Page 39 of Legacy of Deception

I gritted my teeth. “I’m serious.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not doing that.” Apparently, it was time for another hit. “You’re obviously missing some of the key facts because I called him.”

Leaving it as it was mid-leg, I furrowed my eyebrows. I didn’t remember EJ being this dense or, frankly, incompetent. “I don’t care.” I wasn’t sure how many ways I could say that, but I would try all of them if it meant I would get through to him.

He sighed, the noise sounding like he was checking out, which he wouldn’t be doing anytime soon. Not on my watch. “I want him to invest, so why would I be stupid enough to do what you’re saying?”

Clearly, he needed a push in the right direction. Never mind. He didn’t need a push. He needed a full-on shove. Fortunately, I was happy to oblige. “I wouldn’t call it stupid. I’d call it rather sweet actually.”

When crickets entered the chat, I decided to explain my rationale. “You continuing to protect your father and all.” There was a certain fondness I had knowing I wasn’t the only one who had a rope of blood obligation wrapped around their neck.

“What are you talking about? Have you taken a blow to the head?” He seemed stoic, but I wasn’t entirely sure why.

“I’m just thinking about that hidden thumb drive you kept for your father. You know, the one that has incriminating evidence on him. The one that would implicate him in—”

“Fuck, Brooklyn. Stop.”

I didn’t mind not proceeding. In fact, we didn’t need to get into the details about how I had the drive. The way I had obtained it was by no means illegal since I’d had access to his office. He’d left to grab a washcloth so we could clean ourselves up, and I’d made myself busy. “So, you know what I’m talking about?” Having damning evidence on someone was never a bad idea, in my opinion.

“Do you know what you’re asking of me?”

Well, I definitely wasn’t asking for anything extreme like his sperm. “The trip is just a formality.” I proceeded with applying lotion to my legs like I’d wanted to, finally succumbing and plopping the phone on the bed next to me. He couldn’t have much more to say after this anyway. “That greedy son of a bitch will, no doubt, want in, so tease him, and then tell him to kick rocks.” I really didn’t think much on the details, nor did I care. He just needed to hear me out and do it. As simple as that.

“I’ve only ever regretted sleeping with one woman, and you are her, Brooklyn Briggs,” he replied, malevolence shining through. The power that typically laced his words was absent, though.

He couldn’t see me, but I still placed a hand on my chest, my mouth falling open slightly as I feigned hurt. “Aw. You wound me, EJ. I was hoping the memories of that night hold a special place in your heart.”

I hardly got the last word out when he hung up, probably wishing he had done it a lot sooner. I knew if I were him, I would’ve.

Chapter 16

Delucas don’t have shortfalls

Marco

It’s done.

That was all the two-word text said and all I needed it to say, prompting me to get in the car and finally pay Robert Lyons an overdue visit.

“Call me when you’re ready, sir,” my driver said as he pulled up outside the skyscraper in Hudson Yards that housed Lyons Enterprises.

I looked at my watch before slipping from the car, not a wrinkle to be found on my black slacks or white dress shirt. “I won’t be long,” I warned. I had it on good authority he was in the office today, which was a pleasing thing given the news he was about to get.

Lyons Enterprises had recently announced a new technology that was intended to alter the software development game, but unfortunately for them, all the press they were getting was quickly going to shift from good to bad when the narrative changed. As it would. Soon. Very, very soon.

Walking up to the gatekeeper outside Robert’s floor, I tapped on the cheap cherry wood desk. “Good morning, Sandra,” I said, reading a paper that sat on her desk with her name on it. Hoping to soften her up, I tacked on, “Love your hair. It really accentuates your eyes.” There was just something about a woman wearing a tight as sin bun atop her head that really drew the eye to…well…her eyes. Probably because it tugged so tightly on the skin around her face, especially the forehead, that her eyes became more prominent. At least that was true in Sandra’s case.

“Thank you,” Sandra said, a hand going to her hair, a sincere smile on her face. “Marco Deluca, right?” Her tone was as sweet as sugar.

I nodded, enjoying myself and the fact that I still had that same boyish charm with the ladies I’d always had. Many things might’ve changed in my life. Hell, I might’ve changed. Grown up, really. But that charm was something I knew I’d always be able to count on when I needed to. Had since I was in high school and first worked my charms on an older, more mature woman. A fashion designer. I couldn’t remember her name now if I wanted to, but I could still picture her. Red hair cut into a short, sharp bob, soft features, but a rigidity that made her lips appear stiff, which was quite the contrast to the rest of her.

Shaking my head, I pushed the memory back where it came from in the deep recesses of my brain. I shifted and leaned casually against her desk, remembering why I was here. “Does Robert have some time? I was hoping to talk to him about an important matter he has associated with Deluca Industries.” And her name was Brooklyn Briggs.

Sandra looked down at her desk, turning to an old school date book before looking up at her computer screen. “He doesn’t have any meetings, so why don’t you go on in?”

“Thank you.” I tapped on her desk again, turning up the corners of my lips as I pushed off the desk. “You have a nice day, Sandra.”

Standing, she waved at me, a bright crimson color creeping up her neck that rivaled the orange in her dress. “You too, Mr. Deluca.”