ANGEL'S WRATH by SK (SIN CITY HEAT) (13 page)

 
 
 
 
"Maybe my 'type' has changed, 'nah mean'?" Angel said mockingly, smiling in amusement at the stunned silence on Dominick's end. "Anyway, you'll see her tomorrow. Talk to you later."

 
 
 
 
The next morning, heads turned as the pair of tall, handsome men strode through the corridor of the main floor in the
DWC
building as if they owned it. By the time Angel and Dominick left today, technically they would.
 
 
 
 
 
Matt trailed behind them, speaking furiously into his cell phone, making arrangements to set things into motion after the meeting was over with. He snapped his phone shut and stood behind Angel and Dominick as they waited on the elevator.
 
 
 
 
“Everything’s been taken care of Angel.”
 
 
 
 
Angel nodded then stepped into the elevator. He and Dominick were silent on the ride up to the office of the CEO. Although their complexions were shades apart, the resemblance between them was strong. Both men were tall with fit, muscled physiques. Strong, square jawlines, ridiculously sensual lips, and a confident swagger demanded attention and sent a silent warning that they were down for whatever if someone stepped to them.

 
 
 
 
When the doors opened, Nikki was standing there waiting on them.
 
 
 
 
“Hi, baby.” Angel leaned down to kiss her. “Where are they?”
 
 
 
 
“Waiting in the conference room.” She turned to Dominick. “Dom, hi. It’s been a long time.” Nikki offered her hand to him. They had spoken briefly this morning when he called the condo for Angel.
 
 
 
 
 
After Dom talked to Angel last night, he'd thought about what his brother told him. Nikki was a year or two older than him, but they'd been in some of the same gifted programs in school because Dominick had been allowed to skip a couple of grades. No matter how much he tried, he found it hard to reconcile the quiet, pretty young woman he used to be acquainted with, involved with his arrogantly, strong willed brother. As Dom told Angel last night, Nikki wasn't really his type, not to mention they were from two completely different worlds. However, seeing the way his brother’s face softened as he looked at Nikki now made Dominick doubt his earlier assumptions. Hmm. He'd have to tell Keisha she was right.

 
 
 
 
Smiling, he ignored Nikki's outstretched hand and pulled her to him to give her a hug. “It’s good to see you, Nikki.”

 
 
 
 
She smiled as well and returned the hug. "Thank you, Dom." After greeting Matt, she went to Angel's side. "Ready?" she asked.
 

 
 
 
 
Angel took Nikki’s hand, more than ready for the confrontation with the Davidsons. Jaxon's secretary was the picture of professionalism as the group walked into the reception area. However, when she saw Angel and Nicole holding hands, her face registered surprise before she could conceal it. She couldn’t wait to pass this bit of gossip on when she went to lunch.
 
 
 
 
“Mr. LaCroix. Nicole.” She nodded to them both. “Mr. Davidson Sr. and Jr. are waiting in the conference room.”
 
 
 
 
“Thank you, Irene.” Nikki turned and led them to the closed door.

 
 
 
 
Opening it, she saw Bradley Sr. standing by the window facing them with his hands behind his back. His face was expressionless when the group walked in. Jax sat at the head of the table with a stack of folders in front of him. Seeing Nikki walk in with the other men made his green eyes flash molten hot before they turned cool and shuttered.
 
 
 
 
 
 
"You don’t need to be in this meeting, Nicole.”
 
 
 
 
“She stays.” Angel pulled out a chair for Nicole to sit down.
 
 
 
 
“Nicole, you do realize this is highly inappropriate, don’t you?” Bradley Sr.'s voice was full of disapproval.
 
 
 
 
Angel looked at the man who’d spoken. He recognized him right away as his sperm donor; he was an older version of Jaxon. “I don’t think you’re in any position to preach what’s appropriate and what isn’t.” Angel’s tone was frigid and challenging.
 
 
 
 
“Excuse me?! Who do you think you’re talking to,” Bradley Sr. huffed.
 
 
 
 
Angel ignored him and sat down beside Nikki. Jaxon started to protest when Dominick pulled out a chair to sit down as well then just shrugged. It didn't matter because the outcome would be the same.
 
 
 
 
“I should’ve known you traveled with a ‘crew’,” he said with a nasty smirk. “Or do you call them ‘ya boys’?”
 
 
 
 
Dominick’s body stiffened. “What did you say?”
 
 
 
 
Amused, Jaxon returned the look with taunting superiority. Angel continued to stare at Jax, but directed his comment to his brother. “Dom, pay no attention to Jaxon. I still owe him an ass whipping that I didn’t quite get a chance to finish. You can have that honor later if you like.” The smile fell from Jaxon's face.

 
 
 
 
Dominick’s stare turned cold as he sat back with a predatory expression and regarded Jaxon as if he were planning his strategy. “It’ll be my pleasure. Thanks.”
 
 
 
 
Jaxon looked decidedly uncomfortable when his father glowered in his direction. “What is he talking about?! I thought you said you were mugged!”
 
 
 
 
Angel laughed. “So, is that the story you’re telling everyone? Oops…” Dominick joined in the taunting laughter at Jaxon's expense.
 
 
 
 
 
Jaxon sent Angel a look of pure hatred. “Let’s just get on with the meeting. Believe me. It won’t take long.”
 
 
 
 
“Fine,” Matt said. “Per the clause included in the contract signed exactly thirty days ago today, we’re here to complete the transfer that includes ten percent of
Davidson World Corporation’s
stock to
NaDa Holdings.
As soon as the paperwork is signed by both parties, we can…”
 
 
 
 
“That won’t be necessary.” Jaxon interrupted Matt's speech with barely checked arrogance as he held Angel’s eyes. “Certain information has come to light and we’ve decided it would be in the best interest of
DWC’
s
business reputation to deny the transfer of said stock to Angelo LaCroix.”
 
 
 
 
When Angel showed no reaction, Jaxon frowned. “Did you hear what I said?”
 
 
 
 
Matt answered. “You do realize you’ll be in breach of…”
 
 
 
 
“I wasn’t talking to you. I was talking to him.” Jaxon was determined to get the best of Angel in this one thing if nothing else.

 
 
 
 
Angel switched his attention from the son to the father, who was staring at him with a perplexed expression.

 
 
 
 
“Have we met before?” Bradley Sr. asked Angel.
 
 
 
 
Angel lowered his eyes. He would never understand how a man could still call himself a man after fathering a child and not giving a damn as long as he wasn't inconvenienced. In Bradley Sr.'s case, he’d gone to deadly limits in order to hide it from his family. Ignoring the old man's question, Angel turned back to Jaxon and decided to humor him.
 
 
 
 
“Are you talking about this so called file you have on me documenting my supposed illegal activities…Bradley Jr.?” Jaxon’s eyes were full of unspoken accusation when he looked at Nikki. "I knew about it long before Nikki mentioned it to me," Angel commented. "So go on. What else you got?"

 
 
 
 
Deciding to salvage whatever he could of his surprise attack, Jaxon continued. “I’ve shared this information with my father. We have indisputable proof that not only are you the head of a drug and weapons operation, you’ve been involved in numerous other organized crime activities. If this information was brought to the attention of the authorities, it would put you away for a very…long…time.”
 
 
 
 
Jaxon wore a self-satisfied, smug look which Angel returned mockingly. He and Matt exchanged amused glances. The authorities had been after Angel for years. They hadn’t been able to get anything to stick. Whatever Jaxon had or
thought
he had on him, would make even the DEA laugh him out of the room.

 
 
 
 
Angel switched his attention to his sperm donor. Bradley Sr. was still standing by the window staring at Angel, trying to place his face. “Haven’t figured it out yet, huh?”
 
 
 
 
“Where do I know you from?” Bradley Sr. demanded.
 
 
 
 
“You haven’t guessed who my mother is?”
 
 
 
 
Bradley Sr.’s eyes narrowed. Angel stood up and put his hands in his pocket as he walked over and stood in front of him. He no longer concealed the hatred he felt for this man. Noticing the intense hostility directed at him from Angel, Bradley Sr. shifted uneasily.
 
 
 
 
“She worked for you and your family for fifteen years. You used her as your maid/housekeeper/play toy.”
 
 
 
 
“Angel…” Dominick gave Angel an admonishing look, but Angel’s eyes were glued to Bradley Sr.’s He noticed the slight twitch under his eye as a glimmer of recognition began to form in his mind.

 
 
 
 
Angel angled his head to the side, studying every nuance of reaction Bradley Sr. displayed. “That’s it. Looks like you’re beginning to remember who I’m talking about. And if you remember her, you must know who I am. Right 'Dad'?”

 
 
 
 
Bradl
ey Sr.’s face went from beet red to ghostly white as Nora Spain’s face appeared in front of his eyes. Oh, he remembered her well, had desired her as he’d desired no other woman. She’d been eye-catchingly beautiful. But…if Nora Spain was his mother that meant this man was his…

 
 
 
 
Bradley Sr. could not bring himself to complete the thought as he began loosening his tie. Now he realized why Angel looked so familiar.
 
 
 
 
The eyes. They weren't quite the same shade, but they were his…and Jaxon's.
 
 
 
 
“What…what do you want?” he asked hoarsely.
 
 
 
 
Angel's voice remained eerily calm. “Oh, I think you know what I want.”
 
 
 
 
“What the hell is going on?” Jax shouted. He was trying to figure out the heavy tension that suddenly arose between Angel and his father. When both men ignored him, he slammed his palm on the table. “Answer me!”

 
 
 
 
Bradley Sr. quickly regained his composure. He eyed Angel with contempt and loathing. “I should’ve known it was money,” he spat out. “You’re no different from that money hungry whore of a mother…”
 
 
 
 
He had barely gotten the hateful words out of his mouth before Angel rushed forward and wrapped his hands around his throat, squeezing with all his strength. Dominick was a second behind him, sliding over the table and reaching over Angel to grab any part he could of the bastard.
 
 
 
 
Jaxon was rendered motionless from shock for a few moments before he ran over to help his father. “Let him go! Get your hands off him!”
 
 
 
 
Dominick turned and tackled Jax, knocking over chairs as they tussled about. Jax tried valiantly to hold him off, but he was no match.
 
 
 
 
“Angel! Dominick!” Nikki screamed. “Matt, do something!”
 
 
 
 
“I’m trying! Dammit, Angel! Let go of his throat!” He was trying to pull Angel off of Bradley Sr., but Angel was determined not to stop until this bastard had taken his last breath at his hands.
 
 
 
 
 
Jaxon yelled out to Irene. “Call security!”