Read Online The Darkness of Perfection by Michael Schneider - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Michael Schneider
Ads: Link
was getting any from William and Grace.
I shook my head in annoyance, shutting the door behind me. Women.
“Nicholas, you have to take her back before she wakes up. Keep her sedated and you can still return her to her dorm none the wiser. She’ll think she dodged a bullet after having her drink spiked at that bar and making it home in one piece. A simple checkup at the campus clinic will confirm she wasn’t raped, and the whole ordeal will be nothing more than a bad memory and a lesson to be more careful in the future.”
William was pacing the room, throwing out demands and grasping at straws, while my father and I listened. He kept shooting scowls and worried looks at Antonio, who stood silently in the corner by the door, his arms folded over his chest. He was brought into this meeting to confirm the staged accident wouldn’t be suspect. Antonio was William’s man and would be blamed if anything went wrong. I laughed at my brother’s rising agitation. He knew there was no going back, but for whatever reason, he was determined to find a way.
“And what about her car? The one the cops pulled from the river yesterday. How does that get explained away? She jumped out before it went over the edge and walked back to campus in the rain with no memory of the events? Her parents have already been notified and I’m sure they’re on their way, if they haven’t arrived already.” I looked at him. “So tell me, how do you explain the accident?
You can’t. I was very careful to put everything in place. If she were to show up in her dorm without a mark on her forty-eight hours later, with no memory of those missing days, then it would be suspicious. As it stands, no one suspects a thing.”
I leaned back on the sofa and smirked. “You’re turning into an old woman, William. Maybe you shouldn’t be in charge any longer if you’re this upset. You know there were no flaws in the execution of my plan, and that just pisses you off, doesn’t it? Little brother is more than capable of handling the retrieval of his own property without any help from his big brother.”
“Nicholas, that’s enough,” Father ordered. “Your brother is just overly cautious, which is an excellent trait for his side of the business.” He turned to William, who was conversing quietly with Antonio near the door, and waved his hand. “Antonio, if you’re certain everything was handled, you may go.”
Father waited to continue until Antonio closed the door behind him. “William, sit down now. You’re giving me a headache with all of your pacing. You know as well as I do that Jayden cannot be returned. Moreover, I forbid it. She was given in payment for her father’s thievery and I gave her to your brother as a gift, so she belongs to Nicholas to do what he wills. He is the one who found her and brought her back. If he decides he no longer wants her, then other arrangements will be made. Either way, to the outside world she is presumed dead and will remain so. I’ll have no more discussion on the matter.”
William leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. He rubbed his face before blowing out a hard breath and looking at our father. He finally threw his hands up in the air, knowing his argument was defeated.
“Fine. Whatever. I’m just worried about the family and the business. You put me in charge and gave me full rein to handle things as I see fit, then you encourage Nicholas, knowing his volatile temper and penchant for reckless behavior. He isn’t known for his self-control.”
I ground my teeth in anger. As kids I may have had to put up with his shit because he was older and bigger, but I sure as hell didn’t have to put up with it now. Picking up my glass, I drained the last of its contents, slamming it back down on the side table.
I stood up and pointed at William. “You got a problem with my actions then take it up with me directly. I merely took back what belongs to me. I didn’t endanger the family or our
I shook my head in annoyance, shutting the door behind me. Women.
“Nicholas, you have to take her back before she wakes up. Keep her sedated and you can still return her to her dorm none the wiser. She’ll think she dodged a bullet after having her drink spiked at that bar and making it home in one piece. A simple checkup at the campus clinic will confirm she wasn’t raped, and the whole ordeal will be nothing more than a bad memory and a lesson to be more careful in the future.”
William was pacing the room, throwing out demands and grasping at straws, while my father and I listened. He kept shooting scowls and worried looks at Antonio, who stood silently in the corner by the door, his arms folded over his chest. He was brought into this meeting to confirm the staged accident wouldn’t be suspect. Antonio was William’s man and would be blamed if anything went wrong. I laughed at my brother’s rising agitation. He knew there was no going back, but for whatever reason, he was determined to find a way.
“And what about her car? The one the cops pulled from the river yesterday. How does that get explained away? She jumped out before it went over the edge and walked back to campus in the rain with no memory of the events? Her parents have already been notified and I’m sure they’re on their way, if they haven’t arrived already.” I looked at him. “So tell me, how do you explain the accident?
You can’t. I was very careful to put everything in place. If she were to show up in her dorm without a mark on her forty-eight hours later, with no memory of those missing days, then it would be suspicious. As it stands, no one suspects a thing.”
I leaned back on the sofa and smirked. “You’re turning into an old woman, William. Maybe you shouldn’t be in charge any longer if you’re this upset. You know there were no flaws in the execution of my plan, and that just pisses you off, doesn’t it? Little brother is more than capable of handling the retrieval of his own property without any help from his big brother.”
“Nicholas, that’s enough,” Father ordered. “Your brother is just overly cautious, which is an excellent trait for his side of the business.” He turned to William, who was conversing quietly with Antonio near the door, and waved his hand. “Antonio, if you’re certain everything was handled, you may go.”
Father waited to continue until Antonio closed the door behind him. “William, sit down now. You’re giving me a headache with all of your pacing. You know as well as I do that Jayden cannot be returned. Moreover, I forbid it. She was given in payment for her father’s thievery and I gave her to your brother as a gift, so she belongs to Nicholas to do what he wills. He is the one who found her and brought her back. If he decides he no longer wants her, then other arrangements will be made. Either way, to the outside world she is presumed dead and will remain so. I’ll have no more discussion on the matter.”
William leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. He rubbed his face before blowing out a hard breath and looking at our father. He finally threw his hands up in the air, knowing his argument was defeated.
“Fine. Whatever. I’m just worried about the family and the business. You put me in charge and gave me full rein to handle things as I see fit, then you encourage Nicholas, knowing his volatile temper and penchant for reckless behavior. He isn’t known for his self-control.”
I ground my teeth in anger. As kids I may have had to put up with his shit because he was older and bigger, but I sure as hell didn’t have to put up with it now. Picking up my glass, I drained the last of its contents, slamming it back down on the side table.
I stood up and pointed at William. “You got a problem with my actions then take it up with me directly. I merely took back what belongs to me. I didn’t endanger the family or our
Similar Books
