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“Gentlemen, we stay in contact. From what little we know, it could mean we’re all the targets of a giant ploy to bring us down.” I shook my head, anger remaining just below the surface.
“Then we won’t allow that to happen,” Maxim snarled. “To the damn Brotherhood of kings. We will hunt and destroy.”
CHAPTER12
“Before you begin on the journey of revenge, dig two graves.”
—Confucius
Jade
For some reason, I thought of the proverb I’d heard as I was being led toward a beautiful house. I’d expected a mansion on a hill surrounded by cinderblock walls and iron gates. To my surprise, the modest home was inviting with a sweeping wraparound porch and the greenest grass I’d ever seen. Trees surrounded the property and the second I was guided out of the SUV, I could have sworn I heard horses whinnying in the close distance.
I’d been introduced to Zane, a man Tristen called my shadow. He was young, so much so I wondered if he could legally drink, but he had a friendly smile and inquisitive eyes. As he walked closer, he noticed my gaze and smiled.
“Mr. Thorn has horses,” he said.
“Does he ride?”
“I’ve never had the privilege of seeing him, but from what I’ve been told, he was once a champion equestrian rider.”
He could have told me Constantine had been a rock musician and I would have believed that, but equestrian? That didn’t sound like the brutal man at all. Maybe there was much more underneath his steel façade and angry eyes.
“This is beautiful,” I half whispered, but Tristen obviously heard me, smirking as he walked closer.
“You’ll only get to see it if Mr. Thorn believes you deserve to.”
His words were harsh. “You don’t like me very much. Do you?” I threw at him.
He laughed as he took my arm, dragging me toward the porch. “I don’t like anyone who interrupts business.”
“You do know it wasn’t my choice.”
“From what I’ve heard, you made the choice to interfere with his life years ago. You know what they say. You make your bed, you lie in it.”
“You’re an asshole.” I shouldn’t have said the words, but they spewed from my mouth before I could stop them. I’d seen the look of hurt on the man’s face when Constantine had attacked him. He blamed me.
“Yes, I am. I’m not your friend, Jade. But I will be your worst nightmare if you fuck with Mr. Thorn.”
“Maybe you can tone it down, Tristen. She is Mr. Thorn’s guest,” Zane offered. I thought for certain Tristen was going to knock him to the ground.
“Mind your own damn business, Zane. You work for me.”
“I work for Mr. Thorn.” Zane gave him a nasty glare then headed to the door, unlocking it.
“You can dress up a man with a fancy suit, but his true nature will always shine through.” I couldn’t help but have a certain amount of glee in my voice.
Tristen jerked me with enough force I tripped on the stairs and would have fallen if Zane hadn’t grabbed me.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” he snarled. “Mr. Thorn won’t like it if she’s damaged.”
Damaged. The perfect word for a possession. At least Tristen backed down, but I could tell the man’s memory was long.
Tristen pressed in a code on a security panel, keeping his body in front of it so I wouldn’t see. Only then did he let me go.
I rubbed my arm, backing away and glaring at him.
“Go on in. Would you like something to drink?” Zane asked.
