Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
NATURAL CONSEQUENCES
Jett
Iknow how to work under pressure. There’s a pecking order. You chip away at a list of shit to do in an orderly fashion so the enemy doesn’t eat you alive before you have the chance to take them out.
Prioritize.
Deal with your most deadly threat first.
Always, and I mean every fucking time, strike while the iron is hot.
Since the woman in my bed and I both have a shit load of irons in the fire, I feel like I’m back in combat.
But, you know, while living at a five-star resort, dealing with fathers, criminals, and conniving board members.
All this at a time when I’ve found myself fucking dizzy over a woman for the first time in my life.
Lennon Shaw is making my head spin in the best way possible.
Who knew the woman who bowled me over after my surgery would beg me to take her V-card when I was trying to be virtuous.
Taking her for the first time, and it being her first time, pushed me over the edge. I’m now the definition of a possessive man. The thoughts racing through my head are threatening my rationale, which says a fucking lot. I’m the most rational person I know.
After I led Lennon to the shower and washed every inch of her and made sure she was okay after her first time, we got ready and came straight to Harlow and Devon’s suite.
Harlow ordered lunch for everyone. Devon filled us in on the latest with Reed and Petrov.
And Harlow paced and fumed about the Stonebridge board of directors descending on the perfect, small-town utopia she’s determined to create for everyone in her life.
I look up from the tablet Devon handed me with the reports from Bella’s associate, Crew Vega. Apparently, he owns an entire satellite system which comes in handy for times like this. I’m not sure how many times like this Devon experiences, but I’m going to hope we’re not involved in future ones.
I study the map that followed the only cell left between Andrei and Lennon’s father. “Petrov’s phone is located at the motel off the highway. The manor really is the only game in town, huh?”
“I’ve cornered the market in the booming metropolis of Winslet.
A feat in and of itself.” Devon sits in front of his laptop looking through the same reports I am.
“Reed didn’t come back for his cell. I guess he’s cutting his losses, but it also means we have no idea where he is.
We didn’t detect any other lines in the vicinity. ”
“I had Reed’s cell plugged in and its contents uploaded for Ozzy to dig through before Reed had a chance to shut it down remotely.
” Cole reclines in a club chair and turns his gaze on Lennon and softens his tone.
“I’m sorry. We haven’t found any mention of Audrey Shaw on that cell history.
We’re starting our own search for your mother. ”
Lennon leans her head against my shoulder. “It’s okay. It was a shock last night for him to even mention my mom. She hasn’t been in my life since I was little.”
Bella walks into the family room from their bedroom talking on the phone. “Thank you, Oz. As always, I owe you. We’re on a flight out today. I’ll see you back at camp tomorrow.”
She settles herself on the arm of the chair next to Cole who wraps an arm around her. “Has Ozzy already gone through Reed’s cell?”
“For the most part.” Bella turns to us. “He’s not quite done, but he has learned that your father moved to Fort Myers right after he abandoned you.
He has not curtailed his gambling addiction and works as a manager at a casino—a seedy one at that.
If the internet does its thing and makes things look better than their reality, then I’d say it’s probably a step down from seedy. Ozzy is focusing on it.”
“Focusing,” Devon mutters. “Don’t let the agents hear you say that. We know what that means.”
“What does that mean?” Lennon asks.
Bella smiles. “It means we’re using our creativity for the common good.”
Cole shrugs like it’s no skin off his back. “It means they’re breaking into Petrov and your father’s systems through the dark web. These guys get to do the fun shit without Uncle Sam breathing down their necks.”
Lennon’s eyes widen at the mention of the dark web.
Harlow looks from her cell to Lennon and me. She’s been reading financial reports and studying spreadsheets for the meeting tomorrow. “Don’t worry. It freaked me out at first, too, but you’ll get used to it.”
No one else in the room seems to be bothered by it. My new possessive personality sure doesn’t give a shit. I’m for anything that takes down Reed and Petrov so Lennon can breathe easy and focus on moving forward.
With me.
Bella continues with what she learned from Ozzy.
“King and Brax are doing surveillance outside the motel. If Petrov or your father leave or have visitors, we’ll know immediately.
We do know from Petrov’s cellular activity that he has collectors so hot on his arse, he might as well be swimming in a pool of lava.
His client from South America doesn’t care about money.
He wants his jewels back that he offered up as collateral.
Despite how cool and calm Petrov appeared to be at your little get-together last night, he is anything but.
And when you do business with the devil, the repercussion of failing on a debt is deadly.
It seems Andrei Petrov is on the run for the first time in his life. Serves him right.”
Devon doesn’t look up from his report and mutters, “Rat bastard.”
“Indeed,” Bella agrees.
“That’s one way to describe him,” Lennon drawls.
I flip back to the other file that I skimmed and start at the beginning. “Did you all see the account with Lennon’s name on it? It’s managed through a Caribbean bank.”
Devon looks up at Lennon. “Did you know about that?”
Lennon shakes her head. “No. I wasn’t allowed online during that time. I read the same books over and over again just for something to do.”
I click into the account and turn the tablet to Lennon. “Is this the last four of your social?”
She skims the screen and nods before her eyes widen. “Yes. Holy crap. I wish that was my bank balance.”
“It’s your name and social. In my book, that means it’s yours.” I click into the ledger of the account and start to scroll through the balance. “Looks like there were deposits every month. Not healthy ones, but a deposit nonetheless.”
Lennon studies the ledger and frowns. “When did they start?”
“I’ll give you one bet,” Cole announces. “My guess? Six years ago.”
“Hmm.” Bella contemplates the news of a bank account that I had no clue about. “I bet they were trying to cover their arses in case something like this happened.”
I lean back to stretch my arm behind Lennon. “They kept saying yesterday that Lennon worked for Petrov, like they were doing her a favor.”
Lennon stiffens beside me and sits up straight. “They fake paid me all those years to pretend I actually worked for them by choice?”
“I’m sorry, but it looks like it,” I say.
Bella stands and moves to the chair on the other side of the sofa closer to Lennon.
“I don’t want you to worry, but between the bank account and the surveillance video, what do you think about retaining counsel .
.. if they ever try to go public with this?
I don’t think any court in the country would charge you after hearing your story, but I wonder if it would be a good idea, just in case.
Take it from someone who was framed for something I didn’t do. ”
The color drains from Lennon’s face. “Do you really think I could be charged with murder?”
I pull her to my side. “It was self-defense. But if that video ever gets out, there will be an investigation. It might put you at ease knowing you’re ahead of the game.”
“Lawyers.” Cole rolls his eyes. “They can really fuck shit up at times. But a good one is worth it. You might consider it. The only person smarter than me is my wife.”
Lennon starts to stress. “But I don’t know a lawyer, let alone have one.”
Harlow proves she’s been listening even though she’s been focused on the board of directors’ drama. “We have an army of lawyers at Stonebridge. Jett has access to them as he needs.”
“I learn something new every day,” I mutter.
“But they’re corporate, not criminal attorneys,” Harlow amends before reaching over and giving Lennon a pat on her arm. “Not that you’re a criminal. Still, I agree with Bella. Get a lawyer.”
“Payne Deacon,” Devon says out of the blue. “The only local attorney. I hear he was a shark back in the day. He’s been back in Winslet for a few years. He still represents people, but he mostly runs his family’s business.”
“And he’s a volunteer firefighter and EMT. He can test you for a concussion. Ask me how I know,” Harlow deadpans.
“I met him when I was at the Combover with Dean a few times. I didn’t know he was a lawyer.”
“Not just a lawyer, a defense attorney.” Devon shuts his laptop and tosses it to the sofa next to him.
“Not a lot of people in Winslet need those services. Dean told me he left at the height of his career and came back to run his family business. I agree with Bella, it’s a good idea.
If you want me to give him a call, I will. ”
Lennon sinks into my side. The stress rolls off her in waves. “I guess. I’m not sure what to think anymore.”
I wrap a lock of the end of her hair around my finger. “Last night didn’t end the way we wanted, but we’re close. I feel it. Let’s set up a meeting with Payne just in case.”
Bella agrees. “He’s right, love. Last night was just a blip.
I’m not sure you could have a more diverse set of skills working on this.
If there’s one thing I know about Brax Cruz and King Jennings, Petrov will be in cuffs before he steps foot outside of the red, white, and blue.
They have enough to detain him, but they want to make sure their case is solid so there’s no chance he’ll walk.
And they want his clients, so I’m confident that will happen. ”
Lennon bites her lip. “But what about my dad? The way I see it, it’s his word against mine. And there’s a bank account with my name on it as if I worked willingly for Andrei all that time.”
I claim her chin with my other hand and force her to look at me. “Don’t worry about your dad. I’ll make sure he’ll never hurt you again.”
Cole pushes to his feet from his chair and claps his hands once before rubbing them together. “And sometimes, ladies and gents, that’s the way we get shit done. I call it natural consequences.”
Devon shakes his head, and Bella laughs right before she turns back to Lennon. “We need to head to the airport, but don’t fret. We will continue working on this until you are safe to live your life free and happily ever after.”
“Thank you for everything,” Lennon says as she stands to give Bella a hug. “I don’t know what that’s like, but I want that more than anything.”
I put a halt to the goodbyes. “We need to discuss one more thing before everyone leaves. Lennon and I were run off the road the night before last. We assumed it was Petrov. With everything going on, we were grateful to come out of that alive and thought that threat would go away when Petrov did. Now we have Reed Shaw in the mix, and they swear that’s not their M.O.
We have no reason to believe anything they say, but for some reason, I kind of believe them. ”
“I agree,” Lennon says. “Andrei doesn’t like to get his hands dirty.
He has people to do his messy work. Running someone off the road isn’t his style since he lives on a boat and doesn’t want to be anywhere close to the U.S.
You never know, but if he killed me, there was no chance of him getting the jewels back.
He already broke into my room at the library, and he wasn’t even close to finding them. ”
Harlow puts down her reading material. “But who else would want to hurt you? It doesn’t make any sense.”
Devon reaches out and takes her hand. “I agree, but this isn’t the first time shit doesn’t make sense. It’s a good thing you two can hunker down here. We need to arrange to get the rest of Lennon’s things from the library.”
“I’m sorry,” Lennon says. “I’ve caused so many problems. Everyone has better things to do than chase my father and Andrei around and look for my mother, who no one has seen or heard from in almost two decades. I feel like we’re chasing ghosts.”
Bella tries to comfort everyone. “I have a feeling this will be over sooner rather than later. Jarvis landed in Florida last night. He’s doing surveillance as we speak to see what he’s dealing with but hopes he can get on the boat soon to search for Petrov’s clientele list and ledgers.
That will be the cherry we need to top off this case beautifully. ”
“I love it when a plan comes together,” Cole announces. “Okay, kiddos, we need to hit the road. Brax and King aren’t going anywhere until they get their man. Try not to have too much fun without us.”
Fun.
Fuck that.
I’ll be happy when the fun is over for good.