“You’ve been nothing but a waste of my resources. If you could have done it, you would have the first time around.” I nod to the other guy. “Get him out of my office.”
The guard latches onto the man who kicks and screams, but I pay them no attention as I turn back to the paperwork in front of me. Deliveries that need to be signed off on. Potential revenue ventures that need my approval. The endless to-do's that come with running this kind of business. There is always something that needs done or looked over or assessed. Threats pop up left and right, and there are constant fires that need put out. This job is all-consuming and nonstop.
But today, I refuse to allow that to get between me and my girl.
It’s already done enough damage, and I will not be responsible for pushing us off a cliff I cannot save us from.
Plus, getting June out of town serves a dual purpose.
I have a small group of guys running point on following up a lead that might actually bring some closure to this mysterious situation, and I want her nowhere near when shit goes down. I’m not sure why I hadn’t thought of it sooner, but holding her in my arms and wracking my brain on how to do two things at once, it dawned on me that this was the perfect plan.
I’ll be there to ensure her safety, and give her some of the quality time we both desire. It’ll be a challenge to micromanage the situation from another state, but it’s the challenge I will endure to be the man she needs me to be. Especially when things are rocky with her and Coen. If that bastard doesn’t get his shit together soon, he’ll be the first to lose his relationship with June. I’m treading a thin line with the secrecy but in a matter of days, I will finally come clean about what’s been going on and why I’ve done what I have. Then she will understand this was all for her and we can get back to how things were.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to keep her out of our business, but if we’re going to be with her, long term, that would be impossible. I don’t want to see her turn into another council wife who is constantly in danger just because of who they’re married to. And with June being involved with four made men, it only puts her more at risk. She might only be in a relationship with three of us, but Simon has made it clear to everyone in our organization that he would give his life for her.
My cell rings, and I answer it immediately. “Yes?”
“Mr. Adler. The jet is fueled and ready for departure. Should I send a driver to your location?”
“No, I’ll be there in an hour.”
“Very well,” the older man says.
“Did my package arrive?”
“Yes, not too long ago.”
“Great, I’ll see you soon.”
I disconnect the line and snatch my keys off my desk. I may have fucked up last time, but I refuse to be late and ruin things again. This organization can run for a day without me, and if it can’t, I’ll pick up the pieces tomorrow.
I stalk out of my office and a young man jogs to catch up to me, a clipboard and pen in his hand.
“Hold all my calls today, and forward anything of importance to my cell. Hire another analyst to go over the data from the delivery. Get a location on Hayes, and send it to me immediately.”
“Yes, sir.” He makes notes and follows me down the corridor. “And Mr. Bryant, sir?”
I stop and turn toward him, pressing my hand into his shoulder. “He is not to be bothered. Do you hear me?”
The kid averts his gaze and nods. “Yes, of course, sir.”
“Good.” I immediately start moving down the hall again.
“Is there anything else you’d like me to handle while you’re away, sir?”
I latch onto the door and pause. “The coffee machine is on the fritz. Have that fixed by the time I get back.” Sixteen grand and the thing wants to stop working on me after a year. “Call the company, they should send someone out.”
I rush across town, rolling through every stop sign and turning on every no-turn-on-red, not giving a shit about the petty laws that I'm breaking. I do worse daily; a little traffic violation is nothing in the grand scheme of things. I end at least one life a week, sometimes a dozen. Consequence means something different for a man like me. I’m not necessarily above the law, I just have it in my pocket.
Parking in the garage, I note that Coen's car isn't in its normal spot. Simon's is here, something I've grown rather used to in the last six months. Magnus's isn't, but I knew that already. He's in charge of today's mission and the reason why I'm able to get away with June. Coen was supposed to head this one up, but no one has heard from him since he stormed out last night. When I told Magnus I might have to cancel my evening with June, he threw himself into the volunteer position to make sure I could still go. I'd rather have both of them on the job, but if I have to settle for anyone, Magnus is a solid alternative.
He's a fucking lunatic, don't get me wrong, but Magnus has more heart that Coen, which makes Coen the perfect soldier. I've never not been able to count on either of them to come through when shit needed to be handled. Coen skipping out on us is new and has me questioning if I ever really knew him at all. This is unlike him. He's a battered soul but never once did I think he'd getthatfucking mad at June and assert his dominance that way in front of her.
If we didn’t have a strict no violence in the house rule, and she didn’t love him as much as she does, I would have put a bullet in his head just for his fucking tone.
I step into our house and toss my keys onto the counter. The main floor is quiet aside from the faintest instrumental music playing in the background. I make my way past the kitchen, and up the stairs to our second story. Chattering floats back to me, and when I reach the top, Simon nods at me from his post just outside June’s door.
June pokes her head out and grins. “You’re here.”