Page 139 of Paper Coffins
“Beckett.”
“Hey, son.”
I bolt upright at hearing my father’s voice on the other end of the line, but I don’t hesitate to put him on loudspeaker and place my phone onto the tabletop. Stupidly, I didn’t look at the caller ID when it rang, but also, I didn’t think my father would call me.
“Heard I’m a wanted man.” He laughs mockingly down the phone. “And if I know you, you’ve got me on speakerphone so everyone can hear this.”
“Nothing gets past you, does it?”
His chuckle fills the air. “I only know because I know you.”
“What do you want?”
“Well, seeing as I can’t come home…”
“And why is that?” I bite, unwilling to hold back the vicious sting to my voice. “You’ve got no one to blame but yourself.”
Another bubble of laughter cuts the air. “If she hadn’t been such a fucking tease this never would have happened.”
I watch those words push themselves under Natalia’s skin, finding a home to feed her indignation.
“She’s a good fit, thatdarling girlof yours, Beckett. For what it’s worth, she was a perfect pick for that. If you catch my drift.”
Natalia hasn’t lifted her gaze from the phone yet, but from the way her red lips purse, she’s not doing it out of shame. No, she’s quietly simmering away.
“How does it feel to know I had her as well?”
I watch Natalia shrink a little into herself before she sits up straighter. The pride that bursts throughout me is enormous as I watch her face Alistair in some manner of the word. He might not see her, but she isn’t letting him own a single moment of this.
“I guess at this point she’s told you the details.”
“And then some.” I bristle a little before I lean in, as if this will make a difference to him. “Just know that when I find you, I’m going to make sure you get a very painful death for the things you’ve done.”
“Hey, whoa, it wasn’t all that long ago you were wanting to exact a similar fate on dear little Natalia.”
“Yeah, and whose fault was that?”
“I did what I thought was right. As your father, that’s my job.”
“What about the rest? What about Nicolas?”
There’s silence, then a huff of heavy exhale. “There’s an age-old saying ofkill your darlings. Sometimes you have to get rid of unnecessary characters.”
“Is that how you viewed the boss?”
“Well, you see, I didn’t, but when he found out the truth about my and Natalia’s secret, I knew I had to get rid of him to get to her. And he was old. The Company needed new blood. It needed to be sharp again. It needed a reformation. It needed you, Beckett.”
“And let me guess, it was the only way to do so?”
“It was the only way to draw out the threats.”
That comment is the one push I needed to unleash my anger.
“I will find you, you fucking bastard!”
I can’t contain myself now. I only have images of wringing his neck until it breaks and I can bury him in a nameless grave.
“Tsk, tsk, son. You should never talk to your father in such a manner.” His mocking is rife, and his laughter does little to calm any of the fury burning through me. “Sorry, Beckett, but you will only find me on my terms. But just know that while I might be in the wind, your mole isn’t.”