Breaking Cannon

35.

Maddox POV

The next day is spent packing and getting everything. Calen and Cannon are outside barking orders while I had the amazing task of watching Henry. We're currently sitting on the couch. I dick around on my phone while he just sits there. A gun is placed on the table beside me. A silent, but very clear threat.

I hate this guy. They put me in charge of douche duty because they knew I wouldn't hesitate to shoot him if necessary.

"I could use some painkillers, you know?"

I roll my eyes and ignore him while I text Calen.

Me:
Would Cannon be mad if I killed him?

Butt buddy🔪: we need him.

Me: Hm. I don't think we do.

Butt buddy🔪: stop distracting me.

Me: Asshole.

Butt buddy🔪: love you too, Mads.

Yeah, whatever. I leave him on read and focus on Henry.

"Does it hurt?" I ask.

"Yes. Very much."

"Good."

I go back to scrolling.

"I love him you know." He says. I roll my eyes and laugh in his face.

"You're an idiot."

"You don't know what love is. Everything I did was for a reason. He needed to be ruthless to keep up in this industry."

"Keep talking and I'll shoot your other foot."

He visibly stiffens.

"It had to be done. A parent's sacrifice never ends."

This time my anger gets the best of me. I feel it bubble to the top and can no longer tamp it down.

"Tell me, what did you sacrifice when you beat him? When you tortured him? When you did unthinkable things?"

I start to stand up, getting more and more heated every second.

"You permanently scarred his body and his mind. You sacrificed? You're ducking pathetic. The minute you stop being useful to me is the minute you die."

By now I'm inches away from his face, my words drip with rage.

"Why do you care? I made him unloveable. Love gets in the way of business. The scar I gave him is a constant reminder."

My mind goes to the long jagged scar that runs down his torso.

I'm going to hit him.

I go to beat the living shit out of him, but something catches my eye first.

Cannon stands in the corner. Grey eyes trained on his father. Rage is apparent in every aspect of his posture. I go to him and grab his hand, forcing him outside.

I sit him down on a pool chair and grab his face.

"You are not unloveable."

His eyes flicker to mine. He relaxes and leans into my touch.

"Let's go kill some Russians?" I offer.

He grins. A wide grin that shows his dimples that I didn't know were there. My heart flutters. I could look at that forever.

"Let's go kill some Russians."

...

Calen POV

We board the jet.

Henry is sitting in his spot with duct tape over his mouth because Mads decided he lost his speaking privileges.

Cannon met his perfect match.

I sit and listen to Cannon and Maddox argue over him not letting her go to the meeting that we have with Nikolai. She says it's a trap and to be honest, it sounds like one. I already told him it was a bad idea. He argues that if it is a trap, then he definitely needs to be the one to go.

I head back to the bathroom. I finish and leave when I run into Maddox. She shoves me backward into the bathroom.

"What are you doing? I'm not trying to have Cannon angry that I'm alone with you."

"Shut up. Listen. He's walking straight into a trap and you know it. The second he steps foot in that meeting, he's dead."

I nod.

"I have a plan."

Oh lord.

I listen as she explains the plan. I would never lie to Cannon. But if it's to save his life, then I will.

She wants me to tell Cannon the meeting got rescheduled to a different time and place. She'll go meet with Nikolai instead. He won't be expecting her. Her training has progressed far enough that she feels she can handle herself. She basically punched me when I told her that she was no match for Nikolai. He's dangerous because he has nothing to lose. She thinks she can explain to him the reason why both of his nephews are dead.

I see why she'd think that. We did nothing to them, that they didn't do to us. Everything was justified.

Finally, she states that she's needed less than Cannon. If he dies, it leaves me and everyone who works for him wide open and vulnerable. I hate to admit it, but it's true.

She ends her speech and looks at me, gauging my reaction.

"Fine. But I'm coming."

She shakes her head.

"If you come, he'll know something's up. You need to be there with him for the 'meeting.'"

"I don't like this." I say.

"I know. But will you still do it?"

I think. It really is the only way to minimize death.

I nod my head and my stomach sinks.

If I just signed her death certificate, I'll never forgive myself.