Sins of My Father (Black Brothers #1) (16 page)

CHAPTER

TWENTY-SEVEN

Archer

“Knox, it’s me.” I sat down on the edge of the bed.

“I know. I have caller ID. How’s the vacation going?” Knox asked.

My eyes flickered to the bathroom door. Langley had turned on the shower five minutes ago, so I didn’t have much time to chat. “Not so good. Somebody fired shots at us while we were horseback riding.”

“You’re kidding,” Knox said.

“I wish I were. I didn’t even have a fucking gun to shoot back. I left it in the car.”

“That was dumb. I told you to keep it within reach at all times. Maybe you’ll listen to me in the future,” Knox replied.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Right. I won’t hold my breath.” Knox chuckled. “So I take it both of you are okay.”

“I was wondering when you were going to ask.”

“Whatever. I told you this whole impromptu vacation was a dumb idea. You should be back here working on this with me.”

“Have you made any progress?” I said, redirecting the conversation.

“Don’t worry. I have all the evidence we need. His presidential campaign is dead in the water as of yesterday.”

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “What do you have?”

“Sworn testimony, pictures, and a fifteen-minute video. It’s enough to end his career, maybe more.”

“That was quick.”

“My team interviewed all of the women. One of them agreed to sign an affidavit describing her interactions with Senator Wharton. Then, I hacked into Senator Wharton’s personal computer. He actually had video stream and pictures of himself in compromising positions with those women.”

“Wait.” I shook my head. “Will he know his computer was hacked?”

“No. I used a module designed to reprogram or reflash the computer hard drive’s firmware with malicious code.”

“The firmware? How does that work?”

“It’s brilliant. He’ll never realize anyone has been on his computer. Once I replaced the firmware with a Trojanized version, the flasher module produced an application-programming interface with the ability to communicate with other malicious modules on the system—”

“Okay. Stop. That’s more information than I ever wanted to know.” Once Knox started talking about computers, he didn’t stop.

Knox snorted. “That’s how I feel when you talk about interest rate hikes and currency exchange rates.”

“I’ll remember that when you ask for more money.” I always gave him a hard time about money, but he was worth every dollar.

“You pay me to prevent security breaches at Black Investments. You haven’t had a single one.”

“I know. I know.” I leaned back and raked my hands through my hair. “Do you think Senator Wharton hired someone to kill us?” I asked, even though I didn’t have any doubts.

“I can check it out, make some phone calls, but I wouldn’t be surprised.” Knox didn’t say anything for a few minutes, and I didn’t push him. Knox only revealed what he wanted. “It’s not too late to walk away from this. There are other women out there, ones who aren’t related to that asshole.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to imagine a life without Langley, but all I could see was her.

Her golden hair sprawled out on my pillow.

Her smile melting the ice prison around my heart.

Her green eyes glowing with trust.

I shook my head even though he couldn’t see me. “No, I can’t do that.”

“You’re being stupid. Incredibly stupid.”

“Since when do you care who I date?” I snapped.

“Since the woman you’re dating comes with a possible expiration date on your life.”

“This isn’t Langley’s fault. I forced my way into her life, not the other way around.”

“Then, force your way out of her life before it’s too fucking late. This isn’t a game. Senator Wharton won’t hesitate to kill you or her. The clock is ticking on his political career, and he knows it. Consider what happened this afternoon a warning, because it won’t be his last attempt on your life.”

“I didn’t think it would be.” I sighed heavily. “But I’m not walking away from her.”

“Why the hell not?”

“I promised I’d help her.”

“So what? People break promises all the time. She’ll get over it,” Knox said, his voice loaded with condescension.

“She wouldn’t be in Senator Wharton’s crosshairs if I didn’t push her to help us.”

“Senator Wharton was following her for weeks, if not months, before you made contact. From the day she read the email listing the names of all those women, her days were numbered. It was only a matter of time before he focused his attention on her. We don’t need her anymore. She’s more of a liability than she’s worth,” Knox spat out in disgust.

“I don’t care. I love her. I’m not going to abandon her to that sick fuck.” I’d been ignoring the emotion clawing at my chest for too long, but it was true. Somehow, someway, I had fallen for the stepdaughter of the man I hated for longer than I could recall, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to change it.

Over the past week, I wanted to pretend it wasn’t true, but being shot at brought everything into sharp focus. She could have been killed. I could have been killed, but at the time, I only cared about saving her. I would’ve risked my life to save hers without a second thought. It was a sobering thought, for sure.

Knox scoffed. “All the more reason to end things now. Your relationship can’t go anywhere. It’s toxic. Toxic for you. Toxic for her.”

My fingers twisted into the bedding, and I practically ground my teeth to dust. Knox was right. I couldn’t deny it, but everything about letting Langley go felt wrong. “I know.”

“So end it. You got what you needed from her. Don’t prolong the inevitable.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. I heard the shower turn off in the bathroom. “I can’t talk about this now. I need to go.”

“Fine, but think about what I said.”

“I will,” I hedged, even though I had no intention of ending things with Langley. Things would end soon enough anyway.

“Good. What are your plans?”

“I’m cutting the trip short. We’re driving back tonight.”

“Send me a text when you’re back in D.C.”

“Bye.” I hit the end button and tossed the phone on the bed next to me. Nothing made sense anymore. Against my better judgment, I had opened my heart to Langley and handed her the key to my destruction. My entire life I had waited for the right moment to ruin Senator Wharton. The need for revenge ruled every choice I made. Now, it was a distant second, if that, to having Langley in my life. I dropped my head into my hands. I was so fucked.

“Are you okay?” Langley asked.

My eyes collided with hers. She stood at the threshold of the bedroom with wet hair and a short black robe hugging every curve of her body. She looked achingly beautiful with her face scrubbed of makeup and a gentle smile on her lips. I’d do anything to see her look at me that way every single day of the rest of my life. Too bad it was a lost cause.

I patted the bed next to me. “Come here, Langley.”

She tilted her head to the side and bit her lower lip. “Am I in trouble?”

“Trouble?” I echoed.

“Yeah. You look too serious…like you’re about to scold me for something.”

A smile split across my face and I laughed. “That’s right. Get over here.”

She rolled her eyes as she crossed the room and sat down next to me.

“We need to check out of the hotel.”

Her smile faded from her face. “Now?”

I rolled the cuffs back on my shirt, avoiding her gaze. “Yes. Knox believes Senator Wharton likely had something to do with what happened today. I don’t want to sit around waiting for him to make his next move. We’ll be safer at my place.”

“You’re probably right.” Her voice wavered, and my stomach twisted. I didn’t want her to be sad, scared, or whatever the hell she felt at that instant.

“I promise I’ll take you back here or wherever you want to go when this is all over.” It was an impulsive promise. The second the words left my mouth I realized I may never get the chance to take her anywhere, but if she still wanted me when this mess ended, I would do anything for her.

“You promise?” she said coyly. She placed her hand on my thigh, slowly moving it up my leg. My gaze dropped to her lips. I shouldn’t touch her. I should pack our bags and be on the road back to D.C. as soon as possible, but I couldn’t stop myself from tasting her again.

I slid my hands into her hair, pushing it away from her heart-shaped face, drinking her in. I didn’t know how much longer we would have together. I could feel the end coming closer with every tick of the second hand. I wished I could freeze time so we could live a lifetime in the next hour.

With our eyes locked, I brushed a kiss across her parted lips. Once. Twice. Three times. She tasted like mint and something unique to her. I wanted to caress her, explore her, taste her, and consume her sighs and whimpers, locking them away like a precious memory.

I deepened the pressure, capturing her tongue with mine. Electricity sizzled through my veins. She shivered, and my muscles tightened. Instinctively, I pulled her closer, inhaling her scent. Her hands tangled in my hair, lightly scratching my scalp. Just like every time we touched, her immediate response made my head swim, and I struggled to maintain control.

In my mind, I was already calculating how fast I could get her on her back and slip off her robe. In less than thirty seconds, I could be buried inside of her one last time before we had to face reality. My mind begged me to ignore everything. Fuck Senator Wharton. Fuck my plans. Fuck the consequences.

But then I realized it was already too late. Knox had delivered the demand letter. He’d shown our hand. I had to follow this through to the end. There wasn’t an easy out anymore. The realization was a cold dose of reality. Acid swirled in my gut.

I lifted my head, breaking the kiss and severing the connection. Her eyes were dilated and her lips swollen and wet, tempting me to ignore everything. I barely resisted the urge.

Her body drifted closer to me. “Why’d you stop?”

“We need to go.”

“Right now?”

“Yes.” I stroked her cheek with my knuckles.

She grabbed my wrist. “I’m scared,” she said, her voice panicked. “I can’t do this without you.”

I closed my eyes and pain lanced through my chest. “I won’t leave your side until this is over. Whatever happens, we’re in this together.”

Unfortunately, I didn’t know if she’d want me by her side when this was finished.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-EIGHT

Langley

“It’ll just be a second. You don’t have to come in with me.” My hand circled the bottom of my purse as I hunted for the keys.

Archer snatched the keys out of my hand. “I don’t feel comfortable letting you walk into your house by yourself.”

“It’s not a big deal.” I glanced at the front of my house. It was already dark outside, and I wished I’d had enough forethought to leave on some lights inside my house. I pushed aside my forebodings.

If my stepdad was behind what happened today, I didn’t think he’d try again so soon. Besides, he probably thought we’d stay at the hotel another night. “I’ll get in and get out within ten minutes. I need to grab a couple of files for work tomorrow and a change of clothes.”

Archer turned off the car ignition. “It doesn’t matter. I’m going with you. Like you said, it’s only ten minutes.”

I groaned. “According to Knox, Senator Wharton has more recording devices all over my home. It’d be better if you stayed in the car.”

“I’m not going to say anything.”

Just then, his cell phone rang. Archer dug into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “It’s Knox. I have to take this,” he said as he glanced at the screen. “I didn’t text him when we left the hotel.”

I opened the car door. “Perfect. You talk to Knox and give him an update. I’ll run inside and grab what I need. I’ll be back before you finish your call.”

Archer’s dark eyebrows slanted downward, and he pressed his lips into a firm, straight line. “Fine, but if you’re not out in ten minutes, I’m going inside. I don’t give a damn about those listening devices. Senator Wharton already knows about us.”

“Agreed. See you in a few minutes.”

I ran up the front steps of my house and opened the front door. Pausing in the entry, I flipped on the lights, and my ears strained for any unusual sounds. I scanned the narrow living room and kitchen, scouring for anything out of the ordinary. I didn’t think my stepdad would show his face at my house, but after what happened today, I couldn’t be too careful.

I tossed my keys and my purse on the counter and wandered the main floor. The house smelled stuffy as though it had been closed up for weeks instead of a few days. The peonies Archer gave me weeks ago were crispy, and the petals showered the kitchen countertop when I lifted the vase and placed it in the sink. Everything looked exactly as I’d left it a few days ago.

Taking a deep breath, I climbed the stairs and made my way to the small guest room I’d converted into an office last year. I flipped on the lights and took two steps into the room before I saw him.

Thomas Wharton lounged in a chair with a gun sitting on the desk. His arms were folded across his chest. Stunned, I didn’t say or do anything for long, drawn out seconds. My heartbeat drummed with panic and fear. Goosebumps of terror slithered down my spine.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, wringing my hands in the hem of my shirt.

He shrugged calmly like he didn’t have a care in the world. “The last time I checked, I still own this house.”

“That’s true.” I retreated a few steps. “But you’ve never stopped by before.”

He lifted the gun and pointed it at me. “Where do you think you’re going?”

My eyes locked on the gun pointed directly at my chest. “Thomas, what’s going on? What are you planning to do with that?”

“You betrayed me,” he roared as he shoved the chair back and stood up. Spit showered the top of my desk. His clothes were wrinkled, and he hadn’t shaved his face in at least two days. The dark circles around his eyes made him look even more sinister than normal.

I held my hands up in surrender. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t do anything.”

“Sit down there,” he said, waving the gun toward the white lounge chair adjacent to the balcony doors.

My heart squeezed painfully. “No.” I shook my head. If I sat down, it would be over. I’d rather take my chances and run down the stairs or across the hall to my bedroom.

In a few strides, he crossed the room and held the gun to my scalp. “Sit.”

My eyes visually ransacked the room, looking for something I could throw at him.

“Don’t even try it,” he warned through clenched teeth as he pressed the gun even harder into the side of my skull.

“Why are you doing this?” I pleaded softly, as I inched sideways toward the chair, my palms clammy with sweat. I wanted to flee, but I didn’t have a choice. Archer said he’d come looking for me in ten minutes. Part of me wished I’d sent him home. I didn’t want him to get hurt. Regardless of his promise to stand by me, this wasn’t his fight. It was mine.

“Drop the fucking charade, Langley. I know you saw the email. I know you’re working with Archer Black. I know you’ve been questioning those women and digging into their lives and mine.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said as firmly as possible, digging my fingernails into the armrest of my chair.

In one fluid movement, my stepdad lunged and backhanded me across my face. Unprepared, my head slammed backward into the wall. Stars exploded behind my eyes and my cheek smarted with the pain of a hundred bee stings.

“Do you want to rethink your answer?” my stepdad said, looming over me, his eyes dark orbs of rage and hate.

Dazed, I didn’t respond. Instead, I cupped the side of my face and shook my head slowly from side to side.

“You stupid bitch.” He waved the gun in front of my face. “I took care of you and your mom. I treated you like a member of my family. I paid for your college. I let you live in my home. I gave you everything, and you’re trying to repay my kindness by destroying everything I’ve worked for. I could lose everything. I could go to jail.”

I glared at him.

The man who had been a part of my family for twelve years.

The man who I once believed could fill the hole in my heart after my dad’s death.

The man whose political career I supported in too many ways to count.

I knew I needed to say something…anything. I needed more time. I needed to get out of the room. I glanced toward the balcony doors, and I saw a shadow stretching across the railing. Selfishly, I hoped it was Archer even though he’d be safer in the car. I sucked in a deep breath, striving to calm my mind and focus my thoughts. “I didn’t have a choice.” My voice sounded unnaturally calm. I wrapped my arms around my body, bracing myself for his reaction.

“No choice.” He cocked his head to the side.

I nodded my head, but my muscles were knotted so tightly, my head barely moved.

“What the hell does that mean?”

“You killed three women. Was I supposed to pretend it didn’t happen?”

His hand moved toward me and I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for him to strike, but it didn’t happen. Instead, he grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and yanked me out of the chair. “I didn’t kill them.”

“You didn’t?” My brows climbed my forehead in disbelief.

“No, I had more important matters demanding my time. I couldn’t get away, so I hired someone to do it.”

“That’s the same fucking thing,” I yelled as he dragged me down the hallway toward the stairs.

“You’re right, but you’re lucky,” he said, pausing at the top of the stairs. “I plan to deal with you personally.”

“Deal with me? How?” With both hands, I scratched at his wrists, struggling to release his hold on me.

He pressed me into the wall. “Suicide, just like the others. Your death won’t be quite as painless, though. The others overdosed on sleeping pills or shot themselves in the head. I’m going to throw you down the stairs.” He shrugged, a thin-lipped smile on his face. “I might have to snap your neck if the fall doesn’t work. Who knows? I might even enjoy it.”

“Nobody will believe you.”

His hand slid to my neck, pressing just hard enough to restrict the airflow to my lungs. “You’ve been quite upset the last six months over your breakup with Brandon, haven’t you? You even left a nice little note on your desk.”

“The handwriting won’t match mine.”

He chuckled, but his eyes were hard and cold. “Oh please. That’s child’s play. Do you know the kind of resources a senator has at his disposal? How hard do you think it would be for me to find an expert to forge a letter or verify the authenticity of the letter?”

My hands balled into fists as fiery, sadistic anger pulsed through my body, not leaving a single cell untouched. My fingers itched to claw out his eyes. I’d never been an aggressive or physical person. I preferred words and reason, but my rational mind splintered when a smug smile crawled across his face. I wanted to kill him. Without thinking, I swung my hand toward his face, colliding with his nose in one sickening crunch. He grunted in pain and stumbled backward, cupping his nose. The gun slipped from his hand as he dropped to his knees in front of the stairway, severing any chance of escape.

“Fucking bitch,” he hollered. Blood seeped like blackened lava through his fingertips.

My eyes wide with panic and my heart clobbering the inside of my ribcage, I backtracked a few steps, and then I bolted to my bedroom. Just as I reached the threshold, my stepdad’s hand caught my forearm. I kicked and swung my arms, striking and scratching anything within my reach, but for every hit I landed, he landed two. There was no way I was going to win.

Within minutes, he had pinned me to the floor. Straddling my waist, he captured my wrists in one hand. With his free hand, he held his gun to my head. Blood dribbled from his nose over his lips in a slow stream and sweat beaded at his temples. He had lost his mind.

“I’m not happy with you,” he spat, his eyes narrowed into razor sharp slits, his nostrils flared.

“I can’t imagine it’ll be easy to explain your injuries to my mom or the police, especially if it coincides with my so-called suicide.”

He squeezed my wrist so hard I thought my bones would snap. “Accidents happen all the time. I’m sure I can come up with an alternate explanation for my injuries. A car accident. Being mugged on my daily run. A slip and fall. The options are endless.” He sighed wearily, as though I was the most naïve person he knew, and maybe I was. “It won’t be much of a challenge.”

“You won’t get away with this. Archer knows everything. His brother knows everything.”

“Shut up. Don’t say another fucking word.” His gun drilled into the side of my head. I bucked against him, but he didn’t budge. I yanked my arms and twisted my hands, but his hold was too tight. My stomach churned with dread, and my heart scaled the walls of my chest to my throat, suffocating me. The edges of my vision blurred. This was it. There was nothing I could do. Inhaling what could be my final breath, I clamped my eyes shut and waited for him to pull the trigger and deliver my death.