The McCarthy Patriarch

One of them stepped forward with his right arm raised like a barricade. ‘Master has given an order not to be disturbed.’ Austyn stood toe to toe with the man. ‘Darius, are you going to stop me?’ Kai recognised Darius Jackson. The soldier trained under Austyn years ago. He won the hand-to-hand combat contest in his first year and defended his championship title for as long as he remained in the army. After he left, Master McCarthy personally recruited Darius into his security detail. Darius shifted his feet. ‘Sir, I—’ ‘Don’t “Sir” me,’ Austyn said. ‘I’m not your captain anymore. The man behind that door is your boss now.’ He narrowed his eyes. ‘So you’re not going to let me in?’ Darius looked down. ‘Sorry.’ Austyn nodded. ‘Okay then.’ He took off his coat and tossed it to Kai, who caught it with both hands. Then he removed his cufflinks, and, pausing at the sight of the Timex watch on his left wrist, removed it too. He handed the watch to Kai. Then he rolled up his sleeves, revealing tw