Chapter 25 #2
“I think it’s a strong possibility. Maybe to work off a debt.
” Or maybe they were actually in business together, the money from the settlement used not only to pay off the gambling debt, but also as seed money for handling a portion of the Papadakis drug shipments.
That wasn’t something I was willing to go over with her. She didn’t need any additional shit.
Leaning over, I took her hand into mine.
For a few seconds, I did nothing more than roll my finger across her knuckles.
The connection was entirely different. “I had an associate of mine check on Liam and his business activities. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I knew it would upset you.
He’s in serious debt with the Papadakis clan.
They do back room high stakes poker games.
The kind where the odds are always against you. ”
Her nose was wrinkled. “And Liam kept losing.”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
She lifted her head, glancing away. “I should be angry with you, but I appreciate you allowing me to come to my own conclusions. I didn’t think Sean was involved with the family, but what if he was? What if they were mafia and Sean was being dragged back into the family fold?”
“Does that matter now?”
Her expression was thoughtful. “It does if I was the wife of a crime syndicate member and fell in love with a Russian enemy. Right? I might not know about the politics of your world, but I’m certain the O’Leary family would do anything to keep me from being brought into another crime syndicate family. ”
I huffed and she narrowed her eyes.
“Am I wrong?”
I leaned further forward until we were only a couple of inches apart. “You’re in love with some Russian brute?”
It took her a few seconds to realize what she’d said. She slapped her hand over her mouth, gasping while her eyes opened wide. “Shit.” The single word was muffled. “I didn’t mean that.”
“I think you did, Captain. But I won’t hold you to it. At least not yet.” Every time she blushed, my cock twitched.
“Don’t because there’s no way I could love you. I don’t know you.”
“Well, that’s something we’re going to try and fix.”
Her nose wrinkled at my answer. “I think Sean was murdered.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Faulty equipment? It’s regulated. Inspected.”
“Then why did you say you blamed yourself?”
She bit her lip, shaking her head as if debating telling me.
“Because we argued that morning before work. He’d suddenly started coming home later, locking himself in our bedroom on a phone call.
When I confronted him, he wouldn’t tell me and stormed off heading to work.
I thought he maybe grabbed the wrong equipment because we’d argued. ” She had mist in her eyes.
“You didn’t cause his death, Halle. Maybe you’re right in thinking his death wasn’t accidental. What did the fire inspector say, forensics?”
“There was very little left given the power of the explosion, which was why I’d been shocked when Liam and his father had suddenly filed a lawsuit.”
I thought about what she was saying. It could be possible Sean had been killed because he’d had intentions of returning to the family business. That was something else I wasn’t prepared to suggest.
She licked her bottom lip, more out of frustration than anything else. “The pictures I sent you weren’t the only threat I received.”
Instantly, I bristled and she noticed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t think anything of it since I’m being hounded by reporters. The text was warning me about you.”
“Maybe they had a point. Let me guess. An unknown sender.”
“Yes. Same as with the pictures I was sent of Emily.”
“Fuck.” I fisted my hand, trying to remain calm.
There was nothing I hated more than being toyed with.
We’d had it with the O’Shaughnessy family a couple of years before, a bunch of violent Russians in Seattle and a group of dangerous businessmen who wanted to run the world.
Everybody who longed to destroy us thought we’d be stupid enough to fall for their games.
And every time they were wrong.
She tugged hair behind her ear, her nervousness understandable. “I know what you said about me staying with you and I can tell you meant it.”
“I did. You’re not going anywhere.”
“I need to work, Alexsey. I’m the captain of my engine company. My battalion chief has been decent with me with everything that’s happened the last week, but after decking the reporter, he can’t let me off the hook. I already have a message from him.”
“Does he know about what happened with Emily?”
Her eyes were full of such sadness. “Well, I have no doubt he will if he watches the eleven o’clock news.”
“Should I explain it to him?” At least I made her laugh.
“Uh, no. I can handle the heat. I’m trying to tell you my life can’t simply stop. For what? What are you waiting for?”
While her question was a decent one, I wasn’t positive I would be waiting any longer. “For proof the Papadakis brothers are behind what’s occurred and that they hired the O’Learys as muscle.”
“If you find out Liam is involved, then you’ll kill him.”
Her question was one she could tell I didn’t want to answer. “That remains to be seen.”
The way she opened her mouth was as if to ask me to spare her brother-in-law, but was having a difficult time doing so. It was time to change the subject.
“Did you recognize the guy in the car earlier today? Maybe someone who works for Liam?”
She cocked her head. “Maybe, but I didn’t get a good look at him. That’s why I need to take a shift or two at O’Leary’s. I can help in discovering the truth. I’m the only one who can.”
“Over my dead body. If that bastard had anything to do with Emily’s kidnapping, I will kill him myself.” At least I’d admitted what had been rolling through my mind.
With a slight tug, she pulled her hand free of mine, placing her palm against my heart.
“This is the part where I tell you that I can handle myself with him. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt Emily, at least not intentionally, and I can’t believe he’d condone having anyone try and hurt me.
Embarrass me so I wouldn’t see you again?
You bet he would. But harming me? I don’t buy it.
I can find out what’s going on. I’m sneaky. ”
“That’s what I’m afraid of. You’re not returning to work at the damn bar.
Even if Liam isn’t behind what happened with Emily, that doesn’t mean you aren’t a much easier target when working there.
I can’t worry about you and get to the bottom of this at the same time.
You’ll be safe here tomorrow with my men. ”
“And what are you going to be doing?”
I polished off my drink before answering. “Finishing this game before it gets too far out of hand.”
“You mean since you torched their warehouse?”
Why was it so easy to grin like some kid around her? “We don’t take kindly to being threatened.”
“I guess not. Just remember they could try and burn down one of your resorts.”
She had a good point. “I’ll keep that in mind, Nancy Drew. And if you tell me you don’t know who that is because of your age, I might tie you to this bed.”
“Well, you are a very old guy.” At least she could laugh, yet as always, there was still some tension between us.
She was right in that we didn’t know each other, at least not enough for either of us to trust completely in the other and I hated that.
“If it’s alright with you, I’m going to call Kristine and see if she’ll come here tomorrow while I go see the battalion chief. Maybe he won’t suspend me.”
I could tell she was worried. “That’s fine. As long as you’re aware and accept that my soldiers will be with you every step of the way. And I assure you that they won’t lose you.”
“You drive a hard bargain. I’m going to go call her.”
“Not that I don’t trust you but… Bring your phone in here. So I can say hi.”
She slipped off the bed, turning immediately to give me a haughty look. “You’re not going to control my life.”
“We’ll see about that.” I tried to grab her by the arm, but she slipped just out of reach.
“Anything else while I’m in the living room, your highness?”
“Mmm…” I said, scratching my beard. “I like the sound of that. How about the bottle of scotch. Oh, and one of those tasty peppermints if your daughter has any more.”
“A bit greedy, but I’m sure she wouldn’t mind giving up her stash for you. Mr. Boyfriend.”
I laughed, enjoying the few moments of peace since tomorrow would be a busy and hopefully productive day.
I was tired of being patient and upending the business.
Even though by doing so, I’d become closer to Halle.
Whatever Liam was up to he would tell me.
Plus, I planned on having a long conversation with the two people hired to abduct Emily.
Unfortunately, the two officers who’d arrived at the scene first were new. In their enthusiasm to make a collar, they’d almost arrested me in the process. It had taken a call to my attorney, who in turn had chewed a new asshole into the sheriff.
Tomorrow was a new day and answers would be obtained.
What I would be curious to hear was also about the word on the street. Between the press coverage and word of mouth, tomorrow my phone should be blowing up. At least my brother and Pakhan had sent soldiers into the casinos and on the street to try to collect chatter.
What I hadn’t told her was about the bugs that had been found on both vehicles, hers included.
They’d been dismantled on the scene and would be tested to determine if there was any way of identifying the people responsible.
My guess was there wouldn’t be. The plan had been too clever and too practiced, which had made me begin to think the argument with Petros at his warehouse had been staged.
They’d wanted to get into a war. The question remained of just how involved the O’Leary family had become.
I’d be the one to handle Liam and his father. This time, Liam wouldn’t like what I had to say to him.
I leaned back with my arm behind my head, more relaxed than I should feel. Maybe having a family in my house brought new perspectives. Even if technically, they didn’t belong to me.
Yet.
After a full three minutes, I became unnerved. While there was no way anyone could get past the men standing outside, that didn’t mean the anxiety was any less.
I was off the bed, grabbing the Sig Sauer I kept in the nightstand drawer when Halle returned.
Her face was white.
“What’s wrong?”
She slowly lifted her head, eyeing the weapon first. In her hand was a piece of paper.
“What is that?”
“I found it in Emily’s backpack.” She was shaking as she walked toward me, handing it to me. “I can’t decipher the note. But you can.”
As soon as I read it, I hissed.
“What does it say? I know that’s Russian. Can you read it?”
“Vy ne mozhete otlozhit’ smert’.” I shook my head. “You cannot postpone death.”
“What the hell does that mean and why was in her backpack?”
“It’s an old Russian proverb and something my father used to say when he disposed of his enemies.”
“That means the attacks are personal.”
Growling, I looked toward the city through the window, gritting my teeth. “They always are.”