Heir In Chains
1167 Words
The SUV’s backseat smelled of blood and expensive cologne.
Jacob only ordered for his driver to bandage Carlos’ wound without proper treatment as he watched them on his phones camera, his fingers tapping against his knee like a metronome counting down to an execution.
When they got to the Laurent penthouse, Jacob called Carlos to his study and dropped into the leather chair behind his desk. He didn’t tell Carlos to sit.
He felt he didn’t deserve it and needed to be in pain as he stepped on the wonder leg.
Carlos stood there, leg wrapped in a sloppy bandage, jaw and fist clenched. Eyes narrowed in pain.
“You’re late,” Jacob said. His voice was quiet. That made it worse.
“I had to—”
“Where is your sister?”
He shot back, pretending he hadn’t already watched what had happened.
Carlos stammered like a child in trouble.
“You had one job,” Jacob cut him off.
“Bring her home. Alive. I didn’t say make a mess of it. I didn’t say let Dale Farmington shoot you like a dog in the street.”
Carlos’s throat bobbed.
“Useless,” Jacob said flatly.
“All this time, and you’re still useless. You’re not even good at being my son. You’re just a bastard who got lucky with a prestige surname and unfortunately ut had to be mine.”
Those words hit harder than the bullet.
Carlos’s hands fisted at his sides. “Don’t call me that.”
He said, his voice barely audible.
Jacob smiled without humor.
“What are you going to do about it? Shoot me too?”
The door opened before Carlos could answer.
Claudia Rodrigo stepped in, dressed like she’d been waiting years for this moment.
Blue silk dress, white pearls and black heels that clicked on the marble like a verdict.
She looked at Carlos first. Took in the bandage, the blood on his shirt, the fury in his eyes. Then she looked at Jacob.
“Is this how you speak to your son now?” she asked, voice smooth and dangerous.
Jacob didn’t stand. “Claudia. Why are you here?.”
He asked, leaning into his chair, his arms folded.
She smiled “Im here for good now. Selena has left so you need someone to fill the role of Laurent wife and mother. Don’t you think so?.”
Jacob didn’t even have the strength to argue. He shot Carlos a look as his gaze shifted in fear.
“Fine then. Your first job is to take care of that thing standing there. In fact get him out of here!”
He screamed, slamming the table.
She walked past Carlos, brushing her fingers against his cheek. “My boy,” she murmured. “They underestimate you.”
Carlos swallowed, the anger in his chest cooling just enough for shame to take its place.
Jacob leaned forward. “Good. You can keep him in line. Because right now, he’s a liability.”
Claudia’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “We’ll see about that.”
Across the city, Vivian’s heels echoed in the empty hallway of Dale’s condo.
The security man let her in since he knew her but forgot to tell her Dale wasn’t home.
She pushed the door open with her shoulder, purse clutched tight.
“Dale?”
Silence.
No lights. No answer. No sign he’d been here since the night he went for Selena’s party.
Vivian exhaled, sharp and frustrated. She walked in anyway, like she owned the place. Which, technically, she almost had.
The place was cold. Empty. The kind of empty that told you someone had left in a hurry and wasn’t planning to come back.
She went to the kitchen first. The coffee maker was still half-full, stale. On the counter was a torn piece of paper.
A pharmacy receipt. Cash payment. 3:14 a.m.
Vivian picked it up, frowning.
“Where are you, Dale?” she whispered.
She pulled out her phone and dialed a number she hadn’t used in weeks.
“Find him,” she said when it connected.
“I don’t care how. He’s not in his condo as well, he’s always either at these two places. Im scared he’s in trouble from how his condo was left.
She hung up and looked around the empty apartment.
For the first time in years, the thought of getting Dale back didn’t feel like winning. It felt like getting a priceless possession she never wanted to lose back. She only hoped he wasn’t in trouble.
Back at the penthouse, Jacob was going through files.
Claudia poured herself a glass of wine and sat on the arm of his chair.
“You’re pushing him too hard. He’ll break.”
“Good,” Jacob said. “Then I’ll know where he breaks.”
Carlos stood in the doorway, listening. His leg throbbed. His pride burned worse.
“I’m not a child,” he said suddenly.
Both of them looked up.
“You don’t get to call me a bastard and expect me to keep smiling,” Carlos said.
“You used me. You used Mom. You used Selena. And now you want me to clean up your mess and call it loyalty?”
Jacob stood slowly. “Watch your tone, young man.”
“Or what?” Carlos stepped forward.
“You’ll disown me too? Too late. You’ve saved everything in my name remember?”
The room went still.
Claudia set her glass down carefully.
Jacob’s eyes narrowed then he laughed loudly.
“You really think a mere declaration means I’ve saved my properties under your name? You better back up boy!”
“So why did you do it then? Why did you declare giving everything to me? I think you need me,”
Carlos said. “And you don’t like the feeling of that.”
For a second, Jacob looked like he might hit him.
Then the intercom buzzed.
Jacob pressed the button. “Yes?”
“Sir, we have a problem at the west lot,” security said. “Someone’s at the tunnel exit. They’re asking for Miss Laurent.”
Jacob’s face changed.
Carlos felt it before he understood it.
Selena.
She was coming.
Jacob turned to Carlos, voice low and deadly.
“Get up. If you want to prove you’re not useless, you’ll be the one to bring her in this time. And if you fail—”
He left the sentence unfinished.
Carlos nodded, jaw tight.
As he turned to leave, Claudia caught his arm.
“Be careful, mijo,” she whispered. “Your father doesn’t forgive failure.”
Carlos pulled away.
Downstairs, Vivian’s hired man called back.
“Found him,” he said. “He’s not alone. And he’s not in the city.”
Vivian sat up straight. “Where?”
“Old service tunnels under the west lot. Looks like he’s heading home.”
Vivian smiled, slow and dangerous.
“Then I’m going home too.”
- Writer
