Chapter 13 #2
“But it doesn’t matter, because it appears it’s not about the money. But the land. The Everglades. The professional appearances,” Dawson said. “And you said it a few minutes ago, they can make people disappear.”
Baily rubbed her forehead. “What if I don’t pay them?
Just… ignore them. Let them come at me.” She blinked, glancing around at her friends.
“I mean, they’ve already tried to sink my boat with me in it.
Maybe that was a warning. Maybe they knew Silas was right around the bend.
Who knows? But what if we change the rules of their game? ”
“That’s a real option,” Enzo said. “I doubt they’re gonna try to foreclose or seize the property.
They’d have to show documentation they don’t actually have.
It’s risky—because they might go scorched earth.
But if we wait and let them try, we might force their hand and get a look at who’s the face behind the curtain, who might give us insight. ”
“Are you sure you’re just a boring old corporate lawyer?” Chloe said. “Because that’s some real FBI agent speak.” She lowered her chin. “Greer said you had chops, but I had my doubts.”
Enzo chuckled. “Yeah. Greer. She’s a good one. And she tried like hell to get me to join her at Quantico. But no. A gun and a badge aren’t the world for me. I’ve got a wife and two kids. I prefer the battle zone of boardrooms and mounds of paperwork. It’s not bloody, but it can be messy.”
“You say that like you get off on it,” Fletcher said.
“I kind of do.” Enzo nodded, tapping the paperwork.
“The next payment is due before the town meeting regarding the Crab Shack. I would think they’d have someone in town watching.
Maybe they’ll rely on Decker, but I’m guessing they’ll send someone else.
My suggestion would be not to make the payment.
Ignore any phone calls or notices. As a matter of fact, anything that comes regarding the loan, send it to me and let me handle it. ”
“I can’t afford you,” Baily said.
Once again, Enzo got rid of the black-rimmed glasses.
This time, he stood and leaned against the wooden railing and looked out toward the B&B.
“I’m a really good lawyer. I don’t say that to be an arrogant asshole.
I’m saying that because I have to assess cases based on a couple of different criteria.
” He turned. “The first one, is it winnable?
I always take those. They're no-brainers. Now.” He wiggled his finger.
“Even those, sometimes, I lose. But in general, if a case is the kind that I can either make a good deal for my client or waltz into the courtroom like I own the place, I take it. However, I hate those cases.”
“Why?” Baily asked.
“Because they’re boring.” Enzo let out a dry laugh.
“They pay my bills. They’ll put my girls through good colleges, and they’re the bread and butter of my law practice.
But they don’t have meat.” He rubbed his neck.
“The second criterion I look at is twofold. Do I believe my client, and do they have a case? Now, winnable and believable are always the perfect duo. But they don’t always go hand in hand.
The law isn’t always about right or wrong.
It’s about justice, and sometimes, that means I take a case where it’s not about my billable hours.
It’s about making sure those who did a very bad thing… get what they deserve.”
“You can’t do this for free,” Baily said.
“I can.” Enzo nodded. “And I will.” He smiled. “I take on one pro bono case every year or so. I haven’t had one in eighteen months. Consider yourself having just won the lottery.”
Fletcher shifted beside her. “But now you’re suggesting she bait them. Give them time to act and respond.”
“I am.” Enzo nodded. “But they won’t be prepared for her to challenge them. For her to know they can’t take the marina. Not without a fight. And we’ll fight.” He pointed to Dawson, then Hayes. “Don’t forget they’ll also be looking at the Crab Shack property. They’ll think that’s in the bag, right?”
Dawson nodded. “I like this plan. Makes them play their next move, and we’ll see it coming.”
“She could get hurt, Dawson,” Fletcher said.
“She almost drowned yesterday. You think they’re going to stop if we play nice?” Hayes asked.
Baily looked down at her tea, and the ice had nearly melted. “How long before they do something?”
Enzo shrugged. “I bet they’ll come at you immediately after you miss the payment. They need to put the pressure on if they’re gonna invest in this town.”
“The Barbaros know we’re all here,” Fletcher said. “If she doesn’t pay, they know she’s got protection. Friends. Eyes everywhere.”
Dawson scratched his jaw. “Which is why we need to do this Decker’s way.”
Baily raised a brow. “You trust him now?”
“I trust he wants out of the Barbaros’ grip,” Dawson said. “And he’s useful. He’s still got family in Miami—cousins who’ve done time, some of them tied to loan enforcement ops. He knows how they handle things when borrowers push back.”
Chloe stood and grabbed her phone off the table. “He’s in his cabin. I saw the lights on earlier.”
“I’ll call him,” Dawson said, pulling his phone from his pocket and tapping the screen. He pressed the cell to his ear.
Everyone sat in silence for a moment.
“Yeah. He’s on his way over.” Dawson pointed, chuckling. “Look. Here he comes.”
“There’s a part of me that feels bad for that man,” Hayes said. “We all know I was the quiet loner of the group, but I’ve never been alone in this world. I kind of feel like that guy doesn’t have anyone. I did some research into his family and damn. He wasn’t kidding about all that.”
“Nope,” Fletcher said. “I want to trust him, but he doesn’t make it easy with those stupid, expensive boat shoes and that SUV. I hate those cars.” He sighed. “But the man is putting himself on the line for us. For Baily. That’s something.”
It sure was.
A few moments later, Decker crossed the yard with a loose jog, his ball cap turned backward, and a suspiciously amused expression on his face. She’d never seen him wearing an outfit like that, or even looking that relaxed, which was odd.
But it was as if a weight had been lifted.
“You rang?” he called, hopping onto the porch like he’d done it a hundred times.
Dawson waved him over. “Have a seat, you’re officially part of this circus.”
“Oh, goodie. I’ve always wanted to be a clown.” Decker plopped into the chair next to Enzo. “Is there beer in that cooler?”
“Beer, soda, water. Pick your poison and help yourself,” Hayes said.
Decker leaned forward, snagged a cold brew, and cracked it open. “So, who’s this, and why am I being summoned? Not that I mind. I was starting to go cross-eyed.”
“I’m Enzo. I’m Baily’s lawyer.” Enzo gave him the short version. The bogus loan, the shell company, the lack of documentation. Everything.
“What do you think?” Fletcher asked at the end of Enzo’s tale.
Baily wanted to either hurl or go swim with the gators.
Decker reached into the cooler and grabbed another beer.
He took a long, slow draw. “When I was a kid, they strong-armed my uncle into laundering money through his fish bait store.” Decker sighed.
“I say they because I didn’t have a name.
There are a couple of cartels that do business in Miami.
A few loan sharks. A few stray drug runners.
Arms dealers. You name it, we've got it. I just wanted to keep my nose clean, but my uncle said the name out loud.”
“What name did he use?”
“Valenia Barbaro,” Decker said softly. “He only said her name once and it was more like a whimper than words. He was terrified of her. I was maybe five, but I remember because in my stupidity as a small kid, I wondered why he’d be so afraid of a woman.
But then, when I was eleven, something happened.
I don’t know what. All I know is that my uncle came to the house and told my old man that he’d screwed up.
Next thing we knew, he’d been arrested for dealing arms. It was a big raid.
Strange thing though, I’d been in that back room where they found the guns the day before, and there hadn’t been any.
I told my dad. He told me to never mention that again.
He told me the people my uncle had been involved with were bad people and that I needed to learn to lie low. ”
“You know a lot of people they apply that kind of pressure to?” Fletcher asked.
“I wouldn’t say a lot. A few family members. And I saw things while living there, but I tried to make myself blend in.”
“You don’t do that now,” Dawson said. “You stand out.”
“I know.” Decker nodded. “But once I started making my own money, which I had believed I’d done pretty much on my own, I thought standing out was a good way to keep people like that away. I didn’t need them, and I thought that showed. I’ve since learned my lesson.”
“Tell us how they operated in your neighborhood.” Dawson snagged a beer and took a healthy chug.
“It’s very different from how this will go down,” Decker said. “They apply pressure first—but it’s slow and subtle—a few broken windows, some veiled threats. Maybe a fire if that doesn’t work.” He looked at Baily. “But if you don’t flinch, they’ll try to buy you out again. Or ruin you legally.”
“What do you make of Ken and his relationship with all this?” Enzo asked.
“He sounds a little like my dad,” Decker said.
“Caught between a rock and a hard place. I mean, Ken married Julie Barbaro, the girl who holds the keys to the kingdom. He might not have known that when he said, ‘I do,’ but I’m sure he was given a quick lesson right after the honeymoon.
And then a few tests of loyalty.” Decker raised his hand.
“If I’m being totally honest here, it sounds like the Barbaros went after Ken, knowing he had a tendency for the illegal. ”
“I take offense to that,” Baily said. She shouldn’t defend her brother. Not anymore, but he was still her flesh and blood. Decker hadn’t even ever met the man. He had no right.
“I didn’t mean to.” Decker set his beer on the railing.
“But take my uncle, for example. He cut corners all the time. And he dealt drugs in high school. The people running my neighborhood did their homework. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’d stayed away from me, knowing I was a strait-laced kid, looking to get out. ”
“And then they hit you where it counted,” Enzo said. “Got you where it hurt the most. The thing you worked so hard to build—business and reputation.”
“Jesus, these people are horrible.” Baily leaned closer into Fletcher. “But they’ve underestimated me because they should’ve counted on the fact that I don’t give up. That the marina means more to me than anything. I’m not going to bend over and hand it to them.”
“They know that because they’ve been patient,” Decker added.
“More patient than with most things. They’ve played the long game, so it’s not just the marina.
It’s Calusa Cove. For them, Ken was the key to that.
But I suspect they didn’t anticipate Ken’s Navy SEAL buddies retiring here.
I’m sure that’s why the pressure is much more subtle.
I bet it’s why they're using me.” He crooked a finger.
“All the more reason to let me walk into that town meeting with a dummy set of plans.”
“Oh, we’re gonna let you do that,” Fletcher said.
Baily folded her arms. “Do you think they’ll make another move soon? Another shot at destroying the marina, like when they stole gas? Or maybe, this time, blow up my car?”
“Don’t joke about shit like that.” Fletcher took her hand and squeezed it.
Decker took a long pull from his beer. “I doubt it. They sank your boat. They’re gonna watch and see if you use money to buy a new one or pay off the loan. After that, they’re gonna toss legal bullshit at you.”
“And that’s where I come in because I’ll throw it right back at them.” Enzo inched across the deck and gathered up all the paperwork.
“Sounds like we’ve got a plan,” Dawson said. “Let’s see who comes knocking.”
Baily stared at Fletcher, who didn’t say anything for a long moment, just kept his gaze fixated on the horizon, his jaw tight.
“What’s going on?” Baily reached for his hand.
He looked at her then, his eyes dark with worry. “We do this together. But I swear to God, if someone tries to hurt you again—”
“They won’t get the chance,” she said, squeezing his hand. “We’ve got too many people watching.”
And as the sun dipped below the tree line, casting long shadows across the porch, no one said a word. But every one of them knew—this wasn’t over.
Actually, it had just begun.