30. Reece

As usual, I'd been summoned to my father's office by his bellowing voice filling the entranceway of our house. There's definitely no sneaking in or out of this house. Sighing, I reluctantly rap my knuckles on his office door. Normally I'd barge in but I can hear a hushed voice speaking to my father that has me hesitating. Despite the hushed tone, the voice is familiar and when my father lets me into his office I'm not surprised to see Alaric Exton standing there.

What is surprising is that he's in uniform, complete with his bulletproof vest and his gun holster.

He gives me a nod in greeting and I greet him with a hint of formality, "Hello, Chief Exton."

"Good day, Reece," he responds.

My father glares at me. "Enough with the pleasantries," he bites out, still glaring at me, now with more malice.

"This is not a pleasant visit then?" I ask, glancing between them both for an answer.

"No, Reece, it is not," Alaric voices.

"Is Malyk ok?" I ask, concerned for my best friend's welfare with his uncle being here.

"Yes, Malyk is as fine as my delinquent of a nephew can be. I'm here as a warning."

My father clears his throat. "You've been careless, son," my father berates.

"With what?"

Alaric steps into my personal space, which causes me to shrink back, stumbling a little towards the door.

"You involved Bartholomew in business you were told to keep private," he informs me.

I scoff, even though I'm shaking in my boots.

"Are you fucking serious? I couldn't have kept anything about that incident from Barth. He knew. It was his girlfriend that was assaulted."

"Yes, and we were aware of that, but you dealt with the accused in a manner that was far beyond what was needed and involved Bartholomew in the clean up. He didn't exactly do that discreetly," Alaric informs me, his tone accusatory and stern.

Again I scoff, frustrated with my cousin for being sloppy.

"So, go tell Barth that and give him a talking to instead. I did what I always do, and that's to off Capullo scum."

Alaric frowns. "One day soon, if this involvement of others outside of our arrangement continues, dear boy I will not be able to turn a blind eye."

"You'd take your nephew's best friend away? Without a care for his well-being?"

"I would despise having to do so, but the choice would not be mine."

"Would I pay for all my crimes?"

"Yes, so please be more careful dear boy, and it will not come to that. I appreciate your efforts in keeping our streets free of those that will to cause harm to the greater good."

"Noted,Chief Exton. I'll be more careful," I reply, nodding and air quoting for emphasis. I turn to glare at my father. "Nothing to say, Father?"

"Nothing that you want to hear."

"Fine, then I'll be going," I announce, turning towards the door. My father stops me though, tugging on my arm.

"Not so fast, son. I said you'd not want to hear what I have to say, however, you need to hear it."

Wrenching my arm free, I huff. Alaric nods at my father. "I'll be off Giovanni. Good day."

"Good day Alaric, and thank you for your support and discretion."

"Always for you, Giovanni."

Alaric leaves then, leaving me alone with my father. Once more I turn to leave, but my exit is halted by my father's booming voice, "Reece Mattheus Montserrat! Don't you dare leave before we speak."

Turning to face him–not moving closer–I smile, albeit a fake one, but still, it's a smile. He sees right through the facade I'm trying to put on.

"Do you have anything to admit to me, Reece?"

"About what?"

"Who you've been sneaking off to see at all hours of the night."

"You keeping tabs on me father? Got cameras in the dorms?"

He scoffs mockingly. "There are cameras, yes, but those are not concerned with your whereabouts."

"So you've got some fucker on my arse then?"

"Do not curse at me, Reece. And people have seen things. You've been associating with the enemy."

Fuck. My father"s henchmen have seen me with Jasper or leaving his dorms. I'd been contemplating telling him–and my mother–about Jasper–but that's not possible with this reaction. If he finds out I'm with Jasper, that we have done a helluva lot more than associate with each other I'll be cast out, denied my name. That might not be a bad thing, however, with that comes poverty as my father would cut my trust fund.

"Well, father, your henchmen must be mistaken. The only enemies I've associated with are the ones you've required me to eradicate."

"That best be so, Reece. You know the consequences of disobedience."

I nod, biting down on my lip so I don't scoff at his choice of words. Disobedience sounds as though I'm a child who misbehaved, not an adult capable of making my own decisions.

"Yes, father," I mumble. "May I go now?"

"You may be excused. And mind yourself in public. Eyes are everywhere, and I will find out about any miscreant behaviour."

I wait as he moves around to the other side of his desk and sits in his foreboding chair. I can feel his seething gaze on my back as I go to leave. There's only one person I want to see right now, but I don't dare go to his dorms. I need to lay low on seeing Jasper for a while, even though it will kill me slowly.