Chapter 298: Not all big brother’s are kind

The news hit his desk just as he was about to go to bed.

He stared at the paper, the hastily scrawled letters, and felt a cold, calculating smile touch his lips.

So this was how it was. His brother was finally going to act, and it was going to be something so public? It was clear he was planning something, someone from their bloodline didn’t remain as quiet as he had without planning something. It just wasn’t in their nature.

He’d been trying to hire someone to infiltrate the Phoenix Guild for months now, trying to get someone who could get close to Brenton. Did he want him dead? Of course, but simply knowing what the man was up to was just as important.

However, no one would take the job. Seems that while the Phoenix Guild had pulled back significantly since the assassination of the Guild Captain’s partner, they still had a rather serious reputation in town. Made even more significant when a large group of Espers arrived at the Guild only a week ago, and then even more Espers had shown up after the S Class meeting had happened.

He clenched his teeth, upset that once more he was ignored for such a meeting. Even his Guild hadn’t been invited, and that’s what it was. His Guild. No matter what that fucking stain on his family history said, nor what the damn changed will said. It was his. All of it, and now, with him foolishly speaking to the public, he could make it known how wrong he was.

He might not kill his brother during the conference, why would he need to? He just needed to make sure that others understood that having a Guide in charge was a bad idea. After all, all Guides were dangerous, stupid creatures, incapable of protecting themselves from the violence that others wanted to inflict on them. They were worse than civilians.

An Esper could simply force them to guide them and they could die. He’d seen it happen, and while it had been fascinating to watch the Guide turn into a skeleton before his very eyes, he didn’t think he’d be able to pull off something like that at the press conference.

He had a limited window. His brother, tragically, wasn’t as stupid as the rest of his siblings. How else would he have been able to survive for as long as he did while being a thorn in his side? He was angry at himself for thinking for even a second he could let him live. It was only because the pull of his powers had distracted him.

He wanted to breed him, get more out of him, but while the damn fool was a slut, he was cautious. Careful.

Even the women that he’d sent to him had come away smitten and lacking a child. Had he gotten himself fixed? He didn’t think so, there were no records of such a surgery, but he couldn’t be so sure. His brother was cautious of most people, and while he might not be aware of what he had planned for him, he couldn’t help but admit it was smart of him to be so careful.

He would have had the women try to milk him of all his money if they had ended up pregnant. Unfortunately, the man was too good at seducing people, and convincing them his way was the right way.

Growling, frustrated, he let out a low laugh as an idea popped into his head. Colby. Yes, he could use Colby. He’d all but banished the man after he’d failed not once, but twice in getting rid of his brother. That was more of a punishment for the man since he worshiped the ground that he walked on. He kept going near where Colby was just to get the man anxious that he would forgive him.

He wouldn’t.

He didn’t forgive useless people. Colby knew that better than anyone else, but he might have just found a use for him again. He could give Colby this last chance. Snatch Brenton up from the stage, right in front of their eyes, but just fast enough that he didn’t get caught. It wouldn’t matter if they assumed it was him, there were too many people who would want Brenton’s head.

The E.A.G., for one, and it would fix all of his problems if he just handed Brenton over as soon as Colby snatched him up and they could have their way with him. It would bolster their forces if they were able to snatch up Brenton. He didn’t know why, nor did he care. He would just be glad to get rid of him since then the family business would be handed over to him.

He’d worked too hard over the past 15 years to have everything slip through his fingers all because his stupid grandfather wanted to deprive him of everything. He’d grown the family name, expanded their influence, made the James family a name that no one spoke without reverence.

So it still baffled him that the man had changed his will. He’d had it on good authority for a while that he was supposed to be the one who inherited the family head position, not Brenton, so what had changed? Had he known? He’d done his best to hide it, but then again, he was a man who had created and spliced together a freak that was Brenton. He had succeeded where no one else had, and maybe that he was folly.

He had been too young to consider that a man of his caliber might have been able to sense his evil intentions. He’d been foolish since of course his grandfather might have been able to sense something. He hadn’t survived as long as he had at the center of a city that was run by those freaks with powers without having some kind of a sixth sense. He might have even been able to sniff out his intentions, even if he had thought he had done a good job at hiding it.

Oh well. The man was dead now, and it was just about cleaning up the mess that he left in his wake. He’d been cremated to hide the evidence and he hadn’t heard of any of those freaks being able to figure something out from dead bodies. Even if the contacts that he had at the E.A.G. told him that more Espers were being born with strange powers, reviving the dead hadn’t happened yet.

Sighing, he rubbed his face, staring at the paper for a moment longer.

He had a short timeline, and while he should go with the Colby plan, he needed to plan for it if that didn’t go well. Getting the public to think that Brenton was a poor choice as the head of the family was an option to depose him and take his seat. He needed to do that. He needed that power.

He was running out of his slush funds since someone was too capable by Brenton’s side and was hunting down every cent he’d tucked away. He was barely keeping up with the lifestyle that he had gotten used to, and forgetting his family, everyone else was running into issues.

Being chased out of his own home had been humiliating, but he had several other homes. Then someone had started coming after those because they had been bought with the family money. Cruel. He’d never even treated Brenton that way.

He let the man keep the arms that their grandfather had bought him. He’d never even paid it any mind, and hadn’t interfered with them until after their grandfather had passed. He should be grateful to him. He’d only started going after his life seriously recently, and this was how Brenton reacted? Running and hiding with another Guild? Trying to take everything from him?

It was a shame that blood only ran this deep.

He grabbed his phone, typing in a number that came easily, even if he wanted to forget it.

"S-Sire?" Colby’s whimpering, weak voice answered, hope a thin thread in his voice.

"Hello, Colby. Have you been well in the time we haven’t seen each other?" He asked, his voice soft and sweet. He knew that the man lived and breathed for him, which made it all the harder to speak to him after he’d failed him several times.

"I-I’ve been well. Thank you for asking. Is there something I can do for you?" He asked and he felt his lips curl. This was another reason why it hurt that Colby had failed. He always caught on rather quickly to what he had in mind.

"Yes, there is something you can do for me, Colby. I’m so glad that you are receptive to helping me." He purred, keeping his tone soft, and sweet. He knew that Colby liked it best when he was sweet with him. The way that his eyes would light up with desire should have made his skin crawl, but it was a nice reminder that he was desirable.

Colby would never be able to touch him, but he would do everything to make him happy. If this went well, he would consider what the next step with Colby would be. Would he welcome him back? Or would he send him further away?

Options, options.

"Of course, sire. I would gladly do your bidding. Should I come see you now so we can discuss it in person?" Colby asked eagerly. He looked around his office, taking in his own robed attire, and decided that it would only benefit him if Colby saw him like this.

He would gladly show a hint of shoulder if it meant that Colby would easily do whatever he wanted. It would be a wonderful incentive for him.

"You’re always so smart, Colby. I’ll see you soon. I’m in my office at my apartment." He purred, hanging up. He was adjusting his sleeves on his robe when Colby showed up, panting, and wearing the suit that he’d bought him after he completed a particularly hard job.

He grinned, watching as Colby tried his best not to scan him from head to toe, and failed as his face warmed. Yes, this was the right way to go about it. He’d just contact his safety net after this. One could never be too careful.