I can’t resist throwing this in his face. "I just wanted to let you know that in two weeks I’m going to contest you at the reading of Father's will."
He shrugs. "He wasn't even your real dad. Why don't you step aside and let true family deal with this matter?"
He’s such a fucking asshole. The words hurt. I won't lie. Even though I know I’m as much a part of this family as anyone, it just reminds me of how our father isn’t here.
Percy’s a disgrace to this family and I shouldn't take what he says to heart. But he simply pushes all the right buttons. He knows my weakness is feeling like I don't belong to any family and he's playing that card.
But I don't let it show. I’ll never give him the satisfaction of thinking he’s wounded me in any way.
"You know, Percy, you can think whatever the fuck you want, but when that will is read, I’m going to challenge you for control of Raine's Petroleum. I won’t stop until I have Father's company in the rightful hands."
He barely looks up from his plate of food.
"Do what you gotta do, man."
He’s so smug and so sure that he has the upper hand on this. I know he's already read the will. I know he's planning and scheming like always. But what he doesn't know is that this time there's competition.
This will be Percy's final act of betrayal. He’ll never have power in this family again by the time we’re through with him. He just doesn't know it yet.
I’ll let him keep gorging himself with his food and believe he’s master of his deceptive little world for a while longer. The plan is set in motion, and now I just have to walk away without punching him out. When you're confronted with somebody so vile, it's hard to bite your tongue and walk away.
Now that I know what Percy's been up to, how he threatened Nolan, well, I want to make it right and pound his fucking flesh into the pavement. But when dealing with a crook like Percy, patience is a virtue. He’ll get his in due time.
"I'll just leave you to it," I say, and turn to walk away. I feel his eyes on my back, and I'm sure he wonders what my stance is and what I’ll say to contest the will. But he has no fucking clue just how bad it will be.
We’re going to ruin him.
I smile to myself as I walk down the hall and I know our father would be proud of me right now. He always knew Percy was no good, and his recent actions have proven it. But John was a father to me, and I owe it to him to protect his good name and fortune.
I never fail. This time is no exception.
Nolan
We lay there in silence, just listening to the beating of our own heart.
I’ve never been one for romance, but ever since Stacy fell into our lives...well, let’s just say that I see things differently now. I just never thought that the moment I’d find love, it’d be at the same time as my brothers...and with the same woman.
“We’ll fix this, I know we will,” Carter says, looking at the ceiling, one of his arms draped around Stacy’s naked shoulders. “By the time we’re done with him, Percy will no longer be a part of this family.”
“It won’t be that easy, you know that,” Kieran says, his words fraught with tension. “It’s never easy whenever Percy’s involved.”
“No, it won’t be easy...Percy knows what he’s doing,” Stacy agrees, and I feel my heart tightening up a little as I hear her say it. She’s worried, I can tell—but who wouldn’t be worried in a situation such as hers?
“Babe,” I whisper, turning to her and caressing her face with the back of my hand, “we’re here. We’ll take care of you.”
I say softly, whispering the words against her hair and meaning every single one of them. I don’t know what it is about Stacy, but I can’t help but feel this urgent need to protect her, to shelter from whatever bullshit the world throws at her. I’ll move mountains for this girl, if that’s what’s required of me.
“I know you’ll take care of me,” she whispers back at me, brushing her velvety lips against mine and managing a weak smile. “But who’ll take care of my father?” She continues, lowering her voice and retreating inside her mind. “Percy will ruin him if I don’t do his bidding. He’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants.”
“Your father?” I ask her, and the silence coming from Carter and Kieran tells me they already know the details of what’s going on with Stacy.
“My father,” she says, her voice quivering slightly. “Percy, he...he threatened to put my father out of business if I don’t play this stupid game of his. And he’ll do it, I’m sure of it.”
“Yeah, that fucking asshole would do anything to get his hands on father’s money,” Carter agrees, pulling Stacy toward him as if he could protect her just by doing that.
“From what I’ve been reading, Percy has apparently bought a majority stake in your father’s company, Stacy. He did it through some shell corporations a few weeks ago, and I assume he did that the moment he read the will...he has been planning all this for a long time. I hate to say it, but the fucker is more than just evil—he’s smart too.”
Fuck—Percy really thought this through. Just like he did with me, he’s using every person he can as pawns on his personal chessboard, moving them around for his personal benefit.
I feel my blood boiling inside my veins as I imagine what it must’ve been like for Stacy. To see her father threatened, to become the sole person stopping her family’s company from crumbling...that can’t be easy. And Percy doesn’t care. He’d do that a million times over if that meant he’d triumph over his.
Of course, what Percy doesn’t know is that we’re a family. Sure, he knows it on paper. But he doesn’t know the meaning of it. He never saw us as his brothers, thinking of us as lesser members of the family just because we’re not blood-related. But family isn’t about blood, is it?
Family’s about so much more.
I have to do something about this. I’ve spent too much time helping Percy further his plans, leaving my true brothers and Stacy out on the cold...fuck, I hate myself for it. But that’s no use right now. Hating myself for what I did will help no one—what will help is taking action.
Swinging my legs off the bed, I pick up my boxer briefs and get inside them.
“Where are you going?” Stacy asks me, and I can feel her reaching for me. Before she can lay her hand on top of mine, though, I’m already on my feet, jumping inside my pants and getting dressed fast.
“I have some stuff I need to take care of,” I say, offering her a wide smile as I finish buttoning up my shirt. I’m still not sure about what I’ll do, but I just know I can’t remain here in bed while Percy’s long shadow is still cast over us.
I need to do something. Whatever is it. And I won’t stop until Percy’s ruined.
“What’s on your mind?” Carter asks me, sitting up on the bed, the sheets up to his waist. “If there’s something we can do to help…”
“Fuckin’ right. If you have a plan, we want in,” Kieran says, adding his voice to Carter’s. Running one hand through my hair, I let out a sigh and sit on the edge of the bed, resting my hand on top of Stacy’s.
“I don’t know what we can do yet,” I tell the three of them. “There’s only one thing I know for sure: we’ll stop Percy, whatever it takes.”
“Whatever it takes,” Carter and Kieran reply at the same time, and I can see a faint smile taking over Stacy’s lips. She can’t yet see a way out of the maze she’s trapped inside, but I know she trusts us to guide her out.
And I won’t fail her, even if that’s the last thing I do in my life.
Going up to my feet, I look one last time at Stacy and then I leave the room, suddenly feeling more confident about everything.
“I’m coming for you, Percy,” I whisper to myself, and I can’t help but grin at my owns words.
I got a plan.
Stacy
I wander through the gardens alone, slowly walking under the dappled shade of the trees as I try not to think of Percy. Of course, easier to say than to do.
Percy has become this ever-present figure in my life, and I have no idea how I can shake him off my mind. The only time I can stop thinking of the situation I’m in, is when I’m with Carter, Kieran, or Nolan. Or, really, whenever I’m with the three of them.
I still can’t believe that something like that happened between the four of us. I tought that the moment the limo drove through the gates of this mansion, that my life would be one of misery—instead, I found the three most perfect men. Forget about a Prince Charming—these three are so much better than that.
Ah, if only Percy wasn’t a part of it, my life would be absolutely perfect. But, then again, if Percy hasn’t stormed into my life like this, I would have never met those three brothers. In a twisted way, I guess I have to thank Percy for introducing me to them.
“You slut,” I hear someone say behind me, and I turn around on my heels to meet Percy. He’s standing right behind me, and my gaze is almost immediately drawn to the flask he’s holding in his hand.
“Stop it,” I tell him, balling one hand into a fist. I’m tired of having him treating me like some used rag.
“Stop what?” He asks me, closing the distance between me and him and grinning wildly. The moment he closes in on me, I can smell the vodka in his breath. He’s drunk—the kind of drunk who can’t help but stagger, stumble, and fall.
“You don’t like it when I call you a slut, huh?” he continues, his grin frozen on his lips. “Too bad, because that’s exactly what you are, you bitch.”
“Leave me alone!” I cry out, taking one step back and preparing to get out of here. He moves fast, though, and reaches for me. Grabbing me by the wrist, he forces me stop and pulls me toward him.
“You’re a whore, Stacy, why don’t you admit it?” He insists, his beady eyes locked on mine. “You’ve always been one…I remember watching you growing up, and I always thought that you were nothing but a slut.”
“What are you even talking about?” I try to release my hand, but his grip around my wrist is a tight one. “Let go of me, you loser!” I insist, and give him one hard push. “You’re a creep!”
“I’m a creep, huh?” He growls, his fingers becoming so tight around my wrist than I can feel my bones burning. “I think it’s time I start teaching you respect,” he lowers his voice then, and before I can prepare myself for it, he slaps me with the back of his hand.
His movement is so sudden and hard that I don’t even resist. I feel the force of impact and I stumble, my cheek burning. I look at him, lips pursed as I imagine what he’s going to do next. We’re alone in the garden, and even though he’s much smaller than his brother, I don’t know if I can take him on.
He starts walking toward me, his eyes narrowing into two slits, and he reaches for my hair.
“Come here, you lil’ bitch,” he whispers, and I can’t help but feel scared. I close my eyes, anxiety gripping me tight.
“Not so fast, you fucking asshole,” I hear Carter say, and when I open my eyes I see him holding Percy by the wrist. “What’s going on in here?”
“None of your business, Carter! She’s my wife, and I’ll do whatever I—”
“If I were you,” Carter says, his tone a threatening one, “I’d think very hard about what you’re going to say next.”
Percy seems taken aback at Carter’s words, and so he just sinks down into a sunken silence.
“Is this how it’s going to be?” Percy says, finally managing to find his voice again. “You’re going to choose this whore over your own brother?”
That does it for me.
The moment I hear the word whore leave his mouth, I don’t even think—I just act. I take one step back, allow my right leg to swing back and then I launch it straight at Percy’s crotch.
I feel my ankle smashing right between his legs, and all blood leaves his face in a fraction of a second. He becomes as pale as a snowman, and when Carter lets go of him he just folds onto the floor.
“I told you not to call me that,” I tell him, leaning in and looking straight into his eyes. There’s pain there—pain, confusion, and surprise. But there’s also rage, a desire for vengeance. After what I just did, I know that my time’s running out.
Percy will come after me, and he’ll pull no punches.
Oh, well, if that’s how it’s going to be…
Without even thinking about what I’m doing, I reach inside my purse and take out my can of mace. I point it straight at his eyes, and before he realizes what I’m doing, I mace the fuck out of him.
“ARGH!” He screams out, covering his eyes with the palm of his hands as if they were on fire.
“That’s the lesson of the day,” I tell Percy, suddenly feeling more confident than I’ve felt in weeks. “Don’t fuck with me.”
With that I turn on my heels and, arm-in-arm with Carter, start walking out of the garden. We leave Percy behind us, crying out of in pain.
Well, this is it.
Retaliation is coming.
Carter
“Where are you? We need to talk. Right fucking now,” I say into the phone, my fingers wrapped so tight against the damn thing, I wouldn’t be surprised if it shattered into a million little pieces.
“In the house. Meet me in the ballroom,” Kieran replies, and he knows that by the tone of my voice that I have no time to answer questions. Not over the phone at least. This is too important, too serious.
After what just happened with Percy, the clock is ticking fast. War’s coming, and we need to be ready for it. Percy’s going to start moving fast, and he’ll bury us in a matter of hours if we’re not prepared for it.
Lucky for us, I don’t think he knows who the fuck he’s dealing with. Sure, he’s known all of us since we were kids. But from the level of his arrogance, I doubt he’ll expect us to counter his moves.
He think he still has Nolan under his thumb, and he doesn’t know that we’re aware of what’s in the will. He fancies himself as some kind of master manipulator, and that’ll be the end of him.
Thing is, I’m still not sure of how we’ll get out of this mess. As confident as I am on our ability to pull through and rescue both Stacy and our family’s fortune, it’s a fact that we still don’t have solid plans.
And without a plan, we’re at his mercy.
“What happened?” Kieran asks us the moment he sees us walk inside the ballroom, and I notice his eyes darting straight to Stacy’s face, where Percy’s fingers have left a mark.
Swear to God, just thinking of that is enough to make me want to kill him. I can’t believe the fucking asshole dared raise his hand against Stacy. I should’ve broken his arm right there and then, fuck the consequences.
“What happened is that we need to move against Percy. Right now,” I tell him, and Kieran just nods. He has seen the mark of Percy’s fingers on Stacy’s face, and he doesn’t need me to explain what went down.
“Where’s Nolan?” He asks me, pulling out his phone from inside his jacket, then starts dialing. “He’s not picking up.”
“Fuck,” I mutter. “Doesn’t matter. Just call Ardmore and tell him we need to meet right away,” I instruct Kieran, and he starts calling the family’s lawyer right away. He hasn’t put the phone up to his ear when Percy stumbles inside the ballroom, pushing both doors open at the same time.
His hair is dishevelled, and his eyes are red and swollen. It’d almost be a comedic sight if it weren’t for the fact that he has us all by the balls.
“Feeling special, are we?” He growls, looking around the room like a caged tiger.
Usually he’s always cowering in fear, but I think that his boiling rage has gotten the best of him. It won’t end well for him if he decides to take a swing at us—sure, his treacherous tricks might have us against the wall, but if he decides to trade fists with any of us...well, that’ll be a whole new conversation.
As for me, I almost want him to take a swing at him. Let him come. I’ll punch him so hard his teeth will be pinned against his brain.
/>
“What the fuck do you want, Percy?” I growl right back at him, digging my fingernails into the palm of my hands so hard that I almost draw blood. “Haven’t you learned your lesson?”
“I think you’re the ones that haven’t learned the lesson,” he continues, lowering his voice menacingly. “You fucked my wife, and now you think you’re on top of the world, huh?”
“I was never your wife!” Stacy suddenly cries out, standing between me and Percy. Her cheeks are flushed, but there’s a certain determination in her eyes. She’s breaking the chains that Percy has her shackled with.
I just hope we can save her family.
“Oh, is that so, Stacy?” Percy whispers, taking one step toward her. “Too bad your father will be sorry about those words,” he continues, wiping the spit out from his lips with the back of his hand. “All of your family will be sorry about that.”
“Don’t you fucking dare lift a finger against her or her family, motherfucker,” Kieran joins the fray, and I actually have to place my hand on his chest to stop him from knocking Percy out cold. He’s aching to bury his fist against Percy’s face, and I totally get it—I feel exactly the same.
But we can’t make the situation even worse.
“You’ll regret this,” Percy says, looking around the room as if he was shooting lasers out from his eyes. If hate could murder, I venture to say we’d all be dropping dead right now.
“You’ll fucking regret it,” he continues, taking his phone out from his pocket. “Your father’s done,” he then tells Stacy, and I watch as all blood drains from her face.
This is it.
We’re fucked.
“NOT SO FAST, MOTHERFUCKER!” I hear someone say as the doors to the ballroom swing open, slamming against the wall. Nolan storms inside the room fast, stalking toward Percy, and he snags the phone out from his hands.
With a grin on his face, Nolan drops the phone to the floor and then crushes it with the heel of his shoe, smashing the screen.
“Someone’s done, alright,” he tells Percy, looking straight into his eyes. “But that person’s you.”
The King's Virgin Bride Page 68
