AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We need to find them. I want them found. It’s been two weeks and nothing.” My father clenched his jaw like he always did when he was angry. “These animals seemed to have just disappeared.”
“We’re searching,” replied Nate. “They’ve gone underground.”
“Underground—”
“May I be the voice of reason here for a moment?” Kent interrupted.
My father sighed. “Sure, Kent.”
I heard the sound of Kent’s chair scraping the floor as he stood. “As much as it pains and angers me to think of what happened to my cousin, she brought it on herself, as did you, Harrison.”
My father and Nate’s voices battled to reprimanded Kent.
I stood as quicky as I could, which wasn’t fast, and took Nate’s gun. Then I pointed it straight at him.
“Easy there, Addie….” Nate slowly reached for his gun, but I pulled away, cocking it, ready.
Kent held up his hands in surrender. “I am just being honest.” Then he turned his attention to my father. “You, sir, should have been the one to handle the meeting. Or a man should have stepped in. They weren’t going to respect her. They would never respect a woman. Therefore, allowances should have been made. This was all too rushed.”
I fired the weapon and it grazed his ear. But I didn’t say anything. I didn’t have to.
“Give me the gun, Addie,” Nate said, gingerly reaching for the weapon. “Even though he’s a prick, he’s still your cousin.
I shook my head but laid the gun on the table. No one made an attempt to take it.
Kent moved his hand away and blood ran down his neck. He looked at me and sighed as he removed a handkerchief from his suit pocket and held it to his ear. Then he turned back to my father. “I understand your demise is imminent and you needed to find a successor, but this was not the way to go about it.”
Some of the men murmured in agreement.
“Reggie could have helped us end that partnership if he could speak or write.” Kent smirked.
I reached for the gun again, but Nate held my hand. Last time, I missed on purpose. Next time, I wouldn’t. Reggie’s name felt like a knife sliding into my gut.
“You know Reggie wouldn’t have agreed to end the deal,” said Nate. “He was doing everything he could to undermine her authority and you know it!”
“Apparently he was right to. Look at what she’s done.” He gestured in my direction. “Sure, she brought us the alliance with Lucian, but look at her! If she had thought the whole situation with Reggie through, all of this could have been avoided.”
“How dare you?” My father’s voice dripped anger.
I walked around the table and stared down at Kent. Then I pointed toward the door.
Peter jumped up. He was a few years older than Kent and me. He took over for his father after he died in a car accident a few years ago. I glanced at him as he wedged himself between me and Kent. He had his father’s face, hazel eyes, thin lips and dimpled chin.
He glanced from Kent to me and ran a hand through his light brown hair. “What Kent means is—”
“I said what I meant. What happened to Addie pains me, but you know me. I always tell you the truth. I’m a realest.” Kent was on a roll and wasn’t going to stop. I motioned for Nate to get him out before I killed him.
Nate nodded as he rose to his feet. “Kent, you’d better go before Addie kills you.”
“Addie, Harrison, this makes the family look bad,” Kent continued. “It makes it look like we can’t protect the head of our family. It makes us look weak. And with her at the helm…we are.”
I flinched. Kent and I were friends. At least I thought we were. Was that how he felt about me? Did he always feel that way about me, or was it after what I did to Reggie? My hands balled into fists as I looked around the room for something to hit him with. Then I walked back to my seat and motioned for Nate to get him out.
As Nate hauled him out, kicking and screaming, I still didn’t say anything. There was nothing to say.
Kent was right. This was all my fault. I was stupid and reckless, and I paid the price. My father sighed. I felt his eyes on me, but I couldn’t meet his gaze.
“All of you get out of my house,” he said bitterly.
