RAGE (The Rage Series Book 2) (5 page)

              “You shouldn't be here, Marshall.” It was all he could think of to say.

At David’s words, Marshall’s face only became more somber, and he said, “I'm here to pay your bail.”

              “Like hell you are.” David knew that his bail was set at ten thousand dollars since Mathers Incorporated was such a high profile company. He'd be dead and in his grave before he let anyone pay such a lofty sum of money to get him out of the situation he'd worked himself into. “I won't let you.”

              “David, do you think we've been friends for this long because you've
let me
be friends with you?” Marshall's gaze was sincere as he leaned across the table, under the close watch of the guard. “You've been inside this little bubble your entire life, and you're under some gross misconception that I pity you or think less of you because of the circumstances you've encountered. I've come here today to tell you that you're wrong.” Stunned, David couldn't find the words to rebut him. While he vainly searched for what to say to dissuade Marshall, he only steamrolled on. “I've never pitied you or considered you a charity case. If I've paid for you, it's only because I thought it was the least you deserved. For thirty-five years, life has been throwing you these devastating curve balls; yet, every time, you manage to come out on top.”

              His words drew scathing laughter from the dark-eyed man, who merely shook his head. “On top? Marshall, do you want to know why I'm in here? I plotted to bring down Mathers, and I nearly
had
. Everything was going as I wanted until…suddenly…” he trailed off, somewhat lost in his thoughts, “…until, suddenly, it wasn't.”

              “What happened, David?” Marshall's soft inquiry touched something in David that he thought was long dead, something that was barely brought to light by Charlotte—a woman he was sure would never speak directly to him again.

              Knowing that the guard wouldn't be able to take any kind of statement unless it was legally documented, David spilled every emotion he’d experienced and every detail of the plot that he’d implemented over the last six months. After keeping it to himself so long, he had to admit that it felt good to finally have someone who could merely listen to him. His pride was bruised and his masculinity had suffered an unrecoverable blow; but, he had finally aired his most intimate skeletons.

              Funnily enough, Marshall didn't look as disgusted as David would have thought. Disappointed, certainly, and more than a little confused; but, he didn't rise to leave the room in a huff.

In fact, as soon as David finished speaking, he voiced his own concerns. “You've been planning this for…years?”

              “Since shortly after my father died, yes. Marshall, you can't imagine the impression it made on me. My father
killed
himself because Mathers went after him so relentlessly. What that man did was inhumane.”

              “And was what you were planning any more humane? Use any means necessary to bring the company down? Christ, David, you were even willing to exploit the woman you love.”

              “I
do not
love her.” David’s denial was sudden and vehement, his gray eyes narrowing. “I respect her, and now I realize that it was wrong of me to involve her; but, love is something that takes multitudes of years and leagues of trust, Marshall. These are things that I haven't had the opportunity to acquire.”

              “Bullshit.” His companion's response rang through the room caustically, his expression firm. “David, you talk about her like a man obsessed. If I'd have known when we last spoke, perhaps I could have done something.”

              “Something like what?” David scoffed, shaking his head.

              “Like brought you back from the brink,” Marshall replied flatly, rolling his eyes playfully with a small smile. “Falling for the girl was a major problem, man.”

              Like he needed anyone else to tell him that.

              Marshall's smile, however, was the first he'd seen in days, and it gave him hope. After a terse moment's silence, he sighed, casting his eyes down towards the table. “I'm going to pay you back, you know.”

              “Sure, no problem.” Marshall was already standing, pulling out his checkbook, as he signaled to the guard. His entire life David had told himself that friends were an unnecessary distraction. First, it was work that he needed to devote himself to and then his elaborate revenge scheme. He'd never had time for friends. But Marshall? Marshall had stuck by him through every ordeal in his life—and was still standing by him, even in the face of a multi-billion dollar company pressing charges.

              At the age of thirty-five, David was beginning to realize that he had underestimated the merits of friendship.

              It took about an hour’s worth of paperwork, facing the stern chief of the district—who was almost certainly against David when it came to fighting for his supposed innocence. However, he was eventually freed on bail.  Walking out of the precinct was one of the most liberating experiences in David's life—until he remembered he'd still have to deal with the Mathers father and daughter, who were undoubtedly out for his blood. Plus, he was determined to confront his mother.

              She might have barely spoken for the last decade, but he needed her to speak now. He needed her to reassure him that Emerson had just been bellowing lies. She would never have cheated on his father, would she? Mathers had implied that it had been going on for years. David must have been born from that perverted union. He needed answers—and the sooner, the better.

              As he and Marshall emerged into the sunlight, a shout from their right caught David's attention. He glanced over to see a petite woman. She was no more than five-foot-two or so with warm brown eyes and dark hair, and she was waving to them. She wore an amazing, green-fitted suit that highlighted her curvaceous figure. Her smile was surprising, considering she was searching for two men fresh out of a police station.

“Leah, hey,” said Marshall.

              David glanced at his friend and back to the woman again. The name Marshall had called sounded familiar, though he would swear on his life he'd never seen the newcomer before. “David,” Marshall said, as he paused at the edge of the sidewalk to let the woman catch up with them. “This is my sister, Leah. She's one of the best defense attorneys in the business.”                           

              Ah. Over the years, Marshall had mentioned his younger sister a few times, but David had never actually met her. Despite the fact that he'd just come out of an extremely confusing pseudo-relationship with a woman bound to hate him, he couldn't help but notice that she was quite cute—and that she looked nothing like her brother. “She's going to be helping us out.”

              Oh, no.

              Immediately, David shook his head. Lawyers cost money. Good lawyers were expensive. Marshall had been footing the bill his entire life, and perhaps he'd done it because he respected him, but this was far too much. “I can't.” He looked from brother to sister, his gray gaze serious. “I don't have anything to pay you with now.”

              “Wow, he's just like you said.” Leah's hands went to her hips, as she gave him a cursory once over.

              “David, didn't we just go over this? Do you really want the city defending you? Mathers probably has them in their pockets.”

              “Well, no,” he started, “but you can't keep—”

              “Christ, man, you're not my mom. Don't tell me what I can and can't do. And besides, this was Leah's decision. If you want to convince someone, start with her, and good luck with that. I haven't won an argument against her since she passed the bar.”

              The
last
thing he wanted to do was kick a gift horse in the mouth at this particular juncture, but he didn't know if he would ever get used to Marshall supporting him so. He'd thought he would be on his own feet by this point, and the disappointment stung.

David exhaled hotly and held his hand out to Leah with a small smile. “Nice to finally meet you.”

              “Likewise. I was beginning to think I'd never see the elusive David.”

              “I assure you, it's more a trial than luck that we met. You'll see that soon enough.”

              “I think you might underestimate me slightly.” The dark-haired woman's expression turned mischievous. “Marshall wasn't bluffing when he said I'm one of the best. So, let's get back to the office and see what we have to work with here.”

              Somehow, he didn't think it would be much.

              If he wanted this situation to work to his advantage at all, he would have to tell Leah the truth. Divulging to Marshall, who he'd known for years, was one thing; but, telling Marshall’s sister would be quite another. She was a woman and would probably be quick to see Charlotte's side of things. He deceived her, and though the ruthlessness of his methods had abated somewhat, he'd intended to keep lying to her until he achieved his goals. It wasn't something that women tended to find acceptable.

              However, Leah
was
Marshall's sister.

              Perhaps, somehow, she'd be able to see beyond his actions and discover that he wasn't an abysmal person. He was just angry and bereft after feeling like he'd been robbed of everything that mattered for years.

              However, first, he had to go home.

              He needed to check on his mother. Once he was sure she was alright, he needed to ask her a few questions. He was going to get answers, one way or the other. He could only hope that they were the answers he wanted to hear.

              She was in better shape than he had hoped.

              Though the nurse hadn't been in for two days, it was obvious that Miranda had been present enough to take herself to the bathroom and shower. When they entered the small apartment, she was parked on the couch in front of the TV, watching it silently. Her damp hair was enough to tell David that she had at least kept herself clean. However, he couldn’t say whether she'd eaten or not.

              Apologetically, he gestured to Leah and Marshall to wait in the tiny front entryway as he shed his jacket and shoes. He desperately needed a shower, and more than anything, he craved a good, hot meal. However, before he did either, he needed to speak with her. He needed to know.

              “Mom.” At the sound of his voice, his mother glanced up at him dully for a moment before looking back at the television. The reaction was more than he usually got from her and that gave him hope. “I'm sorry I was gone so long. Are you alright. Is everything ok?”

She said nothing, just continuing to stare at the screen before her.

              Sighing, David moved to sit next to her on the couch, following the line of her gaze. His eyes widened when he realized that she was watching a news program—and the subject of the current report was none other than Mathers Incorporated. He found he couldn't tear his eyes away, as the blonde news anchor began to narrate the developing story, images playing out behind her.

              “One of our top news stories tonight: Mathers Incorporated has suddenly taken on a new CEO. After an inspection of some of the company's developing projects caused suspicion of possible sabotage, former CEO and daughter of Mathers Incorporated founder, Emerson Mathers, stepped down. In her place, the noted business mogul, Samson Causewell, took over the running of the company. It is still unknown the extent to which the firm has been crippled by the mishap, but we'll continue to cover the story as it unfolds.”

              Charlotte had stepped down?

              David frowned at the screen. Why on earth would she have done that? Yes, he'd installed fail-safes into every prototype he'd worked on, but any idiot with even the lowest tech degree could extract them to preserve the device. He was left to assume those working in the department hadn't actually found what was wrong with the technology and only assumed that it would impossible to salvage.

              And Charlotte…the last time he'd checked, the company had been her life. Hadn't she spoken of running it in a way exponentially better than the way her father had? Of making it into her pet project and using it to bolster all her charitable aspirations?

              And now she'd just given it up.

              It was more than a little strange, and David would be willing to bet that there was some awful foul play involved on the part of Emerson Mathers. With a small smile, he remembered how fulfilling it had been when his fist had connected with the odious man's face. He wasn't usually a violent man, but the spray of blood and the flying teeth had done him a world of good.

              Emerson had said some pretty nasty things about his mother; but, they were only the latest in a life full of insults he'd dealt the Marscomb family. When David opened his mouth to speak to his mother, a part of him hoped desperately that she remained as mute as she had been for the past years. It was the same part of him that feared, deep down, that Emerson's words had been the truth. Yet, a much larger part of him craved his mother's reassurance and the sound of her voice.