ANGEL'S WRATH by SK (SIN CITY HEAT) (14 page)

 
 
 
 
But Irene had already made the call when she heard the sounds of chairs and glass breaking in the conference room. Four security guards came rushing into the room. It took two of them to pull Angel off of Bradley Sr. while one attempted to subdue Dominick and the other grabbed Matt. Jaxon threw in a couple of sucker punches while the guard held Dominick. Roaring in anger, Dominick broke free and started whipping Jax's ass again until a fifth guard came in to help overpower him. Brad Sr.'s face was crimson from a lack of oxygen. He coughed and held his hands to his throat.
 
 
 
 
“I want…I want that son…son of a…bitch…arrested,” he wheezed before another coughing fit took hold of him.
 
 
 
 
“Son of a bitch is right!” Angel yelled at him. “And you’re the bitch, you no good piece o' shit!” He tried to break free, and although it was a struggle, the guards held him tight.
 
 
 
 
“Call the police!!” Jaxon screamed at Irene. “I want them arrested!
Now!"
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
“Irene!” The sharpness in Nikki's voice caused the other woman to pause while hurrying to the phone. Nikki turned to Jaxon. “If you call the police, you make sure they have a cell waiting for your father right beside theirs.”
 
 
 
 
 
Nikki moved protectively towards Angel, fists clenched as if she were ready to throw a punch herself. “Let him go!” she yelled to the guards holding him. Hesitating, they looked at Jaxon.
 
 
 
 
“What in the fuck are you talking about, Nikki? You’re taking this ‘save Angel’s ass’ bullshit a little bit too far. Why in the hell would my father be arrested?!”

 
 
 
 
Angel's eyes kept a steady hold on Bradley Sr. “Because he had my parents killed!”
 
 
 
 
The entire room was silent after Angel hurled out the accusation.
 
 
 
 
“What…what are you talking about?” Jaxon stared at Angel like he’d lost his mind.
 
 
 
 
“Ask him!” Angel turned his head to glare at the guards. “Get your fucking hands off of me!”
 
 
 
 
“You’re…you’re crazy!” Bradley Sr.'s voice sounded shaky and nervous. “Don’t listen to him, Jaxon! Call the police!”
 
 
 
 
“I have proof, asshole! You remember George Wilson, don’t you?” Angel smiled when the color drained from Bradley Sr.’s face. “Now tell these mothafuckas to
let
…
me
….
go!
” Angel’s voice was low and furious.
 
 
 
 
“Sir?” The guards looked at Bradley Sr., reacting to the authority in Angel's voice but still not knowing what to do. Bradley Sr. hesitated then nodded his head. They slowly released Angel, jumping back when he turned, chest heaving, and pushed them away from him.
 
 
 
 
“Dad…what’s going on?” Jaxon's face was a mask of bewilderment.
 
 
 
 
“Shut up, Jaxon! This whole mess is your fault for even entering into a deal with him!” Jaxon frowned but remained silent.
 
 
 
 
 
“Mr. Davidson. Do you still want me to call the police?” Irene asked timidly.
 
 
 
 
 
“Yes!”
 
 
 
 
“No!”
 
 
 
 
Jaxon and Bradley Sr. spoke at the same time. Jax looked at his father. “Dad! You can’t be serious! This man needs to go to prison! He's a criminal, plus he just attacked you…”
 
 
 
 
“Didn’t I tell you to shut up?! I’ll handle this! I think you’ve done quite enough!” He glared harshly at Irene. “Get out!” he yelled. “All of you!” He included the guards in his order. They all left the room quickly, eager to get away from Bradley Sr.'s legendary temper. Silence followed their departure. With an effort, Bradley Sr. stood up straight, still rubbing his sore throat.
 
 
 
 
“What do you know about George Wilson?” he addressed Angel.
 
 
 
 
Angel started pacing back and forth, never taking his eyes off of Bradley Sr. His hands flexed open and closed as if trying to keep them occupied and away from Bradley Sr.’s throat again.
 
 
 
 
“Thought you had covered your tracks, didn’t you old man?
Thought
no one would give a second thought to a black, lower class couple involved in a terrible automobile accident. And you were right. The police were quick to rule it reckless driving on the part of my father, but something didn’t sit right with me. My father was one of the safest drivers I’ve ever known.”
 
 
 
 
Angel continued his restless walking. Still looking at Bradley Sr., he directed his comment to his brother. “Remember, Dominick? When we were young we would tease him about driving slow like he was a hundred years old.”

 
 
 
 
Dominick nodded. “He’d always say there was no need to hurry because the ending destination was still gonna be the same."
 
 
 
 
"That's right. So all of a sudden, he decides to speed around a curve with there being a 200 ft. drop below?? Uh
uh
. Not feasible. I did some checking on my own, and you know what I found? I found out my father had just taken his car in to be serviced, and just like that, a light bulb went off in my head: the brakes.”
 
 
 
 
Bradley Sr.’s eye started twitching again, but other than that his face remained expressionless.
 
 
 
 
“Dad…what is he talking about?” Jaxon asked his father.
 
 
 
 
“Didn’t I tell you to shut the fuck up Jaxon? Just shut up!!” his father snarled in his direction.

 
 
 
 
Angel continued. “I found out who worked on his car. George Wilson. And what was even stranger is right after my parents were killed, Wilson just up and quit. Just like that. When I tracked him down, he was living a pretty good life. No way could he afford to live like that from working as a mechanic.” Angel stopped pacing. “After he finished having a 'friendly' little conversation with me and my men, he told me everything.”
 
 
 
 
“That doesn’t prove anything. You torturing someone into giving a confession won’t hold water in a court of law.”
 
 
 
 
Angel laughed. “Do you really think I would come to you just on someone’s word as my proof, you old fool?" The smile slowly dropped from Angel's face. "But you’re right. I did torture him. It was slow and painful and something which gave me a great measure of satisfaction to inflict. I’ll spare you the details. But what I will tell you, old man, is that I have more than just the word of George Wilson. I have…you.” Angel pointed a finger at him.
 
 
 
 
This time it was Bradley Sr.’s turn to laugh. He stood taller as his confidence grew. “You can’t be serious.” He turned to Jaxon. “Call the police. I’ve heard enough of this garbage.”
 
 
 
 
“You didn’t realize Wilson taped each and every conversation you and he had, did you?” Angel asked him quietly.

 
 
 
 
Bradley Sr. blanched. “I don’t believe you.”
 
 
 
 
Angel’s eyes narrowed. “Matt…”
 
 
 
 
Matt opened his briefcase and took out a CD they'd transferred the conversation to and inserted it into his laptop. Everyone in the room was quiet as it began to play. The voice ordering the Spain’s brakes to be tampered with was unmistakably Bradley Sr.’s. He planned the whole thing with Wilson, told him exactly what he wanted done. He made arrangements to pay him half up front, and the other half would be paid after the job was completed. Wilson made a different recording after the Spain's had been killed, and called Bradley Davidson's name several times throughout the conversation.
 
 
 
 
Everyone silently stared at Bradley Sr. with a different range of emotions. Pain and anger ran across Dominick’s face. Nikki and Matt looked at him with disgust. Jaxon seemed stunned. And Angel looked at him with satisfaction because he had finally been able to expose him for the murderous son of a bitch he was.
 
 
 
 
Angel walked close and leaned down towards Bradley Sr. until his face was a couple of inches away from his. “Jaxon, this is the only time that I’m going to tell you. Sign the papers, now. Right, old man?”

Chapter 14

 
 
 
 
Bradley Sr.'s expression was full of hostility, hatred, and loathing, but unable to hold Angel's stare, he lowered his eyes and looked away. Still in shock, Jaxon went over to the table and signed his name on the documents which would finalize the transfer of stock to Angel’s name. Matt stood by him to watch then put Angel’s copy in his briefcase.
 
 
 
 
Still staring Bradley. Sr. down, Angel said, “Matt…?”
 
 
 
 
“It’s done, Angel.”
 
 
 
 
After a moment, Angel stepped back and turned around and looked at his brother. Tears were in Dominick’s eyes as they stared at each other. Angel walked towards him and put his arms around him. They stood that way in an emotional embrace for several long moments.
 
 
 
 
“Are you satisfied? You have the stock. Now I want that disk,” Bradley Sr. demanded.
 
 
 
 
Angel looked at him dismissively as he went to Matt’s briefcase and perused the paperwork. “You must think I’m a fool. That CD stays with me.” He looked up before delivering the next warning. “And if anything, and I mean
anything
happens to me or my family, there are several copies waiting to be sent off to everyone from the local authorities on up to the FBI.”
 
 
 
 
Bradley Sr. looked as if he was ready to blow a gasket. Turning to Jaxon, he thrust out his hand. “Give me those files you have on this sonovabitch. He thinks he has all the leverage. You just keep in mind that we still have damaging information on you as well that can be sent to the police anytime we get ready,” he bluffed. He snapped his fingers when Jaxon just stood there. “Give it to me, Jaxon!”
 
 
 
 
“Go to hell.”
 
 
 
 
They all turned to look at Jaxon in surprise.
 
 
 
 
Bradley Sr.’s mouth dropped and an ugly scowl crossed his face as he turned to his son. “What did you say?! Give me the damn file!”
 
 
 
 
“No.” Jaxon’s tone was full of disregard as he stood up to his tyrannical father for the first time in his life. He picked up the file and stared at it for several long seconds before looking at Angel and Dominick standing side by side. He took slow, reluctant steps until he stood in front of Angel. Seeing the two men so close together made the resemblance evident to everyone. Jax opened his mouth as if to speak, then just handed the files to Angel. Angel reached out to take them, nodding his thanks.
 
 
 
 
“What are you doing?! You fucking
idiot
!” Bradley Sr. was livid.
 
 
 
 
 
Jaxon stared his father straight in the eye. “Don’t ever talk to me like that again, do you hear me?”
 
 
 
 
“I don’t give a…”
 
 
 
 
“Shut up!” The way Jax postured up to Bradley Sr. made him pause. His face was fire engine red, but his mouth closed shut. “What kind of monster are you?!”
 
 
 
 
“You don’t understand. She wanted money to help her youngest son start a new life when he got out of prison. They’re all just a bunch of criminals,” he spat in Dom and Angel’s direction. “When I refused, she said she was going to tell everyone, our family, the media, and your mother that I’d sired a bastard son. I couldn’t let that happen!”
 
 
 
 
"I'm ashamed to even call you my father!" The bass in Jaxon's voice cranked up a notch to over talk his father. Chest heaving he looked again at Angel, his half-brother. Still not able to digest that bit of information, Jax shook his head and walked out the door without a word.
 
 
 
“Jax! Jaxon!” Bradley Sr. yelled after his son but his only reply was the slamming of the door. Seeing the others staring, he looked at them one by one. “What are you all looking at?!” he screamed before focusing his ire at Angel. "You have your measly ten percent. Now get the hell out of my building.”
 
 
 
 
“This isn’t your building anymore. It’s mine,” Angel said calmly.
 
 
 
 
Bradley Sr. let out a rough laugh. “What are you talking about?? I’m sure with your background, you didn’t attend school, but ten percent doesn’t entitle you to make any decisions worth a damn, and it sure as hell doesn’t entitle you to the offices of
DWC
.”
 
 
 
 
“No, but fifty-one percent does.” Nikki stepped forward and stood beside Angel. “I think you might need to make some phone calls, Bradley. Once you do, you’ll see that shares of your company have slowly been bought up through the years. You are no longer the majority stockholder of
Davidson World Corp
. With the ten percent he just received, Angel is.”
 
 
 
 
Bradley Sr.’s mouth fell open. “What…? How...?”
 
 
 
 
“My company,
NaDa Holdings,
has several subsidiary companies. As Nikki said, I’ve been buying up stock, a little at a time, the moment I discovered you killed my parents. As of a few minutes ago, I now own fifty-one percent. Now as you said, I didn’t go to a fancy school or anything, but if my calculations are correct, that makes me majority owner and CEO of
DWC
.”
 
 
 
 
Bradley Sr.'s breathing became hoarse and labored. He took a step back until he fell into the chair behind him, staring at Angel. “You bastard…” But it was said without conviction. He knew he’d lost.
 
 
 
 
“Far from it, old man. You see, my father was a real man who stepped up and took responsibility for his family and gave his name not only to a child that wasn’t his, but a child who had been conceived from his wife's affair. I knew nothing but love from Arthur Spain. When I found out that he wasn’t my real father, I felt I didn’t deserve his name, so I started going by my mother’s maiden name, LaCroix. But today I know I’ve redeemed myself in my father’s eyes. I know he and my mother loved me until the day they died, no matter what path I chose to take.”