Prologue
“IT’S BEEN SIX MONTHS since your father’s passing,” Joseph Collinsworth said to his nephew.
Evan Collinsworth’s son looked at the man who now was head of the family business. His grandfather, Anthony Collinsworth, had built the family empire using methods not exactly ethical or moral. Methods his eldest son Joseph perfected. Some tactics had been downright illegal. Some of the connections they had caused many to either deal with them out of fear or not deal with them at all.
“I know how long it’s been since Evan passed,” he answered.
Joseph looked at his nephew with disappointment. Evan was Joseph’s younger brother who he and their father considered soft. Decades ago, Evan entered into a business deal he never should have. At least where Anthony and Joseph were concerned. All because he’d fallen for a pretty young woman who also didn’t belong in business. A woman Evan, no matter what he did, could never have. Randall Pierce was a young woman in her early-twenties when the Collinsworth family entered into a business deal with the company she worked for; Kingston Industries. Her fiancé at the time of the deal, Andrew Kingston, met an untimely death before the ink even dried on the contract. Instead of pulling out of the deal, his lovesick brother insisted on working with her. Joseph shook his head in disgust as he remembered how Evan fawned over this woman who wouldn’t give him the time of day.
Joseph sat on the corner of the desk looking down at his defiant nephew. “Trent, you are a Collinsworth. Now that your father is gone, it’s time to finally do what he didn’t have the balls to.”
“And that is?”
“Destroy Randall Pierce-Michaels.”
His eyes grew wide as he looked at Joseph. “What the hell for? They stopped working with you ten years ago.”
“Exactly,” Joseph said and stood, pacing at the front of the desk. “Don’t you care how that business deal falling apart destroyed your own father?”
“Not really,” he answered honestly. “He obviously didn’t want to when he was alive. Why now?”
Joseph glared at his young nephew. “Because no one disrespects this family. That woman and her righteousness has damaged our reputation.”
He found that statement amusing. Considering the unsavory people this family was in bed with business-wise, damage was self-inflicted. “I still don’t see the point,” he said instead.
“Look boy, we put you through law school for a reason.
Oh they’d put him through school alright. Into a profession he wanted nothing to do with. His focus on criminal law to be sure he could defend what his family did.
“Don’t tell me you’re as soft as that father of yours,” Joseph sneered.
“I barely knew Evan!”
“That was your mother’s doing! She’s lucky to have gotten away with it.”
He knew exactly what his uncle was doing. The threats against his mother were the only reason he went to college and law school. The only reason he was sitting in this office.
“I know why I’m here Joseph,” he barely restrained his anger.
“You’d better remember that,” he reminded.
“So, what exactly do you have in mind for this vendetta against a woman thousands of miles away?”
Joseph’s smile indicated he wasn’t going to like nor be comfortable with this. “It appears the best avenue to attack Ms. Pierce-Michaels is through her family. Her oldest son is green. Only been with PKM Corporation a little more than a year. I’m going to bet he’s the Achilles heel.”
After an initial six months of doing research on Pierce Michaels, eldest child of Randall Pierce and Philip Michaels, Joseph’s plan to destroy the woman he felt was responsible for so many things within the family began.
For two and a half years, everything Trent tried bounced off the young Michaels heir. The man was only two years younger, yet Michaels out maneuvered him every damn time. He hadn’t seen this ability in men twice his age.
Joseph entered his office. Obviously he’d discovered Pierce Michaels had yet to be broken.
“Are you deliberately doing everything in your power to do the exact opposite of what’s been asked of you?” Joseph demanded after slamming the door.
“Asked?” he shouted back. “You and I both know I didn’t want this!”
“Trent…”
“You know that’s not my name,” he growled. He was tired of all this. The threats against his mother. The constant harassment from Joseph to continue on this quest.
“That is the name on your birth certificate. Like it or not, you’re a Collinsworth,” Joseph retorted angrily.
He didn’t like it. He’d never asked for any of this. Evan Collinsworth had an affair with the family housekeeper, and he was the result. His mother quit her job and pulled him out of that atmosphere before his first birthday. All to protect her son. Oh, he’d seen Evan a few times over the years. Not enough to form any sort of relationship with the man. Financially, Evan accepted his responsibility. As a real father, it just wasn’t in the cards. And, his mother called him Colin, not Trent.
His mother, a woman of high ethics and morals. She had expectations for her only child. She still couldn’t understand his sitting in the offices of his birth family. He couldn’t ever tell her if he didn’t, Joseph would gladly take it out on her. He was twenty-nine years old and just in the three years he’d been working with them, he’d seen the depths Joseph and Anthony would go to for business. He’d thought the stories from his mother were exaggerations. Now, he knew names of so many connected families all along the East coast, he feared he’d never be able to get out.
“I keep telling you,” he tried explaining for the countless time to his furious uncle, “Pierce Michaels isn’t the weak link you originally thought.”
“Look, it’s bad enough you ruined a business partnership with that divorce of yours. You don’t complete this task; I just might have to pay that mama of yours a visit.”
His marriage. Another regret on his list. He’d married Arianna Romano to forge a connection between the families. At first, all seemed good. The woman liked sex more than anyone he’d ever known. She certainly liked the finer things in life. Being a Daddy’s Girl, Vic Romano made sure his baby girl got anything and everything she ever wanted. Trent Collinsworth had been one of those things. They were just kids when they got married in her family’s vineyard. Vic bought them a large home as a wedding present. As long as Arianna was happy, everyone was happy. Joseph and Vic had numerous business deals over the years. Vic brought money and muscle. Until Arianna became unhappy. Law school took too much play time away from her, so she went outside the marriage for the sex she craved. Though the marriage was truly for business purposes, he took those vows seriously. Even thought he’d loved her at one time. Her countless partners weren’t something he could tolerate. Going after Randall Pierce-Michaels was the only thing that prevented Joseph from handing him over to Vic. The family merger completely fell apart when Arianna fell into such a deep depression and tried to commit suicide. Whatever drug concoction she’d tried did irreparable damage. She went from being this beautiful, vivacious woman to a mere shell of herself now in a long-term care facility.
“I didn’t want that marriage any more than I want to go after someone who’s really done nothing to you except stop wanting to do business with you.”
“Then, I’d suggest you figure out just how to bring her down so you can be done with this.” Joseph turned and angrily bolted from the office. Colin knew, no matter what, he’d never be done with this. He was now in too deep to ever get out of this family business.
He called his mom. “Hey Mom,” he greeted when she answered.
“Colin, what are you doing calling me in the middle of the day?”
He closed his eyes and pictured his mother in his mind. Her dark hair, now showing only a few gray strands here and there. Her dark brown eyes. He liked that he got both of those from her, as well as her tan skin from her Puerto Rican heritage. She would be so disappointed in him if she knew how he was spending his days.
“Just realized I haven’t been out to see you and Dad in a while.”
His mom had married his stepfather when he was a toddler. Ben Matthews raised him as though he were his own. Ben loved his mother and they’d been a perfect family. Had officially adopted him, changing his name to Colin Matthews with Evan’s consent. Colin thought for sure they’d one day have a child of their own and he’d be isolated. But that half-sibling never came to be. Colin grew up feeling loved and wanted.
“Well, you must have a sixth sense,” his mother was saying to bring him out of his current situation, “I’m making your favorite meal for dinner tonight.”
“You’re making Sofrito Verde and didn’t invite your favorite son?” His mother always added more jalapenos to the recipe knowing how much he loved spice.
She laughed, “Well, I will now that I know we will see you tonight. Seven work for you Chava?”
He smiled at his mother’s childhood nickname for him. Chava, a Spanish name meaning Savior. Colin felt anything but.
“I’ll even stay for the weekend,” he promised knowing it was more to make sure she and Ben were alright than a true visit.
Four more months of having no effect on Pierce Michaels. Colin may not know much about Randall Pierce and her husband Philip Michaels, but the kid had to have gotten his business savvy from them. The young man was able to foresee scandal as well as opportunities better than anyone he’d known.
Joel Fischer, Colin’s friend since grade school, entered his office.
“Col, you know I’m not allowed to come up to the executive floor,” he chastised his best friend. “Your uncle finds out and my job is gone.”
Joel honestly didn’t care about losing the job he had in the IT department. What he cared about was helping his friend accomplish his quest. He feared for Colin’s parents as much as Colin did.
“I need to meet with you as soon as I’m done with Joseph and Anthony,” Colin told him.
Joel leaned forward in his chair and hoarsely whispered, “Are you insane? Now what do they have you doing?”
Colin smiled. “Nothing new.”
That got Joel’s attention. “You found a weakness in Michaels?”
“No, Pierce is a headache I’ve had long enough, though he could come in handy soon enough.”
“So, what exactly have you found?”
“The weakest link. All I need you to do is back me up with whatever I need from you after this meeting.”
“Whatever?” Joel asked uncomfortably.
“I trust your abilities my friend. If I can finally end this, you and I can both be done with this place.”
Colin took a cleansing breath before entering the largest office on the executive floor. Anthony’s office. Anthony was typically surrounded by his medical staff at the family mansion in Miami. He must be feeling better today to be out and about. Though Anthony appeared physically weak, everyone knew he was still the family patriarch. He’d developed the Collinsworth reputation the past sixty years with his connections to families within organized crime all along the east coast. Joseph had learned quite well from his father.
Once Colin took his seat, Colin was surprised Anthony was the first to speak. “You’ve made progress the past three months,” Anthony said with his raspy voice.
“I’ve discovered a way to do as you’ve asked. I’ve been able to take a few business deals right out from under them,” Colin answered.
“Have you finally found a flaw with Pierce Michaels?” Joseph asked.
“Not exactly,” Colin answered.
“Then, what exactly have you done?”
Colin wasn’t about to tell them he’d come across this avenue accidentally. He knew that wouldn’t go over well. He had to show them he was up for the task, but he needed them to let him do this his way. If he could get them believing he was into their plan one hundred percent, he just might pull this off.
“I’d rather make sure I can improve on what I’ve started. Five business deals in the past three months is just the tip of the iceberg. “
“And why has it taken you this long to accomplish this?” Anthony asked.
“Grandfather,” Colin made sure to keep the contempt out of his voice, “I’ve been going about this entire thing all wrong. I was trying to do things Joseph’s way. I believe I can accomplish the task if I pursue doing this my way.”
Joseph’s ire was elevated. “My way has been successful since before you were born boy!”
“I don’t doubt that. However, if you truly want to bring Randall Pierce-Michaels down, I’d like to continue doing it my way.”
Anthony lifted his frail hand to silence Joseph when he attempted to speak up. “Let the boy speak.”
All eyes were on Colin. “Pierce Michaels isn’t the weak link Joseph originally thought. I’d like to pursue, in my own way, a link I’m sure I can use to my advantage.”
“Care to share?” Joseph asked.
“Uncle, I’m telling you I’m on board with this. I need you to trust me.”
“Trust you?” Joseph shouted. “You’ve said from the very beginning you didn’t even want to do this task.”
“True. But I believe that’s because of how you were asking me to accomplish this. If I’m correct, which I believe I am, I can do more than topple PKM Corporation.”
The older Collinsworth men looked at him silently.
“You said it yourself Uncle. Randall Pierce-Michaels values family. I can use that to my advantage.”
“And what exactly does this entail?” Joseph demanded.
“I’m still working out a few details. I can tell you that I need a dedicated IT person for this. Joel. He’s going to provide me the tech I need to get everything I need to finally bring down Randall Pierce-Michaels, her company and her entire world.”
Colin could see Joseph was untrusting. He directed his conversation at Anthony. “Grandfather, I believe I can do exactly what you’ve wanted all along. I’m simply asking you to trust me to now do this my way.”
Colin sat in the chair behind the large oak desk following his meeting with Anthony and Joseph, gesturing for Joel to take a visitor chair, who’d been nervously pacing the entire time Colin had been in his meeting. “Joel, the only way I’m going to get this over with so I can get on with my life is to do what they ask. In order to do that, I need to get inside their firewall.”
Joel stood, paced, and ran his hand repeatedly through his hair. “I’ve told you, their firewall is impenetrable! I’ve tried. You’re damn lucky they haven’t tracked it back to here yet.”
“What do you mean yet?”
Joel faced his friend, leaning on the desk, palms flat. “I don’t know who’s developed their security, but I can’t break through. The only way in is through one of their own computers.”
“Then, I guess I get into one of their computers.”
Joel looked at his friend as though he’d gone completely insane.
Colin invited Joel to lunch. He knew all eyes would be on them and he needed Joel to pull this off. Once at a restaurant nearby, they each ordered as Colin began explaining his plan.
“When you get home today, you’ll have a package waiting for you.”
Joel stopped eating and looked at him. “From you or Joseph?”
Colin smiled. “Me. In it will be a cell phone for you.”
“And, why do I need a new cell phone?” Both were sure to keep their voices down. They knew Joseph was now going to keep tabs on what Colin was doing.
“You don’t need to do a sweep, but I can guarantee you our current cell phones are tapped. Joseph doesn’t trust me. He will be listening in on everything to make sure I’m in fact going after Randall Pierce-Michaels.”
“Again, what do you need me for?”
“I need you to be … you. I will do everything in my power to do as they ask. You need to just be you.”
“And the other phone?”
“I’ll need your help with things I don’t want them to know about. These are burner phones. As long as they don’t know about them, you and I will be safe.”
“I don’t suppose you got us separate computers,” Joel scoffed.
“If all goes according to plan, everything they hear on the phone and see via computer will show them I’m on board with their scheme.”
“Are you?” Joel challenged.
“I will bring down Randall Pierce-Michaels. I have to.”
For the next two months, Joel was working side by side with Colin. Another two accounts stripped away had Colin feeling better about his plan.
“And why exactly do you want me to purposely send this spam email?” Joel asked.
“Because it’s time for the next step in bringing down the entire Michaels Empire.”
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Colby Michaels was meeting with her brother Pierce trying to figure out why she was having such problems in the past couple of months.
“Pierce, I’m telling you, I’m not doing anything differently. I have no idea why my accounts are disappearing.”
“Disappearing? Your accounts? Colby, you have to actually get them to sign the contract for them to be your accounts.”
“I swear, I have everything all set up. For whatever reason, it’s the eleventh hour when they’re pulling the deal.”
Pierce paced her office as she sat in her chair behind her desk watching him. She’d been working with her parents and brother for a year and a half. The past nine months had been on the executive floor. Up until five months ago, everything was fine. Accounts she had in the bag were falling apart at the last minute.
“Cole, something has to be going on that you’re missing.”
“You don’t think I’ve thought about that?” she shouted.
“I’m sure you have,” he tried for calm. His sister turned into a drama queen at the snap of a finger. He didn’t need that right now. “How about we go back to when you first started. Let’s you and I work side by side…”
“Oh no you don’t!” she interrupted. “I am just as capable as you are.”
“I’m not saying you aren’t capable. Maybe if we work together, I can see something you’ve missed.”
She stood and walked over to him. “You think you’re so much better than me, don’t you?”
He looked at her in amazement. “Why do you insist on doing this?”
“What?”
“We are not in a competition here Cole.”
She scoffed. “Pierce, you and I have been competing since I came out of the womb!”
He just looked at her. Yes, they’d always been competitive. Growing up, there was always a contest of who could ride horses better. Who could get the better grades. The one competition he could never even come close in was their father’s affection. She was daddy’s little princess and basically could do no wrong. Oh, their father would punish her when it was warranted, but otherwise Colby Michaels was to be protected at all costs. She knew she had their father wrapped around her finger and used it for all it was worth. He’d hoped now that he was twenty-six and she twenty-four they could actually get past all this immature garbage.
“Is this how it’s going to be when we’re running this place?” he asked her, throwing her off guard.
“Mom and Daddy aren’t leaving any time soon.”
He stood in her face. “Cole, our parents have worked side by side in these offices since PKM began. Every decision, every damn thing that’s happened in these past twenty-eight years has been because they work as a team. They’re expecting us to do the same.”
“You make it sound like they’re ready to retire.”
“They deserve to get the chance to step back a little. My God Colby, they’ve built this place, raised a family. I’d like to think they deserve some time together.”
“Pierce, they’re together twenty-four-seven,” she deadpanned.
“Working!” he shouted. “Dammit Cole, they deserve more than this place.”
“Just because this place has your initials all over it, don’t think for a second I’m going to believe you don’t assume this will be all yours one day.”
Colby always knew how to push the emotional envelope.
“Let’s run this by…”
“Oh,” she stopped him, “running to Mom?”
“Like you run to Dad?” his booming voice filled the office. And there she’d done it again. Pulled him into her drama. He hated when she did that. “For once could you just grow up? Dad’s not going to fix everything for you.”
Their tempers matched. “I will figure this out Pierce!”
She stormed out of the office leaving him to settle down. It hadn’t always been this way. When she first came on board, they worked side by side, just like he’d said. Then, she got a couple of accounts on her own and figured she could do everything on her own.
He ran his hand through his thick chestnut locks, pacing. She was probably on her way to their father giving that pout of hers for all it was worth. During the past three years, his gut told him something was amiss. He’d felt it in many of his business dealings prior to Colby starting. However, his gut wouldn’t tell him what was amiss.
Pierce chuckled to himself. If only their brother Spencer would be interested in joining them here in the office. For as determined and stubborn he and Colby were, Spencer was completely laid back. His preference of playing with computers and riding his motorcycles far exceeded any desire to sit behind a desk. But Spencer was twenty years old and enjoying his college days and freedom.
Colby sat looking at her laptop while sitting on her living room sofa. “Hey Dem,” she spoke to her best friend since kindergarten on the phone, “I need a vacation.”
The fight with Pierce earlier in the day still burned. She took everything he said and turned it into that fight. Oh how she would love to take him up on his offer to work side by side again. But all that was happening were with her accounts. He wanted her to grow up? Fine. She’d figure it all out on her own.
“Are my ears deceiving me?” Demi asked. “Colby Michaels hasn’t taken a vacation in years.”
“Look, somehow spam got through and there’s this really interesting vacation spot in Miami just calling my name.”
“I thought you were having issues in the office.”
“Hothead Pierce can certainly run the office without me for a few days,” she snapped.
“Well, if you’re serious about this vacation, I’m game.”
“I’ll book the hotel and we can take the family jet.”
“I’ll start packing now,” Demi answered.
After disconnecting with Demi, Colby sat in thought. Why would Pierce even bring up their parents stepping back? Was he right? After almost three decades of running PKM, were they burning out? And, why would Pierce know that and not her or Spencer? Because he was the oldest, she reasoned. No wonder her big brother was always wound up so tight. His birthright was staring him in the face. Well, it was her birthright too. Her legacy. She had to prove she could take the reins just as well as her brother. To do that, she needed to figure out just what was going on.
She sent an email to her parents and Pierce letting them know she was taking some time off. Pierce would probably blow a gasket over it, but she wanted to clear her head. Go on an adventure. Anything to get her mind off these accounts disappearing on her. Then, she could concentrate on finding out why when she came back.
