Chapter 13
Brett
Brett couldn’t help his need to move away from his sister.
Despite them looking like the twins they were, Venus was made of the darkness, and Brett hoped he was made from light.
It kept the balance, he supposed, but he didn’t have to like it.
If he hadn’t been privy to the inner workings of Venus’s mind for the years they’d grown up together, he would’ve wondered how it was possible for her to be part of the military.
The thing was, she was one of the best actors out there.
But behind the veneer was a calculating, dangerous person, and Brett would never expect anyone to stand up to her.
Except him.
He was under no illusions that she would kill him should the need arise, but she tolerated him, as he did her.
She didn’t agree with his choice of duty, and he didn’t agree with hers.
Black versus white. Dark versus light. Night versus day.
The comparisons could go on forever. But what held him back from bringing her to justice was that she kept it under wraps.
Had she crossed the line? Of that he was sure, though he couldn’t prove it.
But had she kept herself from going off on rogue missions?
As far as he was aware. She could easily hide her “work,” but for the most part, he was able to read her easily enough.
This was not one of those days.
That day, he had no clue whether she was feeding him lies or truths.
“How can you keep losing your men, Brett?” Venus said with no inflection in her tone. It was almost robotic. “How many people have been kidnapped on your watch now? Six? Ten? I’ve lost count.”
Brett clenched his jaw, knowing she was trying to rile him up. “Regardless of my apparent ineptitude, what do you know?”
Venus strode across the space, moving towards the fence surrounding the barracks. She didn’t lean against it, just stood completely upright with military precision at all times. “I have no information.”
Brett turned away and stepped towards the gravel car park, pausing when she continued.
“However… I’m sure I will be able to find something if I’m inclined to look.”
He sighed, lifted his face to the sky—when had the sun set?—and swallowed before facing her. “And what’s the price?”
“I have a…” she tilted her head, blinking once, “problem I need to disappear.” She levelled her head again, staring at him.
“And what did this…problem do?”
She stayed quiet, robotically staring at him as if he hadn’t asked a question. Honestly, he wasn’t sure he wanted to know, anyway.
“You know the rules,” he stated.
“Rules are made to be broken.”
“Not these ones.”
She took one step closer, the crunch of some stones beneath her boots audible despite the noise around them. All that was needed was for it to be pitch black, and he would actually be quaking in his shoes. Yes, the big, brave bodyguard was scared of his sister. He’d be stupid to not be.
“Alastair Moore. Make sure the enquiry disappears when it arises and I will help.”
“No can do. If you have no information to give, you’re worthless to me.”
He got the jab in that he knew would hurt her the most because she had always needed to be important, and despite rising in the ranks of the military quickly and easily, she still needed that adoration and love to prove to herself that she was worthy.
By undermining that, she lost her balance, her focus.
It wouldn’t last for long, but he did what he could to bring her down a peg or two every time he saw her.
“Tick, tock, Brett. He’s counting on you,” she called after him, his boots crunching the gravel loudly enough to drown out most of her words.
Gritting his teeth as her rebuttal, he reversed out of the parking space and sped towards Windsor. He hadn’t been on the road long when his phone rang. He pressed the button on his steering wheel and Dominic’s voice came through the car speakers.
“Brett, you might want to get over to Felix’s house.”
“What? Why?”
“The police have a second search warrant for the house and for Felix’s arrest.”
Brett heard the words Dominic said, but he couldn’t understand them. “What do you mean for his arrest? He’s been kidnapped! How can they arrest him?”
Dominic’s sigh came over the speakers. “They say they have evidence proving he is a drug pusher and trafficker.”
“What the actual fuck? Who the hell is in charge of this?” Brett stayed on course, but mentally change his route for when he entered Windsor proper.
“Detectives Keegan and Dodd officially, but we got the heads up from Commissioner Thomas. He’s taking part in the process and said he’ll keep us up to date with everything as it progresses.
Unfortunately, he can’t stop the search or the warrants, but he can keep everyone on an even keel so they don’t become cowboys. ”
“This is all we fucking need. Why the hell are they coming after him instead of helping us find him?” he muttered.
“In some ways, it might help us to find him if more people are looking.”
He heard some mumbling in the background, and Dominic cursed. “What’s going on?”
“I fucking hate social media is what’s going on.” He cursed again. “This is no longer under wraps.”
Brett’s heart raced. His mind conjured up all sorts of images of what Dominic could mean before the man had even had the chance to say anything at all.
“There are reports about Felix being a trafficker all over social media. There are calls for his immediate dismissal and trial. They want to use him as an example of what people in power can get away with.”
Brett’s blood boiled. “I’ll give them someone to use as an example,” he ground out. “When I’m done with them all, they’ll think trafficking is child’s play.”
“Brett,” Dominic warned. “Colt and Owen will meet you at Felix’s house. They might not let you in, but Brady said he would do what he could.”
He inhaled and exhaled loudly but his mind cleared.
“Get Kai and Mav onto the social media thing. Let’s try to get the flames down to embers.
Beef up security at Club Royal in case people try to sneak in cameras or something, believing they can find some evidence.
Also get extra security to Book Drunk and Floresco, just as a precaution.
Make sure all royals stay home, regardless.
No one out at all. Make sure all guards know about what’s happened so they’re prepared for the public backlash for when they’re on the gates.
Who knows what people will try. And make sure that Felix’s computer is… healthy.”
“Already on that one,” Dominic muttered. “Colt and Owen are en route. They’ll meet you there.”
“Thanks.”
When the call ended, Brett almost broke his steering wheel with how hard he smacked his hands against it.
It was one thing after another. And while he would have loved to think they were all unrelated, he was a realist. All these things together built a huge case against Felix.
The question was…why? Why kidnap Felix and then tarnish his reputation?
It didn’t make sense. Maybe if it had been the other way around, then it might’ve, but kidnapping him first?
He shook his head and breathed deep, closing his eyes briefly and picturing Felix in front of him. Not the way they were in the church—he’d save that memory for when Felix was home—but just his day-to-day smile, boyish charm and sarcastic wit. He would see all of those things again.
“I’ll get you home, Felix. I promise.”
He aimed the car for Felix’s home once more, the fire in his stomach steadily growing. When he parked haphazardly outside, the left the engine running and climbed out. Owen stepped forward, placing a hand on Brett’s chest before he could go any further.
“Be careful, boss. The detectives investigating are looking for blood. They’re seeing things where simple explanations can be given. They don’t want to hear it.” Owen sighed. “This will get ugly.”
“Thanks for the heads up.” Brett paused, glancing around for anyone he recognised. Other than people he’d seen in passing, there was no one but Brady, who headed for him the moment their eyes met.
“Brett,” Brady said, his deep tone doing nothing to ease Brett’s nerves. “Detectives Keegan and Dodd would like to talk to you. They’ve scoured the house from top to bottom.”
“What did they find?”
Brady raised his eyebrows. “Why do you think they found anything?”
Brett rolled his eyes, something he rarely did. “They’re going to want to be seen to be doing something. Even if whatever they’ve found doesn’t mean shit.”
Brady exhaled. “Money. A burner. And…a rifle.”
Trying not to react to the rifle comment, because why the hell would Felix leave his rifle at his home, he frowned.
“All the royal guards have burners for if they need them. It’s a safety precaution in case our phones are tapped.
As for the money, Felix didn’t like banks.
He preferred keeping his money where he could see it. ”
“And you don’t think that’s strange for someone as tech savvy as he is?”
Brett glared at him. “Why would that be strange? If anything, I think he has the right idea. Almost anyone can find out how to hack from the internet nowadays.” He changed the subject. “Can I go in?”
Brady shook his head. “Not a chance. I have my guys following theirs around, though. We don’t want anyone planting anything. This is already a shitstorm, even when Felix is found to be innocent.”
Brett relaxed a little at Brady’s “when” comment, glad the Commissioner didn’t believe Felix had anything to do with the allegations, despite his earlier questions. He stared at the house.
“It just doesn’t make sense,” he muttered, mostly to himself.
“What doesn’t?” Owen asked.