~ MARY ~
As soon as I ended the call with the commissioner of police, the heavy wooden door to my study creaked open. I glanced up just as Jack was pushed inside, his hands bound tightly behind his back. My son, my firstborn, stood there, flanked by Adam and Dan, two of my most trusted men—even though they had been a massive screw-up this past week. At least they finally did something right by bringing him to me. That wouldn’t stop their punishment, though.
Jack’s face was expressionless, but I could see the simmering anger in his eyes, the stiffness in his posture. He looked at me with that same stoic defiance I had come to expect, especially after what he had done.
I reclined in my chair, studying him. His normally pristine appearance was marred by bruises and a swollen cheek—evidenc
