thought dropped in.

Another brother, another conflict in the Henderson household.

Ajax hoped this new brother of his would learn. He wasn't one to be messed with.

But even as he thought it, he knew the truth. He didn't want the insect to learn. He wanted him to fight back just so he could be put back into his place.

"Boss?" Declan called, a questioning gaze directed at Ajax.

Ajax hummed. "What did you say?"

Declan noted Ajax's absentmindedness with a frown. In the years he'd worked for Ajax, he'd never seen him distracted. Not during deals or during kills. Not even when his own blood was spilling.

Something was different tonight.

"We believe that a few weapons are missing. Contraband stash samples as well."

Ajax gave a little nod, shaking his broken device in the air. "Get me a new phone."

"What happened?" Declan asked.

Ajax could see his right-hand man gearing up for action, ready to retaliate against the offender.

"It's nothing to be worried about." Because his 'wonderful' brother was indeed nothing.

Nothing at all.

He tilted his head toward the door. "Let's meet my new family."

Ajax and Declan walked out of the room. "What about the dancer from last night?"

Declan leaned in, his voice a whisper. "Owen refused to mention anything, and he had the other dancers doing the same. He said to let you know that he protects the identity of his dancers."

A smug smile crept into Ajax's features. "A goose chase..." He tilted his head. "Nevertheless, a good one."

He would find the dancer. It was only a matter of time.

Entering the room where his family was, Ajax felt the thick tension clouding the air. He swept his gaze to the insect that dared him.

Ajax observed his new brother shift slightly. He positioned himself in front of his mother, his body tense, his eyes fixed on Father.

Protective. Defiant.

But more especially stupid.

Interesting...

He wanted to see what the insect would do next.