Lessons In Grey: Shadows of Sin, page 38
People broke out in conversation everywhere.
I turned to Emily just as Ash leaned in. “He’s a prick, Emily, don’t worry about it.”
But her eyes had hardened. She slid her phone away, finding him again. “I want to talk to him.”
Ash’s brows rose, her eyes finding mine.
If she wanted to talk to him, whatever the reason, I wouldn’t say no. I would, however, be there to kill him if he stepped out of line. “Okay,” I agreed as she stepped away from me. I took her hand, lifting her palm to my lips, my eyes locked on hers as I kissed it softly. “Let’s go,” I murmured against her skin.
She gave me a fleeting half-smile before turning her attention back to her father.
Ash glared at me, but I ignored her as Emily started for her dad, my hand firmly in hers. She could handle this. I believed in her, even if Ash worried.
Harold was standing with a group of people, laughing and talking, as he had done all evening. The Mayor’s wife, I noticed, and Mr. Resnick were among the people around them.
Emily rolled her shoulders easily, trying to get rid of the tension in them. We had been working very hard since she had moved out to build her confidence. It’s all I wanted to do. Build her true confidence, not the armor she wore when she was deflecting.
Even though this person was who she was at events like this, I’d like to believe that I had a part to play in the confidence that lingered around her now.
Emily and I walked up to the small group without a hitch in our step. We joined them and stood there until they started to notice us.
“Emily,” the Mayor’s wife, Gilla, said, her red smile tightening. “Your father didn’t say you’d be here, but we’ve seen you wandering. I’m glad you finally came to say hi.”
“I didn’t,” she answered, her eyes locking onto her father’s. “You changed your will.”
His smile tightened, a nervous laughter leaving his lips as he glanced around the circle of people who were all now looking between the father and daughter in confusion. “What are you talking about, sweetheart.”
Her hand tightened in mine. She hated that sentiment. Hated it more than anything else in the world. “A month into your affair, you changed the will.” Her eyes shifted to Helen. “You gave them everything except for the money you were obligated to give to your daughters, per the contract my great grandfather wrote out.” Her eyes shifted back to her father’s. “Nobody can claim that the accident was anything more than an accident, but had the police known that when they had been looking into their deaths, I’m absolutely positive that you would have been convicted on that alone.”
He might have been, but with his money and power in this world, even that would have been swept under the rug.
His tight smile fell to anger. “How dare you make such claims against your own father.”
“And how dare you act like you’ve done good in this world when every charity, every donation, every good thing that ever came from the company was done because of mom. You fought every step of the way. You’re a selfish bastard who doesn’t have the capacity to care about anything but your money and the woman on your arm. Mom wasn’t pretty enough for you, so you upgraded, and while Helen is horrifically nice, she can’t be deemed a good person for what she did.”
Helen smeared her lips together, looking to her husband for reassurance only Harold’s eyes were locked on Emily’s.
“I gave you a good life,” he sputtered.
“You gave me a life of emptiness,” she replied evenly. Her eyes shifted to the group, the Mayor having joined, worry in his eyes. After a moment, she released my hand and shoved through them, my eyes tracking her every move as she made her way to the bottom of the stairs and picked up the microphone that had been left on the railing.
I slid my hands into my pockets, studying everyone’s movements. If anyone made a move towards her, I’d kill them.
She switched it on, her eyes shifting back to her father’s. “All you care about is money,” she said, the talking flooding the room slowly dying. “All you care about are things. I’ve said it before, dad, and I’ll say it again, kids don’t want horses and tablets, they want their parents.”
She turned to the crowd as people parted to give her space. “All any of you care about is money. It’s status. Who has the biggest boat and the shiniest car. Who can wear the most diamonds on their stretched out earlobes. You don’t care about people. You don’t care about your family.”
She shook her head, looking around as she paced through the room. “Do any of you have any idea what you’ve done to your children? I’m in college, and I still see the repercussions of what you did to us. Drug addicts, alcoholics, people committing suicide left and right to escape you. We didn’t want nannies and endless toys and to stay up all night eating candy and watching television, we wanted our parents to give a fuck.”
Ash joined my side. “You let her have the microphone?” she asked, giving me a look.
“She does what she pleases,” I said with a proud smile.
“Two years ago, it wasn’t Harold you people were cheering on, it was my mom. Aliah Glass stood on those stairs telling you all of these amazing charities that were making a difference. She talked about Christmas cheer and everything that comes with it, and I knew you were all shallow, but it’s as if the last meaningful part of you disappeared when she died.
“We are not here to compare checks, we are here to make a difference, and what did any of you donate too? No, I’ll answer that,” she said, slowing to a stop. “You donated your money to multimillion dollar corporations rather than actual charities that need it. Computer companies, horse races so they could build better tracks, casinos. Those aren’t charities. You’re encouraging bad habits.
“In this very city there are people who could use your money, but they are beneath you so you can’t even give them the time of day. I settled on a charity to donate to tonight, one that gives foster kids another chance, but it wasn’t the only thing I’ve been donating too.”
I straightened, my brows furrowing.
“I gave money to hundreds of shelters around the city. I provided the schools in the poorer neighborhoods with sheds filled with extra clothes, school supplies, coats, to small business that have been struggling in this horrible economy, and I’m not telling you this to give myself a spotlight, I’m telling you this to give you an idea. Tonight is supposed to be about selflessness. About giving to the less fortunate, not this. Not bragging rights, not comparisons.”
Her phone must have gone off again because she lowered the microphone and reached for it, allowing the people to start mumbling among themselves again.
She studied her screen for a moment before her eyes lifted to mine, shock within them.
I rose a brow.
She searched my eyes for a moment before turning back to her phone, typing out a quick word and locking it.
Emily lifted the microphone back to her mouth. “And one last thing before I go,” she said, pulling everyone’s attention back to her. “Harold Glass no longer runs this city.”
Glances were exchanged, the crowd parting as the spotlight shifted from her to her father, his face slowly turning red. “What are you talking about?” he demanded, clearly hating the attention.
“My brother found a loophole,” Emily said, pulling my eyes back to hers.
Brother?
She called Jack her brother.
“The company is mine and I just sold it to the most powerful man in the world.”
My lips parted in absolute shock.
“What the fuck?” Ash breathed out.
Emily turned to the crowd and smiled. “You all better figure your shit out because whatever power you thought you had, it’s gone.”
“Is she talking about your dad?” Syn asked, looking over.
I was buzzing with pride and disbelief. Buzzing with the need to fuck her until she could feel just how proud of her I was.
Malachi owned the Glass company now. Whatever happened from here on forward, it would be good.
Emily shut off the microphone and headed for the beverage table.
I took a step after her, only to be stopped by Harold himself.
With a dry expression, I glanced towards Ash and Syn. “Go, I’ll be along.”
“You’ve made her uncontrollable,” Harold spat as he joined me. “I gave you my blessing when Diamond hired you, and you made a mockery of it by dating my daughter and turning her into a monster.”
I smiled coldly. “She’s not a monster, she just learned how to stand up to you.”
“I’m her father.”
I shrugged. “You should have acted like one. Don’t worry, Harold, I’m sure the contract was liable to pay you a hefty sum for all those years of hard work. I’m sure you’ll be well-off, as for your daughter? She’ll never want for anything again. Not your attention or your love. Too little too late.” I turned away, finding Emily at the table, Ash offering her a drink, people swarming her, probably asking far too many questions.
“I’m not done talking to you, Professor.”
I paused, worked my jaw, and turned back to him. “What else would you like to say?”
“I will ruin you,” he threatened, looking me over. “You will never work at another school ever again. People will know you as the man who fucked the daughter of a powerful man. They will never respect you again.”
I chuckled and leaned in close. “Good.” I straightened. “Have a good night, Harold. Happy retirement.”
41
Emily
December 21st, 2021
He texted me about it,” I explained, trying to ignore the people around me trying to get my attention. “I can’t believe he found the information that fast.”
“And now Malachi owns it?” Syn asked, keeping her voice low. “Was that a smart decision knowing who he is?”
I shrugged, politely declining the drink Ash was trying to offer me. “I know Grey, and Malachi raised him. He raised Jack. If he raised boys who grew up to be such good men, despite their profession, doesn’t that say something about him?”
It had to have. I understood the profession. I understood the crime and the deaths and the drugs, but there was a delicate balance in every world. If the scales tipped too far in one direction, everything would crumble. So yes, Malachi Adler was a criminal and so were his sons, but sometimes that was needed in order to keep people like the ones attending this event in line.
“What happens now?” Ash asked, setting the drink down. “Like what are the next steps? Malachi owns your company just like that? Don’t you have to sign something?”
I nodded, glancing into the crowd, searching for Grey until I found him talking to my father, his eyes cold and calculating. “Yeah. Lots of paperwork, but Jack mentioned lawyers and whatnot. I’m sure I’ll have to meet with them at some point.”
Meeting the man who all but raised Grey? My heart thudded at just the thought.
“Emily, is this something you really want to do?” Ash asked, pulling my attention back. “You’re permanently tying yourself to this world. You’ll never escape it.”
My eyes caught someone familiar standing at the door. Blue eyes and blonde hair. My brows pulled together, confusion filling me. “I don’t want to. Excuse me,” I said abruptly. I pushed through them, heading for the door just as Jeremy slipped out.
I ignored everyone who tried to pull my attention, questions running through my mind. Why was he acting so strange? Where had he been all this time? What was he doing now?
I stepped out onto the patio, the chilling air forcing a shiver down my spine. “Jeremy?” I called quietly.
“Here.”
I turned, finding him a few yards away, hands in his pockets, standing half in the shadows. “What are you doing out here?” I asked, rubbing my arms. “Where have you been, we’ve all been worried.” Why was he trying to hide from everyone? Why did he look so serious?
Jeremy glanced towards the doorway, searching, but he didn’t reply.
My nerves picked up as I followed his eyes. Ash and Syn had joined another group of people around our age. They were dancing, laughing. Having fun. I couldn’t see Grey from here.
“Grey talks in poems whenever you need him too, I’ve seen it,” he finally said, pulling my attention back. “It’s like you understand the world more if people speak in beautiful sentences.” He shrugged, his eyes near black, causing my gut to twist and my anxiety to grow. “I don’t have the ability to do that, so I’ll just come right out and say it. Coincidences sometimes suck.”
My brows furrowed and I shivered violently, shaking my head, willing Grey to come out. He understood Jeremy more than I did, he would understand what was happening. He would see what I couldn’t. “What are you talking about?”
He turned towards the pathway leading towards a garden around the corner of the mansion.
I followed his gaze. Seconds went by with nothing, but just before I was going to turn back, a man finally stepped out of the shadows.
I straightened, my heart skipping a beat. The first thing I noticed was the fedora. Nobody wore fedoras anymore, yet it fit this man well. Suited him.
He wore a wool coat, similar to Grey’s, double breasted, and buttoned up tightly. His hands were at his sides, covered in dark leather gloves, and his eyes shown out from under the shadow of the fedora’s brim. Electric blue. Not as frighteningly icy as Azrael’s had been, but something about them did send a shiver of fear down my spine.
I took a slow step back, my heart picking up. “Jeremy—”
“Malachi,” Grey said just before a warm jacket settled around my shoulders, “what are you doing here?”
Instantly, my shoulders relaxed.
This was Malachi? He was nothing like I had pictured. This man was shorter than Grey, clean of any tattoos that I could see, although most of him was covered. When he smiled, it was kind, good. There was warmth around him.
Even so, I was shocked when Grey stepped in front of me as if he were trying to shield me from the man who had saved him.
“Greyson, it is so good to see you again, and bespoke my heart, darling Emily, you are a vision.”
I pulled Grey’s jacket closer, settling in the familiar cologne and the comforting warmth. “Thank you,” I said, glancing to the back of Grey’s head in question. What was going on?
Jeremy stepped up beside me, skimming his hand over my arm as another shadow appeared around the corner.
“Azrael,” Grey breathed, his shoulders tensing. “Malachi, what’s going on?”
Azrael walked down the pathway, his eyes flicking to mine, that mask still on his face. Too many people here for his comfort, I supposed.
Malachi watched Grey for a moment before his eyes shifted to me. “I will treat the company well. Jack is drawing up the paperwork as we speak, but unfortunately, it will be some time before you and I can sit down and discuss logistics. Emily, it was so good to finally meet the woman who stole my son’s heart. As a father, all we want in life is for our boys to grow into good young men and fly out of their nests.”
I swallowed, glancing from Malachi to Azrael and back. Deep breath. I straightened, lifting my chin, trying to remain respectful and confident. “Thank you for your offer. It was more than generous.” What the fuck was happening?
“Oh, I would have paid far more, but we’ve got some things we’re in the middle of,” he smiled easily, as if to comfort me.
Azrael’s eyes found mine and he smiled, his blue eyes filled with death and ice.
I shivered, leaning into Jeremy’s touch, wanting nothing more than for it to be Grey. I needed Grey.
Malachi turned his warm smile onto Grey, although a sadness started to grow in his eyes. Regret. “Such a lovely night. Beautiful speeches, beautiful causes. Beautiful women. I’m so sorry that I have to ruin it.”
Grey’s hands tightened at his sides. “Did Azrael finally tell you who did it?”
“No,” Azrael said, his cold eyes flicking to his brother’s. “I don’t like spoiling my secrets.”
“I solved the puzzle,” Malachi said, but the relief I had expected in his eyes never showed.
My brows furrowed, and it was an effort to keep my mouth shut. I wanted to know. I needed the answer. I wanted to know that Malachi had ended this, that Grey and I were safe, but it wasn’t my place.
Grey took a step forward. “Who is it?”
“Louis Nelson,” Malachi answered, causing Grey to straighten.
“That’s impossible, he’s dead. I put a bullet in his skull.”
“Which is why he’s so sour,” Azrael smirked, angling his chin. “You should have made sure he stayed dead, brother.”
Malachi stepped up to Grey, his eyes regretful. “I understand your requests, and I respect them, but as he’s going after your family,” he went on, glancing to me, “perhaps you should think through your next steps.”
My heart thudded, my mind racing, my breathing quickening. Wait. I had seen enough movies, had watched enough shows to know what that meant. “He needs to go,” I said, causing three pairs of eyes to find mine. “Is that what you’re saying? That he needs to leave?” I didn’t want him to leave. I never wanted him to leave.
“I’m sorry, darling,” Malachi said, his shoulders falling, “but Louis is getting closer to you. The only way to keep him away is to lead him away. Matthew?” he said, his eyes shifting.
I glanced back, a man joining us. He was wearing a suit too. Brown eyes, light brown hair, ordinary man. Easy to blend in. He must have been in there with us. I hadn’t noticed him even once.
“Matthew and Jeremy will remain with you, and I have people on your friends. You will all be safe.”
I studied him for a moment before turning back to Malachi, searching his eyes, my chest tightening. I stepped out of Jeremy’s grasp and joined Grey, holding his eyes with everything I was. “Will he be safe?” I was his girlfriend, right? I deserved to know something, right?
Malachi opened his mouth, and I shook my head, the burning behind my eyes growing. “Don’t lie to me, please. I know you are trained. I know you are powerful. I’ve heard stories, so many stories. I understand that he can be safe, but I want your promise, Malachi, that he will be safe. He needs to come back. He has to come back. Please.”
