22. Jordan

It had been three days since I found out Leeland was trying to take what was mine. While also waiting to deal with him, I put off bringing Hartley to my home, wanting to handle Leeland before I took any additional steps forward with the men who worked their way into my cold heart.

Vail stayed with me until the following morning when I told him I could give myself to him in the way he desired. Vail wanted me to be his as much as I wanted him to be mine. After our first time in bed, we rested, ate, then fucked again. It was a cycle that went on until he had to leave. I tried to get him to stay, but he said breathing room would do us good, especially since I still had to bring Hartley into my life in a more permanent way.

Vail said he was mine, and I took him at his word. But he wouldn't live with me. Not yet, even though I could provide him with the security he needed. Vail was independent, as was Hartley. I'd have to tread carefully, so I didn't say or do things to cause them to want to go in the opposite direction. But I knew myself and those words were bound to leave my lips, like how they were mine and should always be in my home.

I couldn't turn off that I was possessive any more than I could turn off wanting to draw blood from the people who wronged me. Which brought me back to the present. Once I dealt with Leeland, I could go to Hartley and make him mine. Afterward, I would bring the three of us together and show them what it meant for us to be one. Maybe then I could convince Vail to live with me. He was across the damn city on the western side where I was too far from.

A growl tried to work itself up my throat at the thought of him being there. Not only that, but Hartley's rental was far from acceptable. He deserved a nice home with every comfort he could desire.

Relationships weren't easy for me. I still had the fear of what I'd have to do to them if they crossed me, but beyond that was a bigger fear of what it meant to not have them in my life at all. That wasn't acceptable. They were mine, and I needed to act accordingly before someone else thought they could take them from me.

As far as Vail's asshole ex went, I knew every move that fucker made. I also knew he wasn't letting Vail go so easily. But Vail didn't want me near him, so I wouldn't be. Yet. If Gil stepped wrong toward Vail in any way, I'd deal with the fallout with Vail if it meant he was safe from the piece of shit he used to be with.

Now, I had Leeland to handle.

It had been twelve hours since Kayli brought him to one of my empty buildings on the far edge of my city. Albert was currently driving to the location where I could do my work. It would have been too easy to have Reghan or his brother handle this for me. Or for Sheldon to spike one of Leeland's meals and kill him that way. I needed to send a message not only to him, but to anyone else who thought they could take what I'd built.

As we pulled up, I saw a familiar cop leaning against the side of the building. His unmarked car sat feet away. He was someone I paid to keep quiet and help me out. He was also one of the few I actually didn't want to hurt when I saw him.

Albert put the car in park and exited to open the door for me. My eyes immediately went to the cop. "Barrett, what are you doing here?" No one from my organization would have told him where I'd be today.

"You have a man in there I'd very much like to see dead. I've been tracking him. He's not the smartest asshole."

I quickly scanned Barrett's body. He was in plain clothes, but he still could be feeding our conversation to someone. Just because I paid him didn't mean I fully trusted him. "You're clean?"

Instead of replying, he removed his coat and took his shirt off. He was impressive underneath. Muscles popped in his chest and stomach. His arms flexed as he began undoing his jeans. The badge he wore swung on his neck on a silver chain.

"Enough," Reghan said and went to him so he could pat him down.

Barrett smirked. "What's the matter? Don't want to see what I'm packing?"

"Unless it's a gun, I don't give a fuck how big your dick is," Reghan shot back.

"Oh, come on. I'd give it to you real good." Barrett wasn't overly cocky, but he knew what buttons to press to rile Reghan up.

When he was done with the pat down, Reghan put his hand around Barrett's throat and slammed him against the side of the building. I was content to lean against the car and watch.

Getting in his face, Reghan said low, "I'm not in the mood for your shit today, Bear. I'm here for a reason and it's not so you can fucking taunt me. Unless you have a solid purpose for wasting our time, I'd suggest you move the fuck on."

Barrett wasn't an easy man to get the upper hand on. He proved it by only giving Reghan so much leeway before he broke the hold Reghan had on him and slammed my guard face-first to the ground with Reghan's arm twisted behind his back. Barrett put his knee on Reghan's spine and leaned down. "Don't put your hand on my throat unless you"re fucking me while doing it." He pulled Reghan's arm until he hissed in pain, then released him.

Standing, Barrett grabbed his shirt and slipped it over his head. "As I was saying…" His eyes met mine. "I need Leeland gone. He's causing too much trouble. On top of whatever issue you have with him, he created an uproar, trying to unload a truckload of guns. Not only is my boss aware of it, but he's breathing down my fucking neck to handle it. Except every time I try to nail Leeland for his crimes, he slips through my fingers. You probably want to torture him, but I need it to look more like a suicide so I can keep you clear of things. Your name was mentioned around the station more than a dozen times since Leeland became prominent on our radar."

I bit back a curse. He was right. I wanted to torture Leeland, but I couldn't do that if I needed the heat off me. Turning, I said to Albert, "Call Sheldon and get him down here. Tell him to bring something that would be easily marked off as a suicide on the medical examiner's report. And text Kayli letting her know the change of plans."

"Yes, sir."

If only I could torture Barrett for ruining my fun.

Reghan dusted off his jeans as he walked toward me, fire blazing in his eyes. He and Barrett had never gotten along. Every chance Barrett had to drive my guard crazy, he did. At one point, I was hoping they would fuck, just to get it out of their systems. I thought the better of it. My luck they'd get attached, then I'd have a new fucking issue to deal with.

"Let's go," I said to Barrett.

We filed into the building, a rundown residence that had more broken windows than functioning ones. I couldn't kill in the same spot all the time. I had to vary my locations to keep people from following me or anticipating where I'd be next.

Leeland was in the corner of the room, his arms above his head, tied at the wrists, as he hung from a hook on the ceiling. His wrists bled from the force of his weight pulling him down. And most likely the tightness of the rope. Kayli wouldn't have gone easy on him.

"Jordan," he exhaled when he saw me. "I'm so glad you're here." His gaze kept darting to Kayli, who sat cross-legged on a chair, tossing a knife into the air, and catching it with ease. "She's fucking crazy. You should have heard the things she said to me, the threats she made."

She scoffed. "You're one of the weakest excuses for a man I've ever met. The only reason I haven't cut out your tongue to shut you up is because you're Mr. Altair's to handle." Kayli shook her head. "I'll be glad when he's dead. All he does is whine."

I stopped in front of Leeland with Barrett on one side and Reghan on the other. "You have no one to blame for your situation but yourself. I warned you what would happen if you tried to take what was mine. Then I find out you're trying to sell to one of my buyers. Did you think that would work out for you?"

"I couldn't help it. I needed to do something to move myself up. You weren't helping me."

Leaning forward, I got into his face. "Helping you? That's not how this works. We had a deal. Guns for a meeting with the senator's daughter. I can't control that she wasn't in the country when you wanted to see her. But you could have controlled your own actions. Now you'll die."

His eyes went impossibly wide. "You can't do that, not in front of a cop."

When Barrett put his shirt back on, he kept his badge out. He was a smart man and probably wanted Leeland to think he was on his side and could help him.

"Who me?" Barrett asked. "I don't give a fuck about you. Do you have any idea the work you've caused for me this week? I was supposed to be on vacation. Instead, I'm here so I can witness your demise. One less asshole on my radar."

"You took an oath!"

Barrett laughed then laughed some more. "Oh, the stories I could tell you. I won't because I don't like you and, honestly, Jordan doesn't need anything else to hold over my head. Let's just say I welcome whatever is about to be done to you."

Leeland focused on me again, his attention bouncing to whoever he thought would save him. It sure as fuck wasn't me. "Jordan, please. I'll give you whatever you want."

"I already have men on their way to clear out your inventory and dispose of the people working for you. Consider this your last day on this earth. I don't give a fuck about you, your family, or whoever else you've been with. I'm done. You had your chance and now you'll pay the price."

The rumble of Sheldon's Ducati pulling up drew my attention and put a frown on my face. Reality sank in that I wouldn't get to kill Leeland the way I wanted. Instead, I'd have to poison him.

Sheldon entered the room a moment later, a black leather jacket tight on his body. His blond hair was blown back from his face. Pennsylvania had a no helmet law that Sheldon regularly took advantage of as he weaved in and out of traffic on his bike.

He unzipped his jacket and pulled out a small vial to hand to me.

"What is it?" Barrett asked, his eyes on the liquid.

"None of your damn business," I replied. I no longer asked what Sheldon put in his poisons. The one time I inquired, I got a lesson on each ingredient and what they did. That was the end of that. I didn't need to know and simply trusted he would do what I asked.

"How are you going to explain the injuries from the rope?" Barrett asked.

"Silly man," Kayli tsked. "If you think I didn't already match his handwriting and pen a perfect suicide note just in case we needed it, you have no idea who you're dealing with. We have contingency plans for everything. Jordan has the best working for him, and I am a master at handwriting." She shrugged. "It's a hobby. I bet I could match yours. Anyway, it seems Leeland likes to be tied up in bed and things got a little too out of hand. He's not the only one to suffer, are you?" She stood and gripped his chin. "Do you remember the man you took to bed before I found you? The one who ran when he realized I was in the room? If you would have used your brain instead of your dick, you wouldn't have had to kill him." She backhanded him across the face as her features hardened.

"I didn't," Leeland rushed to say. His eyes darted to Barrett. "I didn't kill anyone."

"But you did," Kayli told him. "It was a crime of passion. I have the note and fingerprints to prove it. It was all too much for you to bear, so you ended your own life. Before doing so, you listed the people you wanted to apologize to for the crimes you've committed. It's enough to have Mr. Altair cleared of some of the investigations currently on him."

Barrett whistled low. "Damn, you're good."

Kayli winked. "I know."

That was when Leeland started rambling, begging, and asking everyone in the room to save him. I opened the vial and squeezed Leeland's cheeks to get him to part his lips so I could pour it down his throat.

Watching him die wasn't nearly as satisfying when I could have made him bleed. He did froth at the mouth and twitch enough that I got some enjoyment from seeing his life end.

Kayli and the others would clean up and put him back in his bed where she found him. The stage would be set, and Leeland would take the fall for more than his own crimes. Another asshole was gone from the planet. If I had to kill them off one at a time, I would. No one would ever take what I'd built.