Broken by His Hand - Piper Stone Page 0,86

trial.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be there.” While I’d wanted nothing more than to put a bullet in the man’s head, I realized at the very moment I’d dragged Sophia out of the water that life was far too precious.

Even for the asshole who’d planned every event to take me down for months. The lengths he’d gone to in order to create the vicious game were almost impressive. Although Drake had hired a marksman to cripple my car, knowing that I’d be brought to the hospital where he worked, he’d handled the rest of the scheme himself. The roses. The gifts. Shoving Sophia in my direction, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to resist her. He had learned my weakness, a need given my loneliness. While he’d taken a gamble that I wouldn’t care about her, I assumed he’d planned an alternative ruse just in case. Hell, the man had even gotten ahold of diplomatic plates to provide a cover. The asshole had been clever.

Although I hadn’t been able to confront him. Maybe I never would, other than my day in court. Somehow, I had a feeling our paths would cross again. Men like Drake Samuels didn’t stay behind bars for very long, especially given he had more than one of the top attorneys in town defending him.

Too bad neither one of them were members of the club.

I snickered at the thought.

“Just take care of yourself, Michael. I kinda like the thought of having two brothers-in-law.” Autumn’s smile was infectious, her eyes twinkling.

“You should probably keep that to yourself.”

“Oh, I am.”

“Thank you for all your help,” I said in passing, offering her a smile.

“I’d do anything for family, Michael, just like you would.”

Giving her a nod of respect, I left the interrogation room.

As I walked out of the building, I knew the last chore on my list was going to be the most difficult. I’d hesitated, even allowing the man to sweat before confronting him. I wasn’t certain the bastard deserved anything but my full wrath, although I knew there was some sordid explanation. Perhaps it would bring me closer to finding the ledger.

I exhaled as I eased into my car, heading for the docks, the late afternoon sun still bright enough to make me shield my eyes. While Gregory was the true water lover, I’d thought about purchasing a house closer to the river, perhaps one with a white picket fence. Grinning, I donned my sunglasses before turning on the satellite radio.

The music of choice? Red.

The album?

Of Beauty and Rage.

As I pulled into a parking spot, I pulled the gun from the dashboard, sliding the piece into my jacket. A man couldn’t be too careful nowadays. The walk was invigorating, the briskness of the cool day highlighting the changing colors of the trees. I loved fall, although I’d spent little time enjoying it.

I could see his form leaning against the railing. While he didn’t seem tense, he knew I’d arrived, his mouth going slack as I approached. Sighing, I remained a couple of feet away as I looked out at the water, marveling at the way the sunlight cast a series of iridescent shimmer across the surface.

“Michael.”

“William,” I said casually, taking a full minute before I removed my sunglasses and turned in his direction. I had to admit that I enjoyed watching him squirm, even though I’d wrestled with making a decision what to do with him. By all rights, his betrayal to the family should be dealt with in the same manner that my father would have. He deserved a concrete block secured to his leg before being dumped in the Potomac. “Do you ever wonder how many bodies are hiding in the murky waters?”

“What?” William managed, a slight choking sound in his voice.

I pointed toward the water. “I do remember a conversation I had with my father after he’d consumed half a bottle of eighty-year-old scotch. He enjoyed telling me that the easiest way to terminate an enemy was in a body of water. I could imagine eight or ten skeletons buried underneath the silt in the Potomac. What do you think?”

When he didn’t say anything, I laughed.

“But you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you, William? I mean since my father never told you anything about the business.”

“Michael, I—”

I threw out my hand, snarling under my breath. “Don’t give me a load of shit, William. I know all about the fact you sold our souls to Drake Samuels, keeping him abreast of my whereabouts, my search for the