Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
ORION
“You got it,” said Sebastian, my mechanic and longtime friend. I didn’t trust anyone but him and his team to work on my cars. He only worked for me and traveled to wherever I needed him. He got paid well for keeping my collectibles top-notch.
“I’ll be taking the black SUV for now.”
“How did you get these dents?” He studied the damage to my Bugatti.
“I parked on the street instead of in the garage because I was running late for a conference.”
“Did you find out who did it?”
I didn’t know why, but a strange protectiveness rose in me. I didn’t want him slandering Elena.
I nodded. “It’s resolved.”
“Who the fuck would dent this masterpiece?” He patted the car, talking to it like it was his pet. “You didn’t know what hit you, huh?”
Though the question wasn’t directed at me, I answered it in my head. No. I didn’t know how strong the force was until I couldn’t remove her from my mind. Elena figuratively slammed into me today, unsettling me.
Though I considered Sebastian a good friend, I didn’t want to rope him into my business.
But you just yanked Elena Sanchez into your business , my inner voice sounded, and I shoved it away. She knew the area, and that was an advantage I needed.
Liar.
Working with a smart and attractive woman was an added benefit any business executive would agree with, and I was a man who valued profit.
“Have Ralph drop off the Bugatti at the garage.” I hopped into the black SUV and headed to my apartment, which was an entire floor in my office building.
I pulled into my garage, and my phone rang. Getting out, I groaned at my cousin’s name.
“What is it, Jasper?” I asked, not in the mood to deal with him.
His parents had left him a lot of money, but nothing he’d done in the past two years had garnered success.
“Can’t I call to see how my cousin’s doing?”
“That would make you too considerate, and that’s not you.”
“Asshole,” he said.
I grinned, thinking about his missing Rolex and the Bugatti watch that were inside a safe of things I’d soon sell on the black market. I didn’t want his watches; I just liked knowing he’d suffer because someone took his belongings.
“You sound cheerful. Did you just buy a new watch or something?”
“You know me so well. Got a watch and a car.”
“You don’t have a good track record holding on to things.”
“Not my fault! I’ve been searching for them in the market. I’m going to destroy the fucker who took them.”
“Probably one of your friends.”
“Nah, they can afford their own Rolex and car. It has to be some lowlife. Anyway, have you reconsidered my proposal?”
This was the reason he called.
“I already told you no. My answer is final, Jasper. I’m not selling Quintile Island.”
“Your father said you might change your mind if I gave you enough time to think about it.”
That was a lie.
“First, there’s no price that would make me sell my island. Second, if you don’t already know, my father and I don’t have a relationship other than a DNA match. He doesn’t know what I want. You’ve been misinformed.”
Speaking to Jasper drained my energy. He was an irritating person who never listened to anything that didn’t align with his needs. He should take lessons from his older brother, Jonah, who had more business experience and common sense. Jonah had taken over his father’s position, helping run the Reimann Sienna Bank along with my father. But Jonah also had his real estate company to manage. It was recently voted one of the top ten firms in the world. I often wondered if he ever had the same pressure placed upon him the way it was bestowed upon me.
Did he have panic attacks? Did he suffer in silence?
Jasper had asked me to collaborate with him on several business ventures. I’d declined all of them. Even his brother had declined him.
I didn’t enjoy collaborating with family. Too much potential to get messy. Besides, I’d never forget how Jasper and my aunt had talked about my mother behind her back. Or how they had shamed Kate for being open about her battle with depression. My chest tightened as my hand went to the gold ring dangling from my necklace. Kate and I were supposed to get married before mental illness took her from me.
That familiar sadness crept in, and I hated Jasper even more for souring my mood. “I’m done talking.”
“I’ll give you another week to think about it. If your answer is still the same, I’ll stop bugging you. I really want Quintile Island.”
Frustration flared, and a headache bloomed in my temple.
“Why?” I seethed.
“Because it’s a great location. I want to develop a tourist resort that could bring in a lot of money.”
I rolled my eyes, and the gesture reminded me of Elena. Then a surge of desire swarmed through me.
“Let me save you time. The answer will always be no. Don’t ask me again.” I hung up and leaned back in the seat.
A part of me felt guilty for wanting Elena. Though Kate was no longer with me, I still respected her. She was like me in so many ways. She could finish my sentences and knew me better than my family. There hadn’t been a serious relationship after her. Just temporary flings that had no strings attached.
Elena’s beautiful face flashed into my vision, like a rebel with her own agenda. She was the first woman who had intrigued me this much. The first woman to squeeze herself into my thoughts, anchoring herself there.
I couldn’t shove her away.
Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to have her working for me. The contract would be only four months at the most. Then she would be on her way and I’d return to Sweden.
Huffing out a breath, I exited the car and entered my home. The quiet welcomed me, but the sadness still clung like gloomy clouds. I walked over to the kitchen counter, poured myself two fingers of whiskey, and brought it into my office.
Working had always kept my mind focused. Right now, I needed to concentrate on the reason I was in Providence.
Who had killed my mentor? I owed everything to him. He’d made me into a man who followed his dreams despite what his environment demanded. A man who had stolen in order to right some wrong. Sometimes crimes were necessary to catch the criminals.
The Condor had given me a sense of purpose. Without purpose, a man had no direction.
I was born into a wealthy family with everything provided for me. I didn’t have to work hard or finish college to receive a privileged lifestyle. I was predestined for it. Despite having all of that, I felt so alone and vulnerable,especially after my mother died. She had been the person who knew how to ease my panic attacks.
Money couldn’t solve it. The best therapist in the world couldn’t help me. No one could.
The pills helped a little when life became too much, too dark. Over time they stopped working too. But I’d learned to recognize the life patterns that could trigger my anxiety. Most things were just phases that would soon pass.
That was how I’d been living my life.
People didn’t know what lay behind the glossy fa?ade.
I finished my whiskey, letting the taste linger on my tongue before swallowing.
Then I turned my attention back to the investigation and opened The Condor’s file. It held everything I’d gathered about him and those he’d been in contact with. His routine, what shops he visited, where he went for coffee. People he saw regularly when he was in Providence.
The Condor was like a father to me when my father was too busy to even look at me. My mentor was a meticulous man who had his own wealth, but he lived a simple life. He didn’t drive expensive cars or dine lavishly. He blended in with everyday people.
Who wanted him dead? Why?
I browsed the list of names and businesses he’d visited over the years. Digging into my mentor’s personal life wassomething I didn’t want to do. I didn’t want to violate his privacy, but this had to be done.
Did he know an elite member of The Trogyn? He’d never mentioned them to me. But then again, maybe that was what he’d been waiting to tell me. I flipped back to the few times we’d met up. The Condor had seemed normal. He gave no indication that something was wrong.
The past few months had been chaotic, throwing my thoughts in many directions. I needed to see this investigation clearly, otherwise I’d miss an important detail that could lead to the killer.
Exhaustion pulledat me. Leaning back against the chair, I closed my eyes, and a memory flashed.
I sit on the couch in my father’s library, my cousins Jonah and Jasper sitting across from me. Jonah is reading a comic book, and Jasper is watching something on his phone, laughing like an idiot. Jonah has dark hair, while Jasper got his mom’s genes of dirty blonde hair.
“Look at her.” He elbows Jonah. “Remember her?”
“You still have that?” Jonah shakes his head.
“Yeah! She’s got a pretty face. I wish we had more time with her.”
Jasper is such a prick. He’s probably bullying someone and recording it.
I don’t want to be in the same room as him. I get up and walk toward the door.
“Where are you going?” Jasper rises from the couch and follows me, tugging at my backpack.
Uncle Ray is discussing something with my father in his office.
“Out,” I said.
“Where? I heard your dad tell you to stay in the library to study.”
I flick him an annoyed gaze. “I don’t need to study. But you do.”
I’m an excellent student with an excellent memory.
Why are my cousins so annoying? They should both go home.
Jasper flicks me an annoyed look. “I heard you cheated on your math exam.”
I’m surprised more kids didn’t beat the shit out of him. They’re probably afraid my aunt and uncle would sue them.
“Unlike you, I don’t need to cheat or pay another kid to write my essays,” I mock.
Dumb fuck.
“Your mom’s into weird shit.” He laughs. “Bet her death was written in the stars.”
Rage surges through me. I drop my backpack on the floor, walk over, and punch him in the face. “You talk shitabout my mother again and I’ll break all your teeth. Then I’m going to tell the dean all the essays you’ve submitted this year were by other kids you paid off.” I seethe as anger pumps through me. “I’ll even name them.”
“You wouldn’t dare!” He holds a hand to his face while pointing at me.
“Try me!”
Jonah jumps up from his seat to stand in between us. “Stop it!”
“Your mom was nothing before she married Uncle Rex!” Jasper shouts.
“At least my mom isn’t fucking her accountant or hersecurity guard like your mother.” I try to reach for the asshole, but Jonah stops me.
“Just go,” Jonah told me. “I’ll take care of him.” He whirls around to his brother. “Shut up! Dad’s gonna hear you.”
I leave the room, seething. Jasper is such an asshole. He probably gets it from his mother. I don’t understand why Uncle Ray doesn’t divorce her. Maybe he has a mistress on the side too.
I hurry into the backyard, escape through the garden to the park, and call The Condor to let him know I’ve arrived. While waiting for him, I kick a rock, imagining it is Jasper’s head.
I reach into my backpack, open a bottle of lavender oil my mom got me before she passed. Whenever I sense a panic attack, I’ll sniff it and look around me to find three things, starting with the color red. I continue the process until I’ve used up all the colors in the rainbow.
It’s her method to train my brain to calm itself. I miss her so much.
“Hey, buddy,” he says with an accent. He drops beside me on the bench and slings an arm around me. “Sorry about your mother. She’s watching over you.”
Not sure if I want her to, especially with the things I’ve been doing.
Sorry, Mom.
“Everything okay?” His brown eyes search mine. He’s grown his brown hair long past his chin. I almost don’t recognize him.
“What’s with the beard?”
He laughs. “New trend.”
“Yeah, right.” I don’t believe him. “You’re in disguise. What are you planning? Can I come?”
He studies me. “Would that make you feel better?”
I nod fiercely. “Yes.”
“Okay, we’ll talk later. I want to see that prize.”
I reach into my backpack for the brooch I’ve stolen, placing it into his hand.
Smiling, The Condor holds the brooch, studying it like a precious gem. “You did a fabulous job. Looks better than the photo you sent me.” Tears and pridegleam in his eyes. “This is a fine treasure. Keep it safe, okay? Every thief has his own treasure chest to store his favorite prizes. Here’s yours.”
A reminder buzzed on my phone, bringing me back to the present moment. I had a conference call tomorrow and a meeting with Remi and Attikus the following day to discuss The Trogyn. All the boys were monitoring various angles of the crime organization. Though we had eliminated many elite members, there were still plenty around.