by Piper Stone
He was even using my father’s first name. I could tell just how furious he was for being shortchanged over the years. Did that make me feel sorry for him? Hell, no. Maybe I just had trust issues. “What are these… colleagues telling you?”
“That William has been hiding accurate numbers from the corporation for one.”
“How the hell would they know that?”
“Honestly, they refused to divulge that information.”
I laughed. “Don’t you find that curious? Throw out a few accusations without backup?”
Riley inched closer. “You might have been gone for a few years, Houston, but you know how degenerate this world of specialized computer technology can be. There is limited loyalty, a high turnover and secrets are bought and sold no matter the heightened level of security.”
“You’re trying to tell me that one of my father’s employees has sold him out?”
“That’s exactly what I’m telling you.”
“Then that means whoever it was held a high-ranking position.” He nodded after I issued the words. “Okay. What else? Do the rumors the particular technology you’re working on was stolen from a rival company hold any merit?”
His laugh was genuine, although the sound bitter. “I’ve spent the last year and a half working nights and weekends, doing everything I could to push the employees through various testing and delays, disappointments and issues with getting supplies from overseas. They worked their butts off in order to vie for even the chance to bid on that military contract. There is no freaking way a single scrap of it was stolen from anyone.”
“Including the design?”
He hesitated, closing his eyes and sighing. “It’s my damn design.”
“What?” If that was the case, Chase had to be beside himself with fury.
“Yup. Not a single person in the house had any idea how much I loved working with computers and every other piece of electronics I could get my hands on. They were black and white, no emotions needed. I even graduated with my electronics engineering degree a year early, not that anyone gave a damn. By then, I’d already developed several designs, including working examples that could completely change the course of defense technology. It was the single time William took me seriously.”
“Which is why he put you in charge of this portion of the company.”
“Maybe so,” he said more in passing.
I had to admire the man. He’d surpassed all of us in his ability to forge a life of his own. Maybe I hadn’t given him enough credit over the years. “What do you think is the biggest threat to the corporation?”
“You mean other than basic greed?” Riley shook his head. “From what I’ve been told, there is an entity determined to bring down the company. I don’t know the reason why, and depending on who you ask, they’ll give you a different answer. William isn’t a popular man by anyone’s standards.”
An entity. His statement was nothing more than a confirmation of what I’d already suspected. “Any idea who?”
“No. However, from the increasingly tense atmosphere within the company as well as William’s sudden change in behavior, I’d say he is or was personal with whoever it is.”
“Do you have any proof of wrongdoing?”
“Other than meetings regarding the new military contract I wasn’t allowed to participate in? Not much.”
“I need whatever you have, including names of any disgruntled employees. Any enemies, even if you believe not to be an issue.”
“Why, Houston? What are you trying to accomplish, destroying your father’s legacy?”
The answer didn’t come easily nor was I certain of my intent. “I honestly don’t have an answer for you other than I would hate to see all our father worked for going down in flames because of bullshit rivalries.” I suspected Riley had no idea our father’s life had been threatened.
“You think Chase is behind this. Don’t you?”
“I have no doubt he’s a part of whatever is going on and I don’t plan on allowing him to follow through with that pleasure.”
He studied me intently, finally shaking his head. “You’ve changed.”
“We’ve all changed. Perhaps by getting older, we learn what’s most important.”
“Defeating your brother.”
“It might be necessary, Riley. However, I’ve learned recently that there’s more to life than money and power.”
“Whatever Bristol has brought to your life, it would appear it’s a change for the better. I only hope you don’t allow either Chase or William to destroy it.”
“Don’t worry. That isn’t going to happen. I want everything you have, notes on what you suspect.”
Nodding, Riley has a faraway look in his eyes. “What a shame we couldn’t be a family.”
I thought about his comment and for the first time began to see how difficult life had been on him. “What do you want?”
“Out of the company or life in general?”
“Maybe both because our professional life is usually entwined with our personal joys.”
“I’ll let you know when I figure that out.”
The awkward tension between us had increased over the years. “Understood. Let me know when you’ve gathered information. We’ll meet privately.”
“What are you going to do with that information?”
“I’ll let you know when I’ve figured that out.” I laughed, repeating his words, although even the sound was bitter. As I started to walk away, my curiosity continued to spike. “Do you enjoy what you do within the company?”
“Actually, I do. I think I’m damn good at it as well. It’s a shame your father hasn’t noticed.”
“You know, William is your father too. And I think you’ve answered my question. You’re a right fit for the company, much more so than I could ever be.”
Riley had always hidden his emotions, likely terrified as to the repercussions from his sentiments. Seeing the angst in his eyes wasn’t just surprising.
It bothered the fuck out of me.
Maybe he was right in that Bristol had already managed some kind of change within my blackened soul, although the more time I spent close to my family, the more I realized it wasn’t in my best interest to indulge in a single weakness.
He looked away, taking a deep breath. “No, he’s not, Houston. My father would never toss me aside as if my life didn’t matter. Don’t worry. I used to cry myself to sleep at night when I was a little boy, longing to secure William’s good graces.” When he shifted his head, his eyes were hard and cold. He also wore the same expression that had been reflected in every mirror I’d glanced into.
Hunger.
But not for money or power.
For retaliation.
My instinct also told me that Riley had been keeping tabs on my father and perhaps Chase as well for a longer period of time than he wanted me to believe. With no trust between us, he had zero reason to be straightforward. After all, as far as he was concerned, I was the playboy returning for the money. Or maybe he’d already caught wind of my father’s change of heart, one that didn’t include Riley to any degree. Yeah, if I were him, I’d be pissed as shit.
“Now I’m a man. Maybe what they say is true about going through hardships in your life. It makes you stronger. I assure you that William can’t hurt me any longer. As far as continuing my involvement in the company? I doubt it’ll have the same charm in the future,” Riley huffed. My God. The sweet young boy with a verve for life had become an exact replica of his two brothers.
The legacy of the Powers family continued.
And I had the distinct feeling we’d all burn in hell.
After the meeting with Riley, I’d actually driven to La Jolla Shores, the pristine beach far removed from the hustling and bustling of the city. There was something almost cathartic about standing on the small pier, watching a few surfers as they tried to catch a wave. Memories blasted to the surface, including my early desires to become a champion surfer. Even my
basic chatter as a young boy had been met with discouragement, angry words from my father.
I’d learned to keep my thoughts to myself.
A ‘what-if’ moment shifted into my mind. Maybe I’d be a hell of a lot happier if I’d followed my childhood dream. As I leaned over the wooden railing, I had to laugh. Just what the world needed, another aging surfer.
Turning away, an odd sense of knowing kicked in.
I was being watched, followed to every destination.
Now I was pissed.
And there was something else.
Danger.
I was worried, anxious that by bringing Bristol into this nightmare, I could also destroy her life. No. that wasn’t acceptable.
The drive took longer than expected, a level of anxiety kicking into high gear, which was entirely different than my normal reaction to any difficult situation. By the time I swung the car into the driveway, my blood pressure had risen enough a headache had formed.
I stared down at my recent purchase, the Beretta remaining on the passenger seat. Money could buy anything even if there were rules in an attempt to prevent unwarranted purchases. My one act of defiance after I’d turned eighteen had been the purchase of a gun. I’d spent enough time at the shooting range to understand and respect the craft. I loaded the weapon, sliding the remaining ammunition under the seat then easing the gun into my pocket. I’d seen no evidence that someone had followed me, but the nagging feeling had remained the entire afternoon.
By the time I’d arrived back at the house, the sun was already starting to set. I stood outside for a few seconds, staring at the bank of trees flanking the other side of the driveway. Given the location of the house, if someone had actually been watching Bristol from this vantage point, they would have been forced to park a good distance away, either hiking up the side of hill covered in rocks on finding an access point from the beachside. I doubted the reporter I’d accosted could handle such a maneuver. Was there someone else keeping tabs on my arrival into town?
I walked closer, scanning the area. There were no clear indications that anyone had hidden in the trees, but that meant little for a professional.
Not that the photographer had the look of anything but an aging reporter giving it one last effort to make a name for himself.
Although looks could certainly be deceiving.
After entering the house, I was struck by the fact there was no noise, no sound whatsoever. There were also no lights on that I could see. Bristling, I kept my hand on the weapon, moving through the house quietly, finally finding the contract as well as Bristol’s laptop strewn across the new coffee table. I placed the financials beside them, which I’d scour over later.
Every nerve on edge, I shifted the weapon into both hands, finally catching sight of her long hair flowing in the breeze as she stood on the deck. She turned toward me before I had a chance to shove the gun out of sight, her eyes falling to the cold hard steel in my hand. There was no exclamation of shock as she returned her gaze to my eyes.
I walked onto the deck, leaning over the railing and studying the turbulent ocean as high tide rolled in. The quiet between us was unnerving. Time to trust her. I only hoped I was doing the right thing.
“I wasn’t completely honest with you,” I finally offered.
“About?”
“The reason I returned to San Diego. Sure, I refuse to allow my brother to get his hands on the money my mother had set aside, but that was only part of the reason for my decision.”
She remained quiet, the only sound the lapping water.
“I had a call in the middle of the night about a month ago, a deep voice telling me my father was going to die. Trust me, it wasn’t some proclamation that he was in poor health. I could tell there was menace in the man’s tone. When he issued a single dark chuckle, all the hairs had stood up on the back of my neck.”
“You’re kidding?”
I shook my head. “I wish I were. When the events unfolded, including the call from my father’s attorney about the trust, I realized I had no choice. If I had to guess, I’d say I’ve been lured here.”
“Lured. That’s an interesting word.”
Chuckling, I turned my head. “I can tell you have a reason for saying that.”
“We are required to stay married for at least a year.”
I was caught off guard by her words. I could finally tell either something had occurred or whatever had driven her to that realization was troubling the hell out of her. “That’s not what we agreed on.”
“That’s what your father requires in his contract regarding the offer he made to oversee portions of his company. Yes, the trust fund papers haven’t been altered to reflect the change, which means we could continue our ruse and you’d still be a wealthy man, but not in the same terms as the contract for his corporation implies.”
“What the hell?” I snarled.
“He was clever how he introduced the single sentence, burying it in the footnotes. If we don’t stay married at least for that long, the contract will become null and void, rights and revisions transferring to Chase.”
“Jesus Christ.” What the hell was my father up to? I swung my head toward the door, glaring at the papers on the table.
“Grandchildren.”
I knew I was gawking at her. “I don’t understand.”
“According to your sister, your father is almost desperate to have grandchildren. Given Chase ended his upcoming marriage, the burden fell on your shoulders. I know it is a stretch, but if he’s under some kind of duress, he’s likely not thinking rationally.”
I was not only incensed but outraged by such a ridiculous requirement. “I don’t buy it completely. What else did you find?”
“If you follow through with his terms, that would mean you’d eventually get everything. His position, a significant portion of his assets, and complete control of the company’s future. Granted, it’s a tiered contract, meaning you have certain goals to complete; however, when you do, the entire corporation will be yours, including a majority hold of the stock as well as control of the options.”
“My siblings?”
“There are no arrangements for them, at least from what I can tell. However, as disturbing as a certain portion of the contract might be, it’s not what I found that bothers the hell out of me. It’s what I learned.” She lifted the glass of wine in her hand. While she did her best to hide the fact her entire body was trembling, the slosh of liquid in the glass gave it away.
“What are you talking about?”
She took a sip of wine before answering. “Did Mr. Darke tell you why I was terminated from the law firm?”
“No. What does that have to do with anything?”
“I’m not entirely certain other than your brother found out the reason why, which should have been kept confidential.”
“I’m not following you.”
Exhaling, her eyes shimmered with fury. “Chase paid me a little visit a few hours ago. First of all, he warned me about you. When that didn’t work, he threw in my face that he knew why I’d been terminated on my first day on the job.”
Fisting my hands, rage unlike any I’d felt in a hell of a long time rushed into my system. “What. The. Fuck? I’m going to kill him.” When she reached out, grabbing my arm, I issued a series of growls. “He needs to understand that his kind of behavior isn’t going to be tolerated.”
“There’s nothing you can do right now, Houston. I held my own, but your brother is a time bomb ready to explode.”
“He has several reasons, including the fact my father is shutting him out of a portion of the company. That is, if he knows and given his behavior when I met with my father, I’d say he found out. That being said, I’m not going to tolerate the man hurting you.” Huffing, I jerked away, taking several deep breaths. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to take this out on you. I had no idea just how volatile this damn trip was going to be. You certainly don’t deserve the crap being tossed in your direction.�
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“I already told you. I can handle myself. I’m not helpless.”
“But you are my responsibility,” I snapped, pressing my fingers against my chest for emphasis. “Mine.”
“I don’t belong to you.”
After a few seconds, I half laughed. “You’re right. You don’t. Besides, it must be obvious now that I’m just as damaged as the rest of my family.” Goddamn this shit. I’d allowed my family to get under my skin just like before, only this time, the stakes were much higher. For all the bullshit I’d told myself, there was almost no difference in my actions than my father’s or Chase’s for that matter.
“Look, if you want my educated guess, I don’t think your brother’s concern that you’re back in town is the only reason his fuse is getting shorter, his broken engagement to Bridgett aside, but I certainly don’t like what he was insinuating. If he finds out how I got here, not only will your trust fund be yanked, but the offer will be tossed as well. I don’t think you want that to happen. If you’re hotheaded like usual, I have no doubt it will.”
Hotheaded. She’d seen nothing yet. Chase and I were going to have the kind of discussion that would leave him hurting for one hell of a long time. Fuck the family. What the hell did I care about his broken engagement?
However, she was right. I took a deep breath, inching closer. “Tell me everything. What about this job and what would it matter?”
“Maybe to further discredit me in an attempt to force your father to reconsider.”
“What happened?”
“You see, somehow my employer in a different city found out that I’d been foolish enough to get involved with a handsome older man. We had a torrid affair, only I didn’t realize how appropriate the term really was. He’d neglected to tell me he was married. If that wasn’t bad enough, I also learned that he was a Maryland State senator. Now, I broke it off as soon as I learned. While he called me a couple of times, he finally got the message I didn’t want to see him. I’ve thought nothing about it until my boss at the law firm threw it in my face.”