Chapter 16

ELIAS

The second the door closed behind me, I yearned to turn around.

Longed to fling it open, drag Louis out of that room, and lock him away someplace safe where no one would ever touch him again.

Where no one would be able to hurt him like I knew they already had.

But I couldn't. Not yet. Not without sending him running off into God knows where. Not that I won’t be able to find him, but I’d rather avoid the stress and hassle of it all.

I rubbed a hand through my hair, my fingers trembling a little.

This was not me. I didn't lose control.

"Don," Azion, one of my older guards called, leaning in. "Aaron's men have been seen around the docks again."

A muscle in my jaw flexed. Aaron.

That fucking bastard was like a nasty disease—always lurking, always waiting for the perfect moment to strike. But lately, he'd been getting more and more bold.

And I didn’t like it.

Anyone stupid enough to try to hurt my family had a death wish and I was going to make sure he won’t be around for much longer.

"Send Cathan," I replied icily. "I want them all gone. But leave one man as a message. Cathan will know what to do from there.” I didn't need to send a message; I needed to create war.

Azion nodded and went off down the hallway.

From there, I went on auto pilot, taking the private elevator to my office upstairs to meet the stupid journalist who just wouldn’t stop snooping around where he didn’t belong.

Immediately I opened the door, I spotted him sitting on one of the chairs across from mine. Behind him stood two of my guards, watching him closely in case he tried anything stupid.

“Ah,” he said, rising from the seat the moment he noticed me, a saccharine smile plastered across his pasty white face. “Mr. Montgomery. A pleasure to see you again.”

“How do you feel about life and death, John Davis?” My voice was deathly calm, and the only thing calming me down, the image of his head pinned to my office door. I sat down in my chair and locked eyes with him.

His expression immediately went blank. It was obvious he could feel the hostility coming off me in waves.

“I asked you a question,” I said, my voice low. “And I really hate being kept waiting.” My fingers twitched, as I resisted the urge to reach for the gun tucked underneath my desk.

“Well, that’s a very specific question and—”

“—And it seems you fancy the latter,” I cut in coldly. He opened his mouth to protest, but I wasn’t in the mood to hear a single damn word. “You see, Davis,” I said his name with a sneer, “we both know you’re aware of who I truly am. And you probably think that gives you some kind of immunity. But let me make something very clear.”

I got up and crossed the room, stopping by his side. I leaned in till we were eye to eye. “The next time you step foot in my territory, your understanding of death will be child’s play to what will happen to you.”

His already pale face turned ghostly white; his eyes widened in terror.

“Are you threatening me?” he asked, trying to sound bold but failing miserably. “Because doing so could put you at a really bad disadvantage.”

The nerve of the prick.

I straightened, adjusting my cufflinks as I strolled back to my chair.

“Threatening?” I let out a low chuckle as I sank back into my seat. “I wish I was.” I flicked my hand toward him. “Now, get rid of that recorder or my boys will do it for you.”

He began to stutter like a fish out of water. I wasn’t sure if he was stupid or just suicidal for thinking I wouldn’t notice he was wired.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t notice you were wired?” I asked, actually shocked at his stupidity. “You really underestimate me Davis, and it’s starting to piss me off the more.”

Tired of him wasting my time, I gave the go ahead to my men. After a not-so-gentle pat down, a recorder along with a few other spy gadgets were placed on my desk.

“Now, you can leave,” I said with a dismissive wave. Already turning my attention back to the security feed. I need to find Louis.

“You’re going to regret this, you know, and—”

I snaped my fingers. One of the guards hit him square on the head, dropping him unconscious to the ground.

“Thank you, boys.” I said. “Dump him wherever you please. Just make sure he’s nowhere near my property again.”

With a curt nod, they grabbed his limp body and dragged him out, the door clicking shut behind them.

I turned back to the screen, focusing my attention on the boy who I couldn't get out of my mind.

Why hadn't he said yes yet to the job offer?

He needed this especially in the situation he was in now.

I needed this.

I couldn’t get the way he'd winced when he thought I was going to hurt him out of my head. And the limp? That grated at something in me more than I would ever admit.

Someone hurt him. Is hurting him. And if it was who I was thinking—if it was his bastard of a father—I would carve that man's name into the list of those on my death list.

My fists were bunched at my sides, my nails biting into my palms.

I picked up my phone again, weighing the options on whether or not to call Cathan and or watch Louis, when a knock at the door interrupted me.

It was Azion again.

But this time around, he came in with an oddly thrilling news.

“He accepted, Don.”

A slow smile spread across my face. If anything, at least now the boy will be under my supervision as a great wave of possessiveness washed over me, for a moment, I let it be and didn’t deny that yes, Louis was mine.