Jack In The Box

EZRA POV

I should’ve been in my hotel room packing, better yet, spending my final hours in WoodVille screwing the bartender I’d met at the club, instead a new discovery had forced me to first talk this out with my brother before I drew up any conclusions. My gut feeling told me that what I’d witnessed and seen was wrong, but I knew in my heart that it could as well be true.

“Sir, I’ve been instructed not to let any visitors disturb Mr. Wolfe at this hour.” Lynn followed me, hot on his heels, dabbing a handkerchief on his forehead.

Poor Lynn and the other house staff. They’d thought I’d died during one of my missions, and I’d made sure to keep my existence from public knowledge. I was someone who worked from the shadows, and so, my agency had completely wiped out my remnants from this mansion. I had no reason to live here after I’d joined the FBI because unlike Jack, this place haunted me. I couldn’t look at the shed outside without thinking of our mother; I couldn’t even step towards the same floor as my father’s room because I often thought he’d still be there inside, sitting in his usual chair, smoking a cigar.

When I’d turned up at the mansion, months later, Lynn and the staff had nearly survived a coronary. They thought they’d seen a ghost, and I had to quickly explain what had happened. I’d claimed back my old room, the one on the same floor as Jack’s but my room consisted of less things and even lesser furniture.

I knocked on the door of Jack’s room, scratch that, I rapped on the door with angry thumps.

The Jackass better be awake.

“Sir...But...”

“Lynn, please remind me who I am.” I told the butler.

He opened his palms as if to ask why I was even asking this question. “You are Ezra Wolfe, sir.”

“And what does that make me?” I asked.

“An important member of this house.” Lynn looked like a kid giving his best answers to win Who wants to be a Millionaire?

“Right. So, if the owner of this house, my brother wishes not to speak with me, he’d have to throw me out himself, which he can’t because it’s my house too. You’re not losing your job so...pretend like I’m not here and run back downstairs.”

Lynn huffed. The door of the room opened and a very sleepy Jack walked out of the room. I could see Riley sleeping on her side, the white comforter drawn up to cover the lower half of her body. It’s no wonder his phone was switched off.

“It’s four a.m, Ezra. What the fuck do you want at this hour?” Jack asked, barely opening his eyes. No shirt on, just a pair of jeans, unzipped and unbuttoned.

I had barely even slept, because my new partner had called me to discuss this new undercover case. I had a flight in two hours but this conversation needed to happen.

“Lynn, I need breakfast.” Jack said. “Eggs would be good.”

“It’s just four a.m, sir.”

“I can read time.” Jack replied, grumpily.

“Get me a strong coffee, black.” I told him and the butler was dismissed.

I turned my gaze towards Jack. He closed his bedroom door carefully behind him, like making the slightest sound would wake up the sleeping baby in his crib. Yeah, right.

“Jose Fisher.” I said.

The name was enough to remind him what had happened. Jack watched me, his demeanor as cool as a cucumber. Anyone else would have been fooled, not me.

“Who’s that?” He asked.

“You should try enrolling into a better acting school because you’re definitely not passing any auditions any time soon, brother.”

“Don’t talk in riddles.” He snapped. “Say it clearly.”

“Jose’s body was found in a ditch last night, butchered beyond recognition. Let me paraphrase that in a better way. His eyeballs are missing, Jackson and so was his penis. His organs laying in a pile beside him.” I told him. “The new FBI recruit puked his guts and almost called quits when he looked at the mess.”

“Who do you think did it?” Jack asked, watching me closely. “Certainly it’s not Aaron because he’s dead. Maybe it’s someone else?” He leaned against the doorframe. I knew that posture, he was trying to intimidate me, dominate me even.

“I won’t play your game, Jack. It probably charms the fuck out of Riley, it does nothing to me.”

“Get to the point, hermano. I need to get back to Riley. She’d probably start missing me.”

I said and watched as his expressions

with the same darkness in his eyes. “What are you going

Good Lord!

even tried to debunk the suspicion

killed a man for fuck’s sake! I’m an FBI Special agent, Jackson! You have no idea what I can

teeth and looked at his closed room door.

Killing

the suspicion of the murders.” Jack said coldly. “I’d checked his records, he’s been reported of sexual assault

me about this. There’s a way we could have handled

free raping other women. If the law is the right way to go then I

killing those three men in the past, but he couldn’t deny how it had changed him. The way I see it, Jack was always surrounded by

scooped his eyeballs out! How

“If you truly loved a woman, and saw some dirtbag try to soil

compare me with you.” I said

hypocrite. You’ve killed far more people than I have, don’t deny

a different case. I killed

innocents too.” He

like they are animals brought into

feign indifference. It’s when I realized there was no point in arguing with him. What was done was

police department? Put me back in the asylum or maybe prison this time. You

at him, speechless. He’d asked Riley to marry him, and

changed a lot of things. I didn’t know for the

Ezra? The company? We’ve talked about this a dozen times. I don’t want it. This entire fucking murder spree happened because of it,

a warning that I should be taking, but

the company. I’m interested in my brother’s well-being and keeping his sanity in check, but

you’re

know you

brow twitched upward. “How do

it concerns you. What was the

day in the asylum, talking shit about me, about mom, I couldn’t handle it. I’d noticed Aaron’s pattern

sentence for him. “You tried to mess with

“Correct.” Jack said.

even know what

Riley’s happiness away

master manipulator doing his

my breath. “Neither Dave nor Jose were innocent, and what you did to

lips formed into a knowing smile. “I knew

I was ashamed to admit this, but even a single clue trailing to Jack was going to be wiped completely out of existence. It wasn’t the first time that I hadn’t reported back what wasn’t needed. I’d seen some people kill other

next for eye-fucking Riley, and I’ll have you go where you’re supposed to go. I

loud and

stared at Riley in disbelief, hoping she hadn’t heard any bits of the conversation. Her brown hair was messy, and she was wearing Jack’s t-shirt that reached her

you leaving tonight?” She

at first, I’d been a little confused, maybe taken aback that Jack had been so completely devoted to her, but as the time passed I saw what he saw. She was real, she was strong and that’s what made her so beautiful. Her pure soul. She was his

Jack placed a hand possessively around her waist and kissed the top of her head. It was new to me, to see Jack showing compassion towards one woman. She looked at him like he was her entire world. A

before I hurt

to tell Riley what I’d learned. “Go back to sleep, Cotton-Candy.” He

Ezra.” She turned to face me.

as well, and I can only hope it’s not as bizarre as what I had to do

wish you success.” She pulled out of Jack’s arms and gave

said. I was going to miss

causes trouble, you call my phone. My assistant will answer. Code word: Cotton-Candy. I’ll leave whatever

giggled. “Jack proposed me! You have

miss it.” I assured

told Jack, giving him a last warning look.