A Cartel Affair (First Original Draft)

Chapter 18

Carter's P.O.V.

"Carter."

Lea's muffled cry had ripped through me as I walked out of the room. I had forced myself not to look back. I didn't know what else I could do to show her how much I cared for her, how much I felt for her. I had been patient, as patient as a man like me could be.

I knew that Lea was struggling, truly I did. I had tried to show her that I wasn't the same as the man that took her and her sister. I had tried to show her a different side of me, a side of me that no one else had ever seen. I had tried dammit.

And I had failed.

I had made sure to keep a safe distance from her the rest of the day, focusing on holding meetings, being briefed by my members, and delegating jobs that needed to be taken care of. I knew they knew something was wrong, but they made sure to keep their comments to themselves. The fun, carefree attitude I had displayed the night before had been replaced with the demeanor they knew all too well, the stone cold, hard as ice one. And with the mood I was in, they knew that I wouldn't hesitated to snap their necks if they questioned me as to why.

I shook the thoughts of yesterday morning from my mind and made my way to my office. I couldn't face Lea, not just yet. The ache in my chest from her comparing me to that man, and her refusal to tell me how she felt about me, was still almost more than I could bear.

I had skipped brunch again this morning to finish up the work I had neglected over the last couple of weeks. However, as I pushed the doors open, I stopped cold and let out a string of silent curses as I spotted the last person I needed to deal with sitting behind my desk.

"You know Carter, chasing tail really doesn't suit you."

Mother looked up from the file that she had opened in her hands. Her tone was even and cold as she laid it down and looked me over, distaste clearly etched on her face.

"Look at you. " She waved her hand up and down, "You look like shit. I know I taught you better than to let some little bitch get under your skin like this."

"Mother." I acknowledged and ignored the snide remarks of the woman who birthed me and went straight to the point, "Why are you here?"

Mother sat back in my chair and steepled her hands over her chest, "You forget who you are talking to, Son."

I knew exactly who I was talking to, but I made no attempt to correct her, and I made no attempt to move any farther into the room, instead I opted to lean against the door frame, folding my hands in front of me as I watched Mother's every move. We stayed like that for a few minutes, sizing each other up before she finally broke the silence.

"I am here because I am going to spend some time with the girl who is distracting my son from running my organization."

I raised an eyebrow and dropped my hands to my side and clenched my fist.

"Like hell you are," I hissed out.

I couldn't argue with her about Lea not being a distraction, because she had been. I had allowed her to be. But that was something that I had planned on remedying today by immersing myself into finishing my work.

I kept my voice steady, fighting my already heightened emotions. "Do you seriously think that after you executed my father, that I would allow her to go anywhere with you. You must think that I am a blind fool, someone who is unable to see the hatred that you have for her rolling off of you."

"You don't really have a say in the matter Carter." Mother pushed back her chair and stood. "I have already sent for her. And if you dare try to stop me, well, I can make no promises that she'll come back to you in one piece." Mother took a step around the desk and leaned against it as she continued, "Do I make myself clear Carter?"