I shrugged. “Nothing else to do, figured why not.”
He shook his head and when we rounded the corner, I saw Toni outside of a large shipping container. He opened it, and inside was pretty much what Gideon had told me would be there.
Alex and Danny were relaxed and alert, but the third man, Nathanial Vernon, was not. He was in a light-gray button-down shirt that he’d sweated through, black pants covered in dust, and he was sporting a fresh bruise on his cheek. He was in a chair, loosely tied to it. He didn’t appear to be much of a fighter, and I knew if he’d tried to escape either Alex, Danny, or Toni would have subdued him.
“M…Mr. Hendrix, what’s going on? Why am I here?” Nathanial trembled like a leaf.
“Oh, I think you know why I’ve asked my guys to bring you here, Nathanial. But I’ll give you a hint. The Marion Estate.”
Nathanial closed his eyes and released a shaky breath. “I had to.”
I leaned my shoulder on the container wall next to Danny and watched Gideon advance on Nathanial. He gripped the front of his shirt and jerked the man forward. Nathanial was tied, so the binding dug in unpleasantly.
“Had to? What kind of bullshit is that? You wouldn’t let Hank contact me. You have lunches with Calvern, got a new car, and you’re taking a vacation to St. Barts with your wife. If that wasn’t enough, I discovered the house you’re staying at happens to belong to Benito. So tell me more lies, Nathanial, because I fucking love it.”
Was it weird that I wanted Gideon to fuck me against the metal crate right now? Possibly, but I was going to remember this, and maybe he could bring me back here someday and let me live out the fantasy.
Nathanial was quiet for a beat, shaking and sweating. When he spoke, his voice trembled. “I’m sorry, Mr. Hendrix. I?—”
Gideon stepped a few inches away and punched Nathanial right in the face. “You’re not sorry. You’re fucking greedy.”
“You don’t understand.” Nathanial whimpered. “I needed the money.”
Gideon chuckled darkly and looked over at me. I shrugged. “He needed it, babe,” I joked.
“Mmm.” Gideon gripped Nathanial’s chin. “You needed a new car, a vacation? No, that’s not a need—it’s a want.” Nathanial tried to speak, but Gideon’s hold was too strong. “Greed always, and I do mean always, leads to destruction. Sometimes it’s just of one person and other times, more. Families, countries, whole civilizations. In just a few lunches with Calvern, you sold your soul to the wrong fucking devil, Nathanial.” Gideon leaned closer. “And sealed your own fate.”
Gideon released his grip and stepped away.
“You’re going to kill me because I let him buy a house?” Nathanial’s eyes were wide.
“Why would I keep you alive? You’re no good to me; you’ve shown that your loyalty comes with a price tag. You’re a liability.”
“I-I-I…wait. I know things.”
Gideon glanced at me, but all I could do was smirk. I wasn’t sure if Gideon would really kill Nathanial, but I did know he wanted info, and it seemed like he was going to get it.
“What things?”
“Things Benito told me when we were hanging out. One night, he was pretty drunk. He has a plan.”
Nathanial didn’t elaborate, so Gideon motioned for him to go on.
Nathanial swallowed loudly, his gaze darting around the crate to each of us staring at him. His eyes finally landed back on Gideon.
“He mentioned one night—and remember, these are his words and not mine, Mr. Hendrix.”
“Noted, go on.” Gideon sighed.
“He said you and Lorcan were idiots. You were both clawing at each other’s necks, desperate for power, and neither one of you saw him lurking in the background, waiting to pounce. I asked him, ‘Why not choose a side, and that person would be grateful?’” Nathanial rolled his eyes. “Benito said he did choose a side, his. He mentioned how you lost so much and it was a beautiful thing.”
“Makes no sense,” I said, garnering everyone’s attention. “If what you’re saying is true, why’d Calvern wait two years to go at Gideon?”
Gideon hummed. “Interesting point. Nathanial, care to shed some light on that?”
“I don’t know. I only started talking to him a couple of months ago.”
“Who’d know then, Nathanial?” Gideon’s tone darkened. “It’s obvious he wants everything I have; you’re not telling me anything new.”
