Broken by His Hand - Piper Stone Page 0,43
lie to me that you knew nothing about my father’s business.”
I continued to dig my fingers into his sallow skin as he began to cough. When he finally tried to claw my hands, only then did I let him go, hissing as I walked away. Killing him wasn’t going to do me any good.
The sound of his wheezing did little more than continue to enrage me. My entire body was electrified, my heart racing. I moved toward the window, snagging my drink along the way. When he finally stopped coughing, I barely turned my head in his direction. “I want you to think about what I’ve told you, William. I’m through with playing games. There is some entity that is trying once again to bring down the club, and all three of remaining Dunmore family along the way. I’m not going to allow that to happen. If I had to venture a guess, you are well aware of the members as well as the location of the book. I would also assume that you’ve been in contact with those members from time to time.”
“No. That’s... That’s not... the case.”
“Right. Well, you have forty-eight hours to think about it or the first thing that will happen is you will no longer be on the corporation’s payroll as the attorney. Given you have been afforded a very lucrative salary, I’m certain the other associates will not be happy with that fact. Second...” I allowed the word to hang as I turned around and smiled. “Well, I’m going to have to think about what I’ll do to terminate our relationship.”
“Michael, please. You have to believe me. I would never do anything to hurt your family. I loved your father like a brother. He asked me to keep an eye on you, to make certain you, Gregory, and Christopher had everything you needed.”
“So, you’re saying my father discussed the possibility of his death.”
William finally walked closer, rubbing his neck, still having difficulty breathing. “He always considered it a possibility, just like your grandfather. They lived a dangerous life, Michael. Your father in particular played God, for Christ’s sake. Don’t you think he had dozens of enemies?”
“Why didn’t they simply kill him earlier?”
He had no desire to answer the question.
“Why, William?”
“Because he made certain everyone knew that in the event of his death, every news media in DC and the surrounding cities, all broadcast stations, and various members of law enforcement who weren’t members of the club would receive copies of the information he’d collected.” He threw out his hand before I was able to speak. “Whether or not that was the truth, I do not know, but that much he told me years before his death. Okay? Maybe he wanted me to know in case the shit hit the fan.”
“Which it didn’t.”
“Maybe that’s why you’re being targeted. You made no bones about the fact you are your father’s sons, using the same business tactics. From what you’ve told me, no one knows you aren’t in possession of the ledger. Maybe whoever is responsible for threatening you is calling your bluff.”
I took a deep breath. “Maybe so, William. I meant what I said earlier. There is no doubt in my mind you know exactly who were considered my father’s closest allies within the club. You need to provide me with a list, or I will make good on my promise.”
“Please, think about this.”
I shook my head, nodding toward the door. “Our time is up, William. I have other business to attend to.” After moving around to the other side of the desk, I didn’t bother looking in his direction. When I heard his footsteps moving toward the door, I exhaled, gritting my teeth. Damn my father for playing such vicious games. No wonder the asshole threatening me was doing much the same.
“Michael, your father really did want the best for his family, but he was overtaken by greed and the hunger for power. He changed from the man I first met, becoming ruthless and unforgiving. But he cared for his family very much.”
Exhaling, I wanted to believe that my father really did care, but he wasn’t the kind of man to attend football games or even family dinners. He’d missed so many birthday celebrations that my mother stopped planning on his attendance. “Maybe so, William. That doesn’t change the fact that his... legacy is placing our lives in jeopardy.”
An awkward tension settled in, but I could tell he wasn’t finished.
“I was there the day you