Nothing. OK. I deserved that.
“Colton, I just…” I sighed and looked at him as I shrugged. “I’m sorry I betrayed your trust,” I said softly. Still he assessed me.
I couldn’t sit in here with him like this. He was freaking me out, he was too much. I stood and walked swiftly to the door of the bedroom. His eyes followed me like I was prey and I stopped abruptly at the door and looked at him.
“Anything?” I snapped. Ok I didn’t have the right to be pissed. He smirked and raised that bloody eyebrow.
“Forget it.” I reached for the door handle and then I sighed. I had no right. “I truly am sorry.” I slipped out the door. My heart was racing as I ran down the stairs, voices from the sitting room drew me in and I went in and sat on a chair beside Mary Ellen. Safer with her.Coward.
He appeared a few minutes behind me, those eyes laughing at me.Asshat.
The front door opened a while later. We had all been in the sitting room waiting anxiously. Jake and David entered the room. The room went silent with the tension. David crossed the room and kissed his wife. Jake surveyed his sons.
“Well?” Mary Ellen demanded, never one to be kept waiting.
Jake smiled at her ruefully. He removed his suit jacket. “It was interesting.” David snorted as he poured himself a coffee from a tray I hadn’t noticed. NowIneeded caffeine. Was it rude to go help myself at this moment? I fidgeted.
“That’s an understatement,” David added. “It was one of the most bizarre business meetings I have ever attended.” He said as he added milk to his coffee. “I don’t think I can even call it a business meeting.”
I swear I was listening, but I watched as he raised his steaming cup of coffee to his lips. My inner caffeine monster whined in protest.
“I’m sorry. One second, we need to feed the beast,” Colton interrupted them with a wry grin.
He crossed the room, poured a cup of coffee and walked over to me. My hands were reaching for it before my brain caught up. Mortified I mumbled my thanks as there was a scattering of laughter as I was served.
I looked up at Colton and my heart stopped at the playful wink he gave me. I was grateful for once that I was already embarrassed, no one would know my cheeks were on fire from that one wink.
“Ah yes, the coffee junkie,” Jake commented, I flinched slightly.
“There are worse addicts to be,” Mary Ellen commented softly she took a sip of her own coffee.Thank you.
“Quite. Well it seems your businessman knew exactly whoyouwere well before he was onyourradar.” Jake said to both of his sons. “He tried to make a business proposition to me, to us, in the meeting just now. Actually, tried to pitch an idea.”
“It was bizarre.” David repeated. “He’d been keeping the money in a separate account. The first thing he said to us was, you’ve come for the money I was holding for your son,” David shook his head. Connor was looking confused.
“He was waiting,waitingfor us to come and confront him. I don’t think he fully anticipated how stubborn Colton is or how protective of his brother he is,” Jake almost looked proud. “He confessed that he was going to pull the plug on the fighting soon, that he was worried you boys were enjoying it too much.” A scowl for the three of them.
“I don’t understand,” Theo confessed.
“He practically led Connor to the meeting, thinking it was his idea. He took the money but did nothing with it. The interest payments are in the same account. He wanted David and I…”
“Mostly you,” David mumbled.
“To invest in a business proposal he has.” Jake continued as if he hadn’t been interrupted. “He used Connor as bait for abusiness meeting,” Jake shook his head in disbelief.
Colton and Matt looked pissed. Theo was perplexed. I was with Theo.
“The fighting?” Mary Ellen asked.
“A bonus for his usual gamblers. Some have been making good money from our three children. Profits are up.” Jake shook his head again.
“The pitch?” Colton asked.
Jake and David exchanged an almost guilty look. “It’s a good pitch,” Jake admitted.
“Seriously?” My voice dripped equal amounts of sarcasm and incredulity.Ooops.
Jake flashed me a look, much more similar to what I was used too. “It’s a good pitch Arielle.Butthis man deceived my child and his friends into fighting thugs and criminals. It’s a good pitch, but he will rot in the fiery pits of hell before I do business with him.”