Havoc

Chapter 22

Grim

“Found him,” Trigger grunted from the other end of the phone. “He’s in with your vet. Seems fine.”

“And Darcy?”

“Shot to the head. Brick made a few calls. The local PD’s looking after her. It’ll be taken care of.”

I slowly turned the car into the parking lot as I tried to deal with what he said. Darcy didn’t deserve that.

“I’m here now. I’ll be in touch.”

Cartwright opened the car door, and Jesse and I hurried up to my suite. Jason quickly jumped to his feet as we entered.

“Evening, sir.”

“Where is he?”

“They’re in the bedroom.”

They?I didn’t miss a beat and pushed by him into the room. I wondered who the hell was in there with Leal. When those legs came into view, I knew exactly who it was. I swallowed back my anger when I saw them. Her arm was draped over Leal’s shoulder, and they were both fast asleep. When I whispered to him, he lifted his head for a moment and whimpered. Relief flooded through me as I realized he was okay. I stroked him between the ears and spoke to him quietly.

I reached out to stroke her arm then pulled it back sharply.

“Kenna.” Her eyes fluttered open, then she quickly sat up and blinked to focus in the dim light.

“Oh, I didn’t know when to expect you.”

“Well, I’m here now.”

“So you are.” She slipped on her shoes as I took off my jacket and tossed it on the chair. I sat heavily next to it and sighed deeply. I was exhausted.

“On your way out, tell Jason he can go.”

“After all this, you’re being an ass?” she snapped.

“Did you expect anything different?” I shot back.

“You’re welcome.” She dripped with sarcasm as she flicked a pair of orange panties toward me with the toe of her shoe.

“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath.

She went back to the bed and leaned over Leal to whisper in his ear, then she headed for the door.

“He’s all yours,” she huffed as Jesse came into the room.

“Are you sure you want to watch this again?” Jesse hesitated briefly then handed me the laptop when I flicked my fingers at him.

He set a drink next to me as I pressed play. The hotel surveillance video came up on the screen. I watched the man who had ‘marked’ me enter the hotel. He watched me for a few minutes then made his move. I saw him bump into me and slip the tarot card into my jacket pocket. He left seconds later with his phone to his ear.

“Any word on the plates of that car?” I turned to Jesse, who watched from the bed where he’d settled next to Leal.

“Nothing yet.” His voice was low so as not to disturb the dog.

I turned back to the video and continued to watch. Paige’s mouth never stopped as she and Leo waited for the elevator. As she talked, I watched my brother pat himself down and pull out the tarot card. He flipped it over then shrugged and put it back in the pocket. He continued to pat himself down until he located his keycard. It was in his back pants pocket. As the doors opened, Leo stumbled, and Paige grabbed his arm and they laughed together. I watched again as the two men got into the elevator with them.

“I just don’t get it. What kind of hit man fucks up their mark that badly? I’m all tatted up, but my brother doesn’t have a single tattoo.”

“Remember, these guys go off very little detail. They get a text, a dollar amount and first come first served on the kill. They saw him pull out the card and figured he had to be the mark. It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last.”

I downed the rest of my drink in one angry swallow and pulled back my arm to throw the glass at the wall but stopped short as Jesse suddenly stood.

“They’re here.” He went to the door and opened it. Brick came inside with Zhar and removed his leash. Zhar padded directly toward me, and I gave him an ear rub.

“Hi, buddy. I’m so glad you’re okay.” He sensed Leal and went over to the bed and jumped up and settled next to his brother. I saw their feet touch, then Leal whimpered and pulled his paw away.

“The vet’s going to call you tomorrow, but he’s fine.” Brick leaned against the wall. “Sorry about Darcy.”

“The family’s been contacted. Laurel’s already sent flowers,” Jesse said to Brick. “They’ll let us know when the funeral’s going to be.”

“Trig wants to meet down below tomorrow. Between Leo and now this, things are so fucked up right now.” Brick shook his head as he spoke. I saw him glance at Jesse when I didn’t comment. I didn’t trust my voice at that moment. Brick turned to the door. “See ya then.”

I turned back to the video once Brick left and rewatched the part where the two men followed Leo and Paige down the hall and, as they stumbled to unlock the door, they were shoved into the room. I fast forwarded the video to where I could have saved my brother but chose Kenna.

“You couldn’t have known, Grim.” Jesse’s voice was quiet.

I slammed the laptop shut and muttered that I needed sleep.

My eyes popped a moment before my alarm went off. Sleep had found me, but it had come with a cost. I relived that video over and over in my dreams. Every version was different, but they all ended the same. Leo was murdered, and I’d chosen sex over saving him. Zhar was tucked against my side; he stretched with a yawn and wagged his stub when his eyes met mine. They were never allowed on the bed, so I knew he was eating it up.

I turned to my other side and saw Leal was watching me. He whimpered, and I knew he was due for some more pain medicine. I hopped up and fed it to him through his IV and stroked his back as it pushed through his system.

“You did good, boy,” I whispered when he tried to lift his head, “and I promise I’ll catch this fucker and drill him into the ground.” He nuzzled my hand. “I’ll even save you a bite,” I promised. “You get some sleep.” His eyes slowly closed, and I was thankful he wouldn’t feel any pain for a few hours.

I glanced at the orange panties on the floor and grabbed my phone to text my brother.

Grim: Knox, if you want to entertain women, do it at your place.

I showered, dressed, and headed out to the kitchen where I found Trigger and Brick slumped on my couch, and, by the looks of it, they’d spent the night. When they spotted me, Trigger sat up and snapped his neck.

“They were two hired men.” Trigger jumped into business as I poured some coffee. “One of ’em took a look at me and shot himself.” He shrugged. “The other’s being held downstairs.” A surge of excitement went through me. It didn’t last, but I was thankful for the shot of adrenaline.

“Good.” I handed him a steamy cup of coffee as Brick blinked around the room and saw we were both awake.

“How’s Leal?” Brick rolled his shoulders and unfolded from the couch.

“Good, thanks to you guys.” I eased into the chair. I noticed Zhar stayed glued to me.

Trigger leaned his arms on his thighs. “Things are fucked up, but going after your dogs seems real personal.”

“I know.” My phone rang, and I saw it was my father. He needed to see me.

“What do you want me to do with the fucker downstairs?” Trigger asked.

“Let him sweat it out. I’ve got a meeting with Dad, but I want a piece of him.”

“I hear ya.” Trigger stood as Jesse came in.

Jesse held up his phone. “I got the footage from that night, with Darcy and the dogs.”

“And?”

“They ran into Kenna before they left.”

“Push it through to the TV.”

He pressed play, and I relived another video I knew would haunt me.

* * *

“Okay,Trigger’s good for four p.m.,” Jesse informed me as we walked down the hall. Zhar led the way as we approached Dad’s office for a meeting. I glanced in the direction of Cameron’s office and wondered if he’d heard the news about Leo yet. God fucking forbid he’d play nice for a few days.

“I’ll call the guys and make sure everyone’s there.” Jesse looked at his phone as a text message came in. “Ridder and Lawson better find something out on Darcy. The guys have been extra fucking quiet lately.” Jesse’s frustration with our spies showed. I got it; everything seemed off lately. “Speaking of which, there’s Lawson now.” He tapped his phone and started to text him back.

“Good.” I felt the loss of Leal covering my left, and it didn’t sit well with me. Nothing sat well with me lately. The darkness that had rooted deep in my chest slowly smothered all parts of me. I felt hollow and cold inside. I felt I deserved it. I didn’t have the right to feel any other way after how I’d let my brother down. I flinched at the memory that continued to haunt me. I watched it over and over on that video. I saw myself turn and head to my own room to indulge my own needs instead of checking on Leo.

“I’ve got to go,” Jesse called as he headed down the hall. “I’ve got to talk to Kenna.”

I didn’t ask why. I just opened the door to Dad’s office and was surprised to see my mother and Knox in conversation.

Instantly, I was on edge. I didn’t have the energy for him right now.

“Take a seat, son.” Dad set a coffee next to me as Zhar plopped down next to my feet.

Mom spoke first. “Before we start, Grim, how is Leal?”

“Fine.”

“Kenna was smart to figure out he’d go to Secrets. It’s where Leal would go to look for you.”

“Yeah.”

“Have you spoken to her since you’ve been back? How’s she holding up?”

“Dad, are we going to start this meeting?” I ignored Mom’s probing.

“She seemed fine at her date last night.” Knox snickered. Just for once, I wished he’d grow up.

“With who?” Mom homed in on Knox.

I squeezed my eyes shut and tuned out their mindless chatter. I had no patience to deal with it.

“I know we have a lot to deal with right now,” Dad cut them off, “but we’ve had a win, and I want to share it. I got news from Deborah, and we won the bid for the property across from the Encore.”

“That’s wonderful news.” Mom smiled, but her exhaustion showed through.

“It’s a positive thing,” I muttered, attempting to make an effort, but my pain took over. “I wonder what shit storm will follow that purchase?”

“I know things are bleak right now, son, but the world doesn’t stop because we hurt. Leo would have loved this.” Mom’s voice held a warning.

I reached down and stroked Zhar’s ear. “Leo wanted a lot of things, and one of them was not to be six feet under.”

“Oh, too soon,” Knox breathed.

I pushed my palms against the table and glared at my brother. “You weren’t there, like always.” I felt my temper rise to a dangerous point. “You’ve no idea what it was like,” I snarled. “You only know what cheap perfume and the inside of an empty bottle is like.”

“Boys,” Mom pleaded, “we don’t need this right?—”

“If I’d been there,” Knox interrupted loudly, “I would’ve made sure our security walked with them to their room. After all, we’re the Gates family.”

I lunged at him and knocked over my chair. Zhar jumped up as my fist met Knox’s cheek. Before I could get in another swing, Dad grabbed my arm.

“Enough!” he bellowed. “Knox, get out, go get some ice. I’ll deal with you later.” Dad turned to me. “Grim, sit down. We need to talk.”

I rubbed my hand and fed off the pain that pulsed through my knuckles. Dad went over to the bar and rattled about as I settled back in my chair and glanced in the direction the little shit went.

He handed me a scotch. “Grim, how are things going with Secrets?”

I eyed the glass; it was, after all, only mid-morning. “Good. We’re on time for the opening.”

“Excellent.” Dad hesitated. “Son, I need to tell you something, and you won’t be happy with me.” That pulled my entire attention. “When I went to visit you in Mexico, I led you to believe my cancer was back, but it’s not.”

I glanced at him in shock, and then at Mom. She nodded at Dad to continue.

Relief was quickly replaced by confusion as I looked from Dad to Mom. I thought about all the times I’d seen him act sick. What the hell? My anger flared.

“Before you blow, listen to me, please.” Dad held up a hand. “Your mother and I suspect several people who are embedded in our lives are trying to undermine us. There’ve been several things that I know have been off. Your mother and I came up with a plan. I needed to seem vulnerable and hoped that would make them bold enough to show themselves. I began to realize if I wanted it to look real, you’d have to come home. I needed you here. I needed the whole family around me, to present a united front, if you will. It worked.”

That was a lot to unpack. I had been certain Dad was sick; he’d played his part well. My mind went over some of the times I’d been concerned about him. Certain people had been around. Then my brother pushed through my thoughts, and I remembered our conversation on the plane.

“Leo suspected there was something going on. Did he know the truth?”

“He never said anything to me.” Dad screwed up his face. “We’d planned to tell you both what was going on when you got back from New Orleans. I’m just so sorry I never got to tell him I wasn’t ill.”

Jesus. I couldn’t believe he went to the grave not knowing. My stomach burned.

“Tell me it’s Cameron!” My fingers curled into fists, needing a reason to kill that conniving bastard.

Dad’s expression said it all, and I jumped to my feet, but he raised a hand. “Stop! I’m not sure about Cameron. I’m really not. Every time I think it’s him, something happens that makes me question it. We have to tread carefully here, Grim. Until we have absolute confirmation, we can’t show our hand.” Dad tugged his tie in frustration.

“So, it could be him.” I wasn’t giving up easily. I hated that man.

“We’re sure some of the men he works with are involved. Trouble is we’re not positive he’s behind it,” Mom added cautiously.

“He might be smart, but I know he’s really an idiot.” Dad got up and ran a hand through his hair. “I can’t believe all that’s been happening. He was a good friend once. He did a lot for me when I needed it. I wonder if it was ever real.” He suddenly really did look frail, and my hatred for whoever was behind all this almost boiled over.

“Jim, I know it’s been eating at you, but now we’re going to get to the bottom of this once and for all. Maybe he’s just being played and doesn’t know anything.” Mom sent him a sympathetic look. “Now, I want you both to listen.” Her tone made us both look over. “The Gates family won’t be beaten. No one will bring us to our knees. We’ve worked long and hard to create a life for our family here.” Her face was set and her voice strong. “We know this seems to be some sort of long con, it’s been going on for a while now, and the only way we can win this is by waiting it out.”

“Okay.” I nodded. I understood that much. “Tell me the names of who you suspect so far.”

“All right.” Dad nodded and sat up straight. He placed a hand over my mother’s. “I think it’s time we tell him everything.”