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Chapter One
____________
Odin
“I need your help.”
Well, well. How many months have I dreamed about this moment? And yet now… I can’t find a fuck to give. Guess things really do change with time.
My father has demeaned himself enough to step inside my world. It must be bad, whatever the hell it is he wants. I just spoke to Mom on Sunday, and she said nothing about financial troubles or anything of that nature, so it’s not money he’s here for.
He tries to stare me down but all he’s going to get are the same ice-cold blue eyes looking back at him unflinchingly. I stopped being affected by my dad’s boardroom sneers about the same time I had to kill for the first time. Death will do that to you, it has a way of sussing out the important things so you can get rid of the rest of the unimportant shit. Guess which list my dad falls on.
I haven’t needed my father since the night I got caught with blood on my hands. Figuratively of course- I wasn’t fucking stupid enough to get caught standing over the dumb mother fucker I disposed of. And I’ve gotten a lot better since then.
“Fascinating. How’s mom?” And why isn’t she here if things are so bad? I'm much more likely to give her what she asks for.
“I said I need your help.” He looks at me like I might have lost my senses.
“And I’m reserving my reply until I see how much you piss me off. Besides,” I move my long legs so I can reach for my drink. My dad turns up his nose at the drink. Juniors drinking whiskey - whatever would the neighbors think if they knew he was drinking such a common drink? I sip slowly. I can’t say I’m not enjoying myself. “You made a statement that doesn’t require a reply.”
“Cut the shit, Leander. This isn’t about me and you. I’m here for the Halcombs.”
I swirl the liquid around in my mouth leaning into the burn and give my father bored, tired eyes. I’m sick of his shit. I’m ready to have him kicked out.
“Two more people I don’t give a shit about. You’re not doing a very good job of asking, Pops.”
“You ungrateful little shit!”
“I think we’re done here. You can see yourself out.” I stand and head for the door.
“It’s about Lorelei.”
I pause at the name. Ah, the woman I went to jail for all those years ago. I whip back around feeling a sense of pissed I haven’t been in years.
“What is it? Domestic Abuse? Her husband knocking the shit out of her and the kids?” The very thought sours the whiskey in my belly.
“She’s not married.”
Interesting. She would be…I do some quick math in my head. Nineteen…twenty now. Old enough to marry and shit out a kid or two. So why hasn’t she?
“I was told to leave that path alone - it wasn’t for me. Remember?”
I do. I remember all the old resentment and anger like it was fucking yesterday.
“She’s in trouble, Leander.”
“So tell her to hire a bodyguard if it’s that kind of trouble. I have work and your time with me is up.”
“They’ll kill her, Ander.”
I turn back to stare down at my father and school my features. Little Miss Sunshine went and found trouble even after they got rid of the devil next door.
“Not my problem, old man.” Some of the new me leaks out and coats my words in venom. I start to walk to the door again too ready to leave.
“It can be.”
As much as I want to tell him to fuck off, my body won’t let me.
