14. Tate
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
TATE
I watch as Mary descends the stairs with grace. She may be in her sixties, but she still does her duties like she did when I was a kid. This enterprise wouldn’t run as smoothly without her, and my father appreciates everything she does around the house. She knows what goes on around here, and she’s never breached her contract of confidentiality. She’s loyal, and people like that are hard to find.
I head back into my office and join Rick, who’s scrolling through his phone.
“Anything new?” I ask, rounding my desk and taking my seat.
“Not yet. I've sent a text to Clint, asking him where he’s at. He's on his way.”
I slump in my chair and breathe a sigh of relief. “What the fuck is going on, Rick? Do you think it's all connected?” I ask, hoping to get his take on it.
“It's got to be. It's the only explanation. I just hope Joey isn't the cause of it.”
Maybe I was wrong to turn Joey into a snitch, but I wasn't getting anywhere doing what we were before. I saw an opportunity, so I took it. “Clint may be able to shed some light on that.”
I hoped so anyway. At the mention of his name, he appears.
“If I wasn't so eager for answers, Clint, I'd be ripping you a new one for just walking into my office. It must be your lucky day,” I say, my head in my hands.
“Sorry, boss. I knew you wanted to see me, and also, I've heard back from Joey.”
That spikes my interest, and I sit up. “And?”
“The good news is, he's still on our side.”
“I feel like there’s a but coming.” Will I ever catch a break in this mess?
“Joey’s heard through the grapevine that boss man is pissed off and something major is to follow.”
“I fucking told you something big was coming, Tate,” Rick pipes up.
I roll my eyes at him. “That doesn't mean I've pissed him off. I haven't done anything because I've been busy dealing with a woman issue.”
“Wait, what if they're connected?” Rick asks.
“Not possible. She doesn't know anything about that side of the world. She's too clean. Too innocent.”
“Maybe it's all an act,” Clint chimes in.
“What, you think she got herself raped on the chance we'd find her? Come out with something stupid again, and I'll pop a bullet in you,” I threaten.
Clint drops his head. “Sorry, boss.”
“It's not like you haven't fallen for it before,” Rick adds.
I pin him down with my glare. “What did you say?” I'm barely holding my anger in.
“I know it's not what you want to hear, and it's not like I want to drag up old, fucked-up shit again, but the fact of the matter is, we've been here before, and it don't end well for you or me.”
“Clint, leave us,” I roar.
“Boss.” Clint walks out swiftly, leaving Rick and me.
“Tate, I know it's not what you want to…”
“Stop. Just stop. Are you never going to let me forget the one and only mistake I've ever made in my life?” I ask him.
“That isn't what this is about. Come on, Tate. Can't you see it? It's history repeating itself.”
I bang my fist down on the desk and stand abruptly. “It’s not the same, Rick. You saw the bruises, the marks, the state Sian was in. Do you honestly think she did that to herself? Jodi didn't have a third of the marks on her body Sian has. I was just young and na?ve at the time. I had no reason to doubt Jodi when she said she was raped. Why would I?” I begin pacing the floor of my office. “When a woman tells you she's been raped, you believe her because why would she lie about something like that?”
“Erm, because she's sick in the head, or because she's luring you into a trap,” Rick says.
“She's not Jodi. There's no way she's a part of this.”
“Maybe she isn't. All I'm saying is, you need to be cautious. We don’t know anything about her.”
I hear what he's saying, but I don't answer him. I've got too much shit rolling around inside my head. If there is even a slight doubt in my mind that Sian is playing me, the repercussions for her will be fatal.
Why does the thought of causing Sian any physical pain leave me with a bad taste in my mouth?