Chapter 15
Leo stared at his half-brothers sitting across from him in the living room. Molly sat on the armchair watching Rose doodle something on a piece of paper.
Alasdair’s gaze slid between Molly, Rose, and Leo. But Neil, the youngest of them all, broke the silence. I didn’t know you had a family.
Oh, we’re not… Molly trailed off when Leo crossed his arms and gave her a look.
They might be his brothers, but apart from running the company together and their occasional lunches where they bitched about Knox, they didn’t spend time out of office. So, Leo had some pressing questions for his brothers. What are you doing here? How did you get in?
They never came over unannounced or hung out at each other’s houses. So neither of them had a key to Leo’s place.
Neil looked at Alasdair and then at Molly. Well, I, ah, I—
I saw Neil loitering by the front door. So I asked him to open it for us. Alasdair shrugged. Thought there was no point in disturbing you, since Neil could easily unlock the door using his tech skills. He set the security up himself, didn’t he? Little did I expect you’d be smooching your missus.
We weren’t— Molly began, but Leo cut her off with a growl.
Have you heard of boundaries, Alasdair?
The fucker smirked. Boundaries are meant to be broken. Besides, it’s nice to have a sister-in-law.
I had a look at your flat. And the building in general. Neil interrupted. He was quite thorough.
Molly leaned ahead in her chair, her gaze riveted on Neil. What do you mean?
In reply, Neil pulled up his phone and showed them a picture.
Leo saw a cluster of half-a-Scotch-egg-shaped black cameras.
He had those all over the building. I’ve collected them and stored them.
Not in my office where he could easily find them, given he has access to our floor, but at my place.
However, the cameras were transmitting data.
So it might have captured everyone’s comings and goings.
Molly hugged herself. Do you know how long they’d been there? Her voice was small, almost trembling with fear.
Neil pursed his lips. Can’t say how long they’ve been transmitting, sorry.
But I’d be surprised if it were more than ten to twenty-four hours.
These cameras are battery-operated. So, unless you charge the battery, once it dies, the camera stops working.
Typically, such cameras can last maximum up to twenty-four hours.
Leo crossed his arms. Why would he want to use so many cameras as surveillance if it were only for a couple hours?
Alasdair held up a hand. Who are we talking about?
No one. Leo spoke before anyone answered that question. This has nothing to do with you. Why are you here?
Because I was concerned for my fucking—
Language!
Brother. Alasdair rolled his eyes. Who is now a family man. Something he kept hidden for the last god knows how many years.
It’s— Molly tried once again.
Alasdair cut her off. I received an email from you in the middle of the night, Leo.
’Twas about work and I was worried Knox had lured you to the workaholic side, so I came looking for you.
I mean, you don’t even wait after work for drinks.
Although now I guess I know why. But we’ve had to keep our Knox-bitching to lunch only.
Oh, I also wanted to talk about the email.
We’re not dating. Molly sputtered in the split second of silence Alasdair took to take a breath. We’re not related in any way. And what are Knox-bitching lunches?
Leo rolled his eyes. We meet up and cuss the eejit behind his back.
It’s more like therapy, Neil added. Alasdair and Leo nodded in agreement. Is this some sort of hero complex? This question Neil directed at Leo.
Or a fetish? Alasdair added.
Leo scowled. Ew, I don’t even want to ask what kind of fetish that would be. She’s here with me. Both of them are. And they are important to me. Leo probably sounded like a caveman staking his claim. Let’s move on.
Neil, the perceptive arsehole, set the phone on the coffee table and nodded at Molly. You live in Leo’s old flat?
Alasdair glanced at the picture on Neil’s fading phone screen. Who is trying to spy on you?
Molly’s gaze dropped to Rose. Johnny.
Leo pursed his lips. Neil, thanks for—
Johnny E? Alasdair liked hearing his voice. The bampot never shut up and didn’t know how to let things go. What’s that bas— eejit got to do with you?
Rose turned around, the paper she’d scribbled on held aloft. Mama?
Molly smiled at her, asking if she wanted another piece of paper, when Rose’s little eyes caught Neil and Alasdair staring at her. Her lower lip jutted out, and she began to whimper.
Leo hated the sight of her oncoming tears. These tears were of genuine fear. Molly was right, Rose didn’t do well with strangers. When Rose ran over to Molly, he soothed a hand down her back. Hey, Rosie Bear. Hey, you’re okay. Those two are just clowns.
Hey! Alasdair groaned.
Rose reached out to Leo, so he tugged her into his arms. She hugged him tight, as if he could save her from all the evil in the world. And fuck’s sake, he wasn’t her father, uncle, or anyone, but he would die protecting her.
Molly adjusted her shirt, then sighed. Johnny was my partner. He’s Rose’s biological father. Two years ago, Leo helped us get away from him.
Neil leaned ahead. Only Johnny’s now found you.
Alasdair scratched a finger across his stubble covered jaw. Does Knox know?
No! Leo almost shouted, turning around from where he’d been pacing at the side of the room with Rose. And he shouldn’t know. Nor does Johnny know, technically. He thinks I’ve got a secret family but has no clue it’s actually Molly and Rose.
You sure? Alasdair dropped his hands to his knees. Knox has used Johnny before to spy on people.
Molly’s back went rigid straight. Leo paused at that news. He had never seen Johnny do any clandestine missions like that before. But Knox had threatened to sic the bastard on Leo before.
Why would Knox want to spy on me now? Leo ran a hand over Rose’s back. He wanted to, back when I was coming to work exhausted. But not anymore.
Neil spoke, even as he stared at his phone instead of looking anyone in the eye. I always wondered why Johnny crept up in places he wasn’t supposed to be. Wasn’t it you who said he had no particular job description in the security business, Leo?
He does, Molly said, hugging herself as if the next words would result in someone attacking her. He was David Buchanan’s enforcer. What if his position passed from one CEO to the next?
Enforcer. When they’d taken over the company, that’s what Leo had heard people whispering about Johnny. He had just thought of that as a nod to Johnny’s effectiveness as the head of security for the Foundation.
Enforcer. Fuck, that sounded bad, but they weren’t in some mafia movie.
And their foundation operated in some dangerous places, protecting victims and survivors from dangerous people.
But having a thug as a security head was a bit much for a foundation, wasn’t it?
Especially when Buchanan had a whole company that provided others with such support.
Leo regretted not looking more into Johnny’s real work profile now.
Why does the CEO of a security company need an enforcer?
Aren’t our activities legit and above board?
Molly’s eyes flitted between the three of them. Johnny didn’t speak much about his work. But sometimes his people came over and they talked in the spare room. I would listen because his mood could sour depending on what they discussed, and it was best to be prepared to handle the fall out.
If Rose wasn’t in his arms, Leo would have probably punched the brick wall.
The fucking bastard. This was why he hadn’t probed into Johnny.
First to keep Johnny’s attention away from him, and then to save himself from wanting to kill the bastard for hurting the two people who meant the world to him.
Molly hooked her fingers into a web, then pulled them apart. Johnny looked after the off-the-books part of the business.
Leo swung his head around to stare at her. Neil and Alasdair moved to the edge of their seats, eyes wide with curiosity and confusion.
You don’t know? Molly asked them.
It was absurd how three-fourths of the business owners of Buchanan Security didn’t know there was a separate off-the-books arm of the business. Probably the part where most of the money padding their bank account had come from.
Leo felt sick. I didn’t know.
His half-brothers nodded their heads in agreement. Alasdair rubbed a hand over his mouth. Do you know what sort of off-the-books stuff?
Your guess is as good as mine. Molly shrugged. I was just eavesdropping to see how Johnny’s mood would be. I don’t really know much about that side of the world. But I did hear a lot of the stuff I’ve heard in gang movies.
Leo shook his head. There is a reason that side of the business is off the books.
And it’s likely not only for tax purposes.
Besides, if something like that does exist and is alive and well, Knox knows about it.
No way will such operations bring in cash without the CEO and CFO knowing.
Both those parts of the operation are under Knox. As per his asking.
Neil nodded. And someone needs to lead that side. Shite!
Always knew Knox was weird. That man was born with a platinum spoon in this mouth, yet he works so hard he sleeps in the office to make this work, as if he needs more money, Alasdair curled his lip. But rich bastards are always hungry for more, aren’t they?
So. Neil waved at Molly. You’re running from Johnny, but Johnny’s spying on Leo. How does this work?
Fuck. Leo did not want to open that can of worms again.
But it was Molly who spoke. Johnny doesn’t know Leo is helping me out.
He thinks I’m Leo’s secret family. I doubt he’ll even remember what Rose looks like, let alone recognise her now.
As for me, my red hair is a dead giveaway.
It’s not easy to dye, but I’m thinking of getting a wig.
I need— She swallowed. Leo could see the effort it took for her to say the next words.
I need to head back to the flat and grab our stuff.
And Rose needs to be able to attend nursery. It’s important.
Leo agreed. He stared at Rose, once more sleeping, her head resting on his shoulder. I won’t let him affect Rose’s life. No more than he already has. The more you hide, the more he wins. He hadn’t realised it until Molly had voiced her concerns earlier.
Amen, Neil said. Alasdair nodded with a Fuck yes. Leo had stopped giving him death stares every time he cussed now that Rose was asleep.
Molly swallowed. Johnny is dangerous.
He may be, but I never liked bullies. Alasdair stood. The man was the tallest amongst them all at six foot seven. With his broad shoulders and beard, he appeared like a giant. And I think I can handle him.
Neil rolled his eyes. What he means is, we’ve got your back, he told Leo.
You’re in this predicament because of me, in a way.
You agreed to take on your share because I needed the money.
Besides, Johnny is not my favourite person.
And if there is a clandestine arm to our business, I would want it gone.
I know David didn’t earn all this money ethically, but I would rather stem that income stream than turn a blind eye to it.
My parents raised me to help people. So I’m in.
He might not know his brothers as well as he should, but their easy willingness to help melted Leo’s heart.
This was so fucking brotherly. So family-esque. Leo sighed. Thank you.