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“Are you really gonna let her have a week of peace?” Zie asks incredulously, looking over at me.
I smirk in response. “What do you think?”
“I think this big ass limo is ridiculous,” Kaiden interrupts with a snort. “Fucking ridiculous.”
He’s right of course, but tonight is important and appearances are everything. If we’re going to present as valid candidates to inherit our fathers’ empires, we need to look every bit the savage and ruthless ‘businessmen’ we are. Turning up in the Jeep looking like fresh-faced dicks barely out of high school isn’t going to cut it.
I silently gesture for my brothers to climb in before sliding into the back myself. The driver knows better than to try and wait on me, though of course when we arrive at our destination I’ll have to concede and let him. From the moment we pull into the car park, all eyes will be upon us. Assessing. Judging. Looking to find fault.
They won’t find anything less than perfection.
“We are coming back here tomorrow, right?” Zie whines. I make a noncommittal noise in the back of my throat. “We’re not? We can’t just leave Peony unprotected like—”
“Dude, chill,” Kaiden snaps at Zie, though I can tell he’s watching me closely. “Axel won’t have left her unattended…right, boss?”
Let them think what they like.
I shake my head at Kaiden’s use of the term ‘boss’. He’s already slipping into his role, understanding perfectly the role we have to play tonight. The father is always the head of the family, right?
Zie, however, does not have his head in the game.
“Who could possibly watch over her as well as us?” he demands.
“I have someone. Drop it.” I won’t say another word on the matter.
Outside of the Trinity, there’s very few people I trust. Fuck, there’s only one person I trust, and even then I don’t do so willingly. I’ve put everything into this associate, my life is literally in his hands alongside the lives of the only people in this world that I give a fuck about. If it all goes to shit…if he double crosses us…we’re all going down in flames.
I shake my head to clear it. I can’t think about that tonight. This week.
Because if I do, to hell with business and expectations and my damn word…I’ll race back to Trinity and never let Odile leave my side.
Taking a deep breath, I force myself to relax back into my seat. It wouldn’t hurt to check in on her, just once. I slide my phone from the pocket of my slacks and wait for it to unlock. When the screen lights up, I hover for a moment, undecided. Message my associate, or see how she is for myself?
I bring up the surveillance app and check the camera feed for her room. It’s late and she’s a creature of habit. I fully expect to find her curled up in bed, but it’s empty. I frown. The bed doesn’t even look slept in, but maybe she’s in the shower? I switch to the bathroom camera but the room’s empty. I quickly flick through the cameras in her flat’s communal areas, but there’s no sign of her.
I quickly text my associate and he immediately replies that he has eyes on her. From a distance of course.
Where is she?
The Font.
That surprises me. Odile has never had a night out since arriving here. She doesn’t have any friends. Has she gone out alone? Why wait until now to have the full college experience?
Is she safe? I text.
Yes, boss. I’ll protect her with my life if it comes to it.
Good. See that you do.
Somewhat satisfied, I note the time and then return my phone to my pocket. We have less than ten minutes before we arrive at the meeting and I need to get my head off The Doe and firmly in the game that we’re walking into.
“We’re here, boss,” the driver calls, slowing to a stop. I wait for him to get out and open my door, and then I slide from the leather seats and step into the underground car park. I don’t have to turn around to know the others have followed me out of the vehicle and are standing in their respective places at my side but one step behind.
Fastening the buttons on my suit jacket, I take in the security guards standing before the elevator doors. In our world, for every armed guard you can see, there’s at least four that you can’t. Tonight is heavy on security, but I have all the security I need with my brothers by my side. No one would dare try to take on or take down The Holy Trinity, and we’re not even at full power yet. Officially, anyway.
Every viper we’re about to face in the boardroom knows we’re the biggest threat, the biggest predator on the chessboard. Apart from my father, who continually underestimates me. Which is exactly how I want it.
“Shall we?” I ask, not really expecting a response as I step towards the guards. The lift doors slide open automatically on our approach, and I don’t even have to select a button before the doors are sliding shut once more and we’re shooting off towards our destination.
