Diamond (Rare Gems #2)(53)

“I was making my way to the garage, sir, when he hit me from behind. I was out for only a few seconds, but it was enough for him to get the jump on me. I do apologize, sir.” Benson put his handkerchief to his head and winked. “I do feel the most faint when I’m unable to sit, sir. I was wondering…do you think it possible that I have a cold drink?”

“Shut the f*ck up.” Ignoring Ward, Thad went to the small refrigerator near the file cabinet and got a bottle. He wasn’t sure what Benson wanted from him until he was right there. On top of the cabinet was the camera that he and Benson had been playing with earlier. It had come with the house. They’d found it and the bank of recorders in one of the wall closets in this room. He pressed the button to record his brother.

“What are you doing here, Ward? The police are looking for you.” His brother snarled at him. “You think I’m going to bail you out of this, you’re stupider than I thought.”

“Why don’t you just give me what I want?” Thad was surprised by the outburst and laughed. “I want you to give me what I had before. An office at your new building and a house. I don’t want an apartment this time, a real house. With a staff. I’m not going to clean up after myself when you can afford to have it done for me.”

“Anything else while you’re making demands?” Thad reached for Blair. He nearly reached for Diamond, but he was afraid she’d get hurt, and he didn’t want that. Blair said he was on his way.

Diamond said she could feel that you were upset and tried to call the house. She said Benson alerted her that Ward was there. He’d have to find out what they’d said to each other. I’ve called the police, too, but I don’t think they’re going to be there before me.

More than likely not. He looked at Ward, then Thad realized he was waiting for an answer. “I’m not going to give you anything. I’m not going to pay off any of the places you destroyed, nor am I going to pay for a lawyer. I hope you end up in jail for a very long time.”

“What is wrong with you? How can you live here with that woman and not want more?” Ward got up to pace but kept his gun near Benson. “I’ve been trying and trying to show you what you need, but you continue to want to shun the type of lifestyle that you were born to.”

“I was born to a poor family the same as you were. My mother worked her ass off all day to come home and fix dinner for Dad, who rarely came home from one of the women he was seeing to eat with us. Dad never left the couch to even find a job, and when he did, he was usually fired within a few weeks for being drunk on the job.” Thad leaned back in his chair. “I’ve worked very hard for what I’ve got, and I see no reason whatsoever to give any of it to you. You want money, find a job, a real job.”

“But I’m your brother.” Thad waited for him to say more, but apparently he thought that should explain it. He shook his head. There was something seriously wrong with his brother.

“What about that man you killed in Texas? What do you have to say about that?” His brother started pacing again, and Thad noticed that he was talking to himself. He could hear him but didn’t understand what he was saying.

“He touched me. My person, and that is just not what is done to a person of my caliber. I’m Ward Galloway, and Ward Galloway is rich. Rich men do not get blow jobs from underlings.” Ward turned to look at him. “He was a ways to a means. I needed money, and he had it. What other reason could there be?”

“You murdered a man in cold blood for his money?” Thad knew his brother was sick, but this was beyond what he’d thought he’d say. “You simply needed something and took it? Damn the consequences?”

“Of course. Isn’t that what I’ve been trying to tell you to do for the past twenty minutes? You can f*ck that Jade woman, but don’t f*cking marry her. She’s not worthy of you.”

“Jade? What does Jade have to do with this?” He tried to remember how she’d been involved in all this, and remembered the encounter at Blair’s office. “I’m not marrying Jade.” His brother sagged with relief.

“Thank God. She’s well beneath you, and you should have seen it well before now. No matter, we’ll get this all straightened out and I’ll make sure it never happens again.” His brother put the gun in his pants and walked toward him. “You’ll see, things will go better now that I’m going to be working here.”

“I’m marrying her sister, Diamond. And you won’t be working here either.” Thad reached out and grabbed his brother’s extended hand. He was more than likely going to shake on the deal, but Thad had had enough. With a quick twist, he had his brother down on the desk and Benson was disarming him.

“I thought for sure he’d never shut up.” Thad laughed at Benson. “Sire, if you don’t mind me saying so, I think your brother has delusions of grandeur that are simply insane.”

Thad couldn’t have agreed more.





Chapter 17



“I do hope you’re happy.” Diamond turned to see Jan standing behind her. “You’ve gotten me written up and put on probation. If one more nurse complains, I’m going to lose my job. All because of you.”

“Doubtful that it’s because of me. You should have taken better care of the people who support you and not run them into the ground.” Diamond hung the last picture on the wall to her new office before going to her desk. “I’m going to make sure that all the nurses, new and old, know that they’re not your whipping posts and will be respected.” Jan huffed, sat down in the chair across from her, and looked around.