The Son-In-Law’s 99 Days Of Deception

Chapter 2

Vesper dropped his cigar and crushed it beneath his polished shoe. Then he stepped closer to the young man, examining him as though he were trying to uncover something hidden beneath his skin, while his group stood still, not daring to breathe.

“What are you?”

As if sick of the silence, Vesper violently grabbed the collar of Killian's shirt, dragging him upward until their faces were a breath apart, his eyes burning red with raw confusion. “Why the hell do you have that heirloom?!” He snapped, tightening his grip with every word.

Killian didn't flinch. His voice remained chillingly level. “News got to me that Benjamin was killed a month after donating his kidney to save your life.”

Vesper’s fierce frown faltered. His head snapped toward his group, then back to the stranger, and with every second of realization, his iron grip on the shirt slackened.

He ran his hands through his hair… who… how… how did he… “How did you know about the kidney donation?” He blurted without a second thought.

Moments later, Vesper sat at the head of the long table, surrounded by his inner circle. Every eye was locked on Killian as if he were an unreadable puzzle box, their expressions suggesting they had already decided he was a problem.

“Benjamin never discussed having a distant half-brother named Rowoon,” Zane muttered, leaning over to light Vesper’s fresh cigar. Something about this Rowoon guy felt entirely wrong, though he couldn't put his finger on it. His colleagues might be swallowing the story, but Zane wasn't convinced.

“Perhaps your friend had a life outside this group.” Killian looked directly at him. “Or did you people know everything about him except how to keep him alive?”

Zane's expression hardened.

“You better beg the lord almighty you're not playing games here,” Vesper's voice was cold. “For your sake, pray.”

He relaxed. Ben was more than a friend to him. They grew on each other right from college. He considered him more like family. How many biological siblings would give you their kidneys? But Ben? That was his brother from another mother.

“I’ll ask you again. How did you find out about the donations?” He asked. He was confident Ben wasn't one to make announcements.

“And I'll ask you something in return.” Killian pulled out a chair but didn't sit. “Have you found the man who killed my brother? I’d love to believe you made his murderer pay,” He glanced slowly around the table before his eyes locked onto Vesper.

“Is that why you tracked me down?” Vesper asked, his demeanor shifting into something much more dangerous and controlled. “There's already a manhunt out for the killer.”

Killian let out a dry, humorless laugh, shaking his head in mock pity. “Are you that much of a coward?”

“What the fuck did you just call the Boss?” Zane lunged forward, grabbing Killian by the neck and pressing the cold edge of a combat knife right beneath his chin.

“Fuck off,” Killian spat, utterly unfazed.

Another man shouted.

“Watch your fucking mouth.”

“Why?” Killian asked. “Will that bring him back?”

“Enough!”

Vesper’s single word brought instant order. Zane released his grip, and reluctantly sank back.

The room settled into an uneasy silence.

“He has been dead for almost a year now,” Vesper leaned forward, his interest visibly piqued. “Why the hell are you only showing up now?”

“You weren't even present at his funeral,” another member chimed in suspiciously.

Damn it.

Killian had prepared for several questions, especially about Benjamin's death, the heirloom, and the kidney donation. He hadn't prepared a convincing explanation for his absence from the funeral.

He took a breath, letting his irritation show.

“Are you questioning my right to avenge my brother's blood?”

“I'm questioning whether you're his brother at all,” Vesper tilted his head.

“I'm not here to convince you.”

Killian dragged a hand over his face in bitter disbelief. “And how the hell could you allow him out on operations when he was barely recovering from the transplant?” He locked eyes dead-on with Vesper. “You couldn't even protect him! What—don't tell me you let the murderer walk?”

He slammed his palm flat against the table, his voice dropping cold. “What the fuck have you been doing? Ben didn't tell me he hung out with cowards.”

“You little piece of shit—!” Zane barked, and the entire room of enforcers surged to their feet like a pack of wolves ready to tear Killian apart.

Vesper didn't move. He sat back, arms crossed over his chest, watching the young man with a twisted look of fascination. He was studying a man who possessed zero survival instincts—or terrifying confidence.

“I’ll remind you who you're speaking to, you asshole!” Jethro, a tall member shouted, stepping up.

Killian didn't wait for them; instead he strode straight into the center of their circle. “Take your best shot!” he snarled, turning from face to face. “Who’s going first? You? You? Or is it you? What—you think I'm scared of your lazy asses when I already lost the only person I had left in this world because of this group’s incompetence?!”

He shook his head frantically, turning his back on them to look at Vesper. “Are you really Ben's friends? Come on! Show me your strength. Why show your strengths to the murderer when you can show it to his brother?”

Vesper's face gave nothing away.

But his fingers had stopped moving against the armrest.

“You weren't there,” Jethro said quietly. “You know nothing about what happened.”

“Then explain it to me.”

“That's enough,” Zane snapped. “You walk in here claiming to be Benjamin's brother, insult the boss, and expect us to entertain your questions?”

“I didn't come here to entertain you.”

They all glanced sideways at Vesper, waiting for a kill order. He didn't need to raise his voice to control the room. His men were accustomed to waiting for his permission that even their anger belonged to him.

Vesper’s eyes stayed locked in the young man, not showing his fascination.

Finally, Killian let out a disgusted sigh, turning toward the heavy steel exit. “What a waste of time.”

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Killian heard his voice behind him, but didn't bother to turn around.

“To find the animal who killed Ben. Since no one else here has the stomach for it.”

“All by yourself?” He asked quietly, standing up from his chair and walking slowly toward him.

Vesper stopped in front of him, pulled out a thick cigar. His eyes never leaving Killian, he lit it slowly, letting the smoke curl between them, filling the room with something dark and heavy.

The silence stretched then he reached into his pocket, and pulled out a clean, black-embossed card.

“Come by my office tomorrow morning,” Vesper said, holding the card out, “We’ll discuss Benjamin properly.”

Killian paused. He looked down at the card, then up at Vesper's calculating eyes, before scanning the hostile faces of the men around the room. With a slow, deliberate movement, he plucked the card from Vesper's fingers, shoved Jethro roughly out of his way, and barked, “Move.”

Jethro staggered back, but before he could recover, the man was gone.

The room fell into a heavy, suffocating silence.

Zane stared at the door, trying desperately to read his boss's unreadable expression. He didn't actually buy that half-brother bullshit, did he?

“Boss,” Zane finally broke the silence, his voice tight. “You didn't actually believe a word of that, right?”

Vesper didn't answer. He just stared at the space where Killian had been standing, a dark, dangerous smile slowly touching his lips.

“Keep your questions to yourself,” Vesper frowned, “Do you think I'm stupid?”

“No boss.”

Several blocks away from the walls of the Temple, a sleek black Hyundai pulled quietly beside Killian.

He yanked open the passenger door and slid inside, letting out a long, calm breath.

“How’d it go, Boss?” Linc, his loyal bodyguard behind the wheel, asked as the car moved smoothly into traffic.

Killian peeled off his prosthetic mustache and beard, tossing it onto the dashboard, and leaned his head back against the seat with a cold, triumphant smirk.

“Tomorrow will determine that.”

Linc, having monitored the whole op through the audio feed connected to his boss's ears, chuckled softly. “Your performance back there was Oscar-worthy.”

The two men exchanged a dark, knowing look, the engine roaring as they merged onto the highway.