Page 113 of Freed By Fire
Goddamn it.
Jack lifts his gaze to mine. “Is that so hard to believe?”
“Yes.”
“Let me make it clear for you then: You owe me for everything you are and everything you’ve accomplished. I will not waste my time looking somewhere else until I get my money’s worth.”
He has no reason to lie to me, but Jack Payne is nothing if not resourceful.
And I know he likes to stay one step ahead.
Oliver, Olivia, and Mathew are part of the bigger picture, but until I can connect the dots, I’m not sure pursuing this further will do any good.
Jack reaches for his drink and takes a long swallow. “I expect you to be on your best behavior during the meeting. This war has already cost us. I have no intention of dragging it out any further.”
“I’m the head of the Empire. They need reminding of this.”
“You’ve taken this as far as it can go,” Jack replies flatly. “It’s time for me to step in and do what you couldn’t.”
“And if I refuse?”
“You’ll wish you had asked me to shoot you that day I caught you in bed with her.”
This isn’t the battle I want to fight, not when I know where it’s going to end up.
The Everetts and Fitzpatricks are stalling, and I’m going to find out why, even if it means facing off against my father.
“Oh, and one more thing,” he says. “I expect you to take care of the little problem.”
I toss him a bored look. “What problem?”
Jack turns the full force of his gaze on me. “You know damn well which problem I’m talking about.”
Fuck.
Does he know about London?
Is he trying to trick me into confessing?
Don’t give him anything to hold against you or her. He’s just fishing.
“It’s one thing for me to tolerate the girl, and I’m only doing that for now.” Jack’s expression is chilling. “But I will not tolerate any brat she brings into the world.”
“I don’t know who you’ve been talking to, but London isn’t pregnant.”
Jack studies me.
“Are you lying to me?”
“Why would I lie to you? You know how I feel about children.”
Fuck me.
I pray to whatever God is listening that he buys the lie. It sickens me to realize that my enemies won’t be the only ones after the baby.
I can already picture Jack snatching him out from under our noses and locking him away.
He’ll try and mold him into the heir he always wanted.
