Chapter 33
Leo had managed to calm Rose down. Well, it hadn’t taken much. She’d been fine as soon as she’d seen him. He held her close, ensuring she ate her dinner, then rocked her to sleep.
Seeing her reddened face and feeling her tight grip on him, he’d realised his colossal mistake more so than he already did.
Neil watched him, shaking his head, and muttering something about Never doing that again.
When Rose finally slept, Alasdair burst into the house. Sorry, I’m late!
Neil shook his head. You were supposed to land ages ago.
In response, Alasdair held his hands up, then ran them through his hair. I was speaking to a few people about Newtar. They all said the instructions for missions, and even solicitations to clients were coming from Leo’s office.
The fuck they are. Leo curled his hands. He’d been trying to get hold of Molly, but she wasn’t answering. Why would I sanction anything? I’m the HR guy.
Hence the embezzling. You’re not acting in your capacity as HR head.
And the guys Newtar is protecting are some real fuckers.
These are criminals, but appear to be God’s gift to earth, on paper at least. They haven’t been imprisoned or implicated, thanks to expensive lawyers who know how to twist the law in their favour.
In reality, these guys are assaulters whose abuse can’t be proven, murderers with no body to be found, fraudsters who’ve fleeced a bunch of people but the money trail doesn’t lead to them.
Those are Newtar’s clients. No one wants to take them on, so they pay well and in cash.
They’re happy Newtar doesn’t exist legally on paper.
Fuck! was the only thing Leo could manage to say. He certainly wasn’t the one running such a fucked-up operation. Could Knox be sending missives out in my name? Or Johnny?
Neil picked up his laptop when it dinged. How well do you know your assistant?
Craig? He’s okay. Leo whooshed out a breath. He can’t—
He can. Neil turned the screen around to show them CCTV footage. It would’ve taken me ages to get through all the footage, but searching for someone on the footage when I know where they generally are is quick. And Molly hit the nail on the head. He’s the one who fetches Johnny’s coffee.
No way in hell. Could Leo have been so blind? Another one of life’s unexpected blows had caught him because he was stupid. But he wasn’t running away this time. Where does Craig live?
I can do you one better. Neil frowned at the screen. He’s in the office right now. And I doubt you’ve asked him to work overtime this late in the night.
Leo pulled out his phone and tried calling Molly again. He didn’t get through. Fine, let’s go. But I need someone to stay back for Rose.
Neil was out the door before Leo had even completed the sentence. Alasdair rolled his eyes. What a weakling. Frankly, I don’t mind staying back. I’m knackered.
Perfect. He set the baby monitor in front of Alasdair and hurried towards the door. She’s asleep so there’s not much to do. Just keep an ear out. When he was about to step out, Leo paused and looked at Alasdair. And thank you.
Just get the bastard, came the reply.
***
Leo parked his car in the designated area and waited, even though he wanted to run out there and knock some sense into his assistant.
Neil was tapping away on his laptop and tablet. Okay, I’ve directed the CCTV footage to me and am feeding a loop back to the control office. This is actually good, because it helps me test how savvy my people are.
Leo couldn’t care less about the security of their building at the moment. What was the use of external security if the moles and viruses were nestling inside?
He hopped out of his car and rushed towards the bank of lifts.
This late in the night, they operated at a bare minimum capacity.
Unless they were expecting a client who needed urgent help, they only provided backend support to colleagues out on the field throughout the world.
Everything else would be picked up in the morning on a weekday.
Leo called the elevators, then used his ID card, but it didn’t work.
Fuck! He stabbed at the buttons, but without a working ID, they wouldn’t do anything.
Fucking Knox. When he next saw that bastard, Knox was getting a fist in his perfect face.
What kind of arsehole didn’t so much as ask his own half-brother if he’d been involved in something criminal?
Neil rushed inside, his fingers still working away on a tablet. Disarmed the rest of the lifts to ensure Craig can’t leave. But there isn’t anything I can do about the stairs. He frowned. Something to think about.
I need your key card.
Why?
Leo simply reached out, snapped the ID from where it was dangling around Neil’s neck, and stuck it to the reader.
The buttons turned active, and Leo punched in the number for their floor. The owner’s ID card superseded other requests, taking them straight from the basement car park to the top.
The moment the doors opened, Leo rushed out, making a beeline towards his office. He didn’t care that his footsteps thundered like those of an elephant’s. He was angry, and he was going to get answers.
Craig jumped up from his seat, his tie askew, hair standing in all directions, and eyes wide. S-sir?
Leo reached out and grabbed him. So it’s you. The bastard who thinks he can kick me around like a fucking pigeon.
The man had the gall to blush, but he shook his head. I-I d-don’t kn-know what—
What an arsehole you are? What did Johnny give you?
Why don’t you ask him? The smiling voice from behind Leo had him whirling around.
Johnny stood there with a couple more people in his entourage.
Leo recognised each face; they were people from the CD drive.
The list on the drive had been so long, he couldn’t remember exact names, but his mind pulled up their résumés.
One had an accounting background, another from tech, a couple muscles, and a chemicals expert.
Ursula. Leo cocked his head. You’re a part of this.
I was always a part of this. David Buchanan recruited me to keep an eye on Valentina and you. I worked undercover for Newtar. Still do.
Why? David Buchanan had wanted nothing to do with Leo or his mother.
Ursula shrugged. Valentina could’ve gone for his money at any point. You are his child, after all. He wanted to make sure she stuck to her lane and didn’t go around telling the world who your father was.
Fucker. Leo wasn’t surprised. Even if he’d left all his wealth to his sons, David Buchanan was no paragon of values.
Leo crossed his arms. You’re all a part of this then.
Johnny threw his head back and laughed. Doesn’t the HR head know how many people a security company needs?
It’s a physical job, something you wouldn’t know sitting behind that desk.
And why are you there? Because David handed it to all to you.
But he made it so that ultimately your share would be mine.
The eejit grinned back like a freaking clown.
Besides, Newtar is your wee operation, isn’t it?
Behind Leo, Craig whimpered.
These had to be the key players in Newtar at least. Whether they were all under Knox’s command was still unclear. Now, at least, they flanked Johnny, declaring clearly who their leader was.
Neil stood beside Leo. What do you plan to achieve with this, Johnny?
It was simple, wasn’t it? With my share in Buchanan Security, and my role as HR head, Johnny can easily work on Newtar. Leo shrugged. You need tools, tech, financial support, and you’re using Buchanan Security’s assets for all that. You’ve even leeched some of our staff.
Johnny snarled. You don’t deserve that seat. You’re the lowest scum. The likes of you have no right to own David’s business.
Watch yourself, Neil growled.
Leo snorted. I am part owner of this company, and my mother had more courage and values in her than your pseudo-dad Buchanan did in his fucking toe. The sort who abandons four sons shouldn’t have the right to run a security company that allegedly protects others.
Is that what you were doing, protecting Molly and my daughter? Johnny snarled.
She isn’t your daughter, Molly’s voice rang as she strode into the room, her head held high. You lost that privilege when you decided to raise your hand to her.
What the fuck? Molly had never told him Johnny had hit Rose.
Johnny’s lip curled at Molly. That rat wouldn’t stop crying.
She was eleven months, you prick! Leo snarled, taking a step ahead as if to shield Molly. You’re so stupid, you don’t even know what you lost.
I didn’t lose it. I won this business. I own that whore. Johnny stepped ahead. Now it’s time for you to step aside.
Like hell Leo would. When Johnny came closer, looking to push Leo away, Leo dodged the sloppy punch and smacked his elbow into Johnny’s face.
The crunch of bone didn’t satisfy, though.
He went back to punch Johnny, but hands grabbed him, hauling him off the man.
Leo tugged, trying to get free of their hold when he saw the scene behind them.
It made his heart squeeze… with pride.