Page 35 of Echoes of Danger
“He slept with my whore of a wife and then killed her.”
“Fuck, put your hands where I can see them.”
The police officer raises his gun at our newcomer.
“Good evening, gentleman,” the newcomer says, raising his hands. “My name is Harvy Paston, But you can just call me Paston. I believe you and I need to talk.”
The room goes dead silent. The only sound is the click of the officer’s gun as he tightens his grip, aiming directly at Paston. My pulse races as Paston’s cold, calculating gaze sweeps over each of us, landing finally on Mark. A smirk plays at the corner of his mouth.
“Mark, my boy,” Paston drawls, his voice as smooth as ice. “I knew you’d end up somewhere like this, hiding behind your protectors.” His eyes flick to Taylor, and he gives a mocking nod. “Nice to meet you all. I trust Obsidian Security is as good as they say.”
“Keep your hands up and step back,” the officer growls, his stance unwavering. But Paston doesn’t flinch.
“Relax, officer,” Paston says, his hands still raised but his expression utterly composed, just like everything about him. His hair, skin, and clothes all appear as if he stepped out of a magazine. I mean, if you don’t count the freshly broken nose and black eye. “I came here for a conversation, not a showdown. And frankly, I don’t think any of you know what’s at stake.” He glances at Mark with a twisted smile. “My son here decided to play both sides, thinking he could keep his life and that file out of my reach. But what he doesn’t realize is that he’s supplied me with the very tools I need to retrieve it.”
Mark takes a step back, his face a shade paler as Paston’s smirk deepens. “You see, my boy,” Paston says, his voice as smooth as ice, “you thought you could run, leave me to clean up your mess. I knew about your affair with your stepmother for months. I knew you had an ultimate plan. Did you honestly think I would give her access to files that could send me straightto the chair? You took what you needed, and then you killed her.”
“I didn’t kill her,” Mark says, sweat pouring from his round face. “Why do you keep saying that?”
“Oh, you didn’t pull the trigger, my boy,” Paston smirks. “That was all me. But you are the reason she’s dead. Anyhow, that’s not what we need to discuss.”
Paston shifts his gaze to me, his eyes gleaming with malice. “Reynolds, is it? Well, I have something of yours. A couple of things, actually. A spitfire of a woman named Delphi and one of your club brothers, the scowling, pissed-off twin, Steel.” He smirks, pointing at his crooked nose and black eye. “Quite the pair, those two. They gave my men and me one hell of a time getting them secured. However, they are safe, and they’ll remain that way as long as you give me what I want.”
I grit my teeth, rage boiling in my veins. “I don’t have what you want,” I say, my voice low and dangerous. “That’s on Mark. You think threatening me will get you anywhere?”
Freckles. He has my woman. My brother. Where are my kids?
“Not threatening you, son,” Paston replies, his tone almost conversational. “I’m giving you an opportunity.” He takes a step forward, his hands still raised as he meets my glare head-on. “Your dear friend Mark here knows exactly where my little list is stashed. But he’s chosen to keep that info from all of us. So, I suggest you get it out of him. I’ve heard Killer King can get anyone to talk.”
“Where is my family?” I demand, rage rolling through my body in tidal waves.
“The rest of your family is still tucked away where I can’t find them,” Paston says almost frustratingly. “Your woman and friend just so happened to check into a hospital two days ago. I simply waited for my connections to tell me when they left. I wasgoing to follow them to wherever they were hiding, but I ran out of patience.”
“Why the fuck were they in the hospital? And why the fuck didn’t I know?”
Without thinking, I pull out my phone and power it on. In order to maximize the safety of our family, we never contact them, but my damn president is supposed to keep us up to date on everything via a burner phone.
“Put the phone away until after I leave, please,” Paston says. “Back to our conversation. Finding my son was easy. I’ve had my eyes on him since the day he left.”
“Then you should know where your damn list is,” Taylor says. “Why play these games?”
“There’s something more,” King says. “I can see it in his eyes.”
“Excellent, sire,” Paston laughs as he slowly lowers his raised hands and bows formally at King. “Yes, there’s more. Two things more, actually. First and foremost, one doesn’t simply leave the family. I can’t let my own son make a fool out of me. Either he returns of his own free will or in a body bag. Either works for me.”
Paston’s twisted grin widens, his gaze flicking back to Mark with a sickening sense of pleasure. He seems to savor every second of the tension in the room, dragging out his following words as if each syllable is a piece of bait.
“Secondly,” he continues, “my dear son here has something of significant value. Something beyond that list. You see, Mark managed to swipe a little insurance from me, something I hold very dear.” He steps closer, his gaze shifting to Taylor, King, the officer, and me, lingering with a sharp, assessing look. “And I’m willing to bet he’s hidden it somewhere only he knows. So if he thinks he can just leave me empty-handed, he’s sorely mistaken.”
Mark flinches under his father’s gaze, the color draining from his face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Dad,” he mumbles, his voice barely more than a whisper. “I didn’t take anything else.”
“Don’t lie to me, boy.” Paston’s voice is like a whip, cold and slicing. “There’s more at stake than that pathetic little file. And until you deliver what I’m owed, Delphi and Steel stay as my guests. There is a third and most important thing, as well. But you’ll learn of that in due time, right, Mark?”
Rage builds in me. My fists clench so tight my knuckles turn white. “You have no idea what line you’re crossing, Paston. You’re not just taking on your son’s problems. You’re messing with my family.” I barely keep the fury out of my voice, but it’s a struggle. Every instinct in me is screaming to rip him apart right here.
Paston just laughs, his gaze settling on me with a look of condescension. “Is that a threat, Reynolds? Because I don’t think you fully grasp your position here.” He tilts his head, eyes gleaming with the satisfaction of someone who believes they’re holding all the cards. “Do you think my son here has what it takes to protect them? Or you, for that matter? Do you think he’s brave enough to keep his tongue quiet?”
Taylor steps forward, his stance cold and unyielding. “We’ll get you what you want, Paston. But know this: you might get what you’re after, but you’re not leaving this town untouched. And when we’re done, there won’t be a place on this planet you can hide.