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Cold.
Calculating.
My father had often used the three words to describe the Thorn Empire. He’d said it proudly, as if the attributes would become our family’s legacy. Our entire family had a history of being in control, leaders within various organizations. It had all started in New York, a state I no longer visited.
My mother had been a debutante, the Wallace family relatives to the Kennedys. She’d grown up with a silver spoon in her mouth, attending the finest schools, destined to marry the next president of the United States.
Instead, she’d fallen in love with a brutal man who’d used both his intelligence and his brawn to build on an empire that had almost lost its power given a dirty little secret created by my grandfather. Whatever the hidden filth, I’d never been allowed the privilege of hearing the story, nor did I want to. It no longer mattered.
When it had become obvious that staying in New York would allow for too many difficulties, my father had moved his family to Kansas City. I couldn’t say I understood his choice, but he’d quickly became a masterful influencer, now considered the most powerful man in several states.
His early retirement was a big deal, but at least it gave him the opportunity of spending more time with our mother. They had the Camelot kind of love affair without the magic. I was shocked she’d tolerated his grumpy moods, but she’d kept the man on his toes.
What my father had been particularly good at was collecting allies while destroying enemies. He’d made it an artform, purchasing smaller companies then restructuring them, usually while destroying the original owners. That wasn’t my way, but his brutal methods had provided a solid foundation for the dozens of legal corporations we owned, including several resorts and casinos.
The fact my brother, Daniel was COO and my sister, Danika was CFO allowed me more leeway to garner business and to handle… issues when they arose. The twins were damn good at what they did, Daniel overseeing the casinos with flair. I couldn’t help but wonder how my lovely bride would fit into my world. I certainly wouldn’t be able to trust her for a long time, if ever.
The beast inside of me had surfaced and there was no way I would allow him to settle back into his lair. Jade would bend to my will, fulfilling every need several times a day. If not, I’d keep her naked, locked in a fucking cage. She believed she could fight me and win. The woman had no idea what she was facing.
I’d been surprised she hadn’t recognized me, at least until the very end. Even with my beard and the change in my weight, she’d stared me in the eyes more than once all those years ago. Maybe she’d wanted to pretend, hoping I’d leave her alone. I did so love her games.
“What the hell do you want from her?” Tristen asked from the doorway. My second in command had been tasked with handling her. I sensed he thought it beneath him.
“Her complete surrender.”
He seemed surprised at my direct answer, exhaling a few seconds longer. Then he looked away in disgust.
“What’s wrong, Tristen? You don’t like my answer?” As if it was any of his business.
“I don’t think you need to be involved with anyone right now. I mean no disrespect, but the Grassos are serious this time. They’ve purchased a few buildings on the other side of Kansas City. There are rumors they plan on using them as a corporate headquarters, the basement housing weapons.”
“They would be fools to keep arms at the same location.” The Grassos had been involved in the sale of illegal arms as well as drugs for years, but up to this point had been mostly low-level players.
“Maybe so, but if what I heard was true, they are trying to offload a significant number of weapons to some very influential buyers.” The way he made the statement was an indication they were poaching our clients.
“Then we may need to have those buildings torched.” I gave him a hard look, trying to hold in my anger. He’d been crossing several lines as of late. My father had insisted we continue dealing arms for the time being, a particular sale vesting ourselves of a purchase that my father himself had authorized. It had been another fight with the man, his determination to remain in the game creating a split between us.
“Whoa. You can’t do that.”
“Are you trying to tell me what to do? If so, it would seem you forget who works for whom. Perhaps you need a reminder.” At least he knew my mood swings by the shift in my tone of voice. Fortunately, he backed down. He was the only man in my employ who could get away with that kind of disrespect. Yes, I needed to send another message to the Grassos, but it would wait.
I took a deep breath, holding it in my lungs for a few seconds. I’d brought my second in command with me to Miami, needing his help in gathering my prize. Tristen Ward was brilliant in handling aspects of our corporate customers. He was also a highly skilled assassin, providing me with muscle during the more delicate aspects of carrying out business, however rare it might be.
He shook his head several times and I could tell he had a hell of a lot more to say. Fortunately, he threw a gaze in her direction then lowered his voice. “Your father has already called, wondering why you’re in Miami. The deal is in a few days.”
“Fuck my father at this point.” What the hell was he doing checking up on me? The deal had been proctored two months before, but ever since then, I’d had a bad feeling it was the wrong decision, the buyer not someone to be trusted.
Tristen sighed and rubbed his eyes. “Why are you so on edge?”
I didn’t bother answering him because I wasn’t certain. As I thought about his initial question, I returned my attention to Jade. I studied her in the dim light, enjoying the way the warm glow provided a luminescent shimmer. She was even more beautiful than years before, growing into a stunning woman with a voluptuous body. I’d sensed from minute one she was no longer the naïve eighteen-year-old I’d easily intimidated in the courtroom.
She’d become formidable, even learning to appreciate dancing on the wrong side of the law. I’d admired her from the first second I’d laid eyes on her after entering the casino. She’d been easy to recognize, even though she’d done everything in her power to disguise who she was. Just the fact she’d risked Maxim’s anger in order to play a high stakes game of poker had intrigued me enough I’d joined in on the game. Losing the money meant nothing to me, the time spent studying the woman hiding behind a mask valuable.
The time had also heightened my desire, enough so I was crazed with need all over again. Fucking her had been more pleasurable than any time spent with another woman. I was surprised at how much I longed to drive my cock inside all over again. As I thought about all the vile, filthy things I would do to her, I finally dragged my mind to aspects of business.
“Secure the time and location of the deal. Then make a few phone calls. Find some asshole named Fast Eddie. No doubt a local loan shark,” I ordered, noticing she couldn’t seem to take her eyes off me.
“Then what?”
