Chapter 17 #2
“They’re not called that anymore, but yes, I work for ESN.”
Exclusive Star News was one of the biggest and most intrusive of all the gossip networks. They were relentless in gathering photos of stars and breaking any scandal, no matter how big or small. “What’s your editor’s name?”
“Stanton Briggs.” The man did his best to avert his eyes, but they still traveled to Major’s dick before glancing away.
“Forget you saw me, then go back and tell Stanton there is no one famous at the estate, that it’s an older couple and their grandchildren.”
Shawn picked up the drone, and without looking back, ran into the farmhouse.
Major waited until Shawn got in the car and drove off before shifting and taking flight.
He followed Shawn, making sure the human was, indeed, leaving the area.
Shawn didn’t slow as he passed the entrance to the safehouse, so Major circled back, landing in the woods.
After getting dressed, Major emerged from the trees.
Craig was leaning against the brick garage, staring at the burner phone.
“You need to wear the prosthetic if you’re going to be outside.”
Craig jumped. “I thought we were safe here.”
“We should have been, but the drone user admitted that his editor sent him out here to get pictures of someone famous. He didn’t name you specifically, but we can’t be too careful.” When Craig only nodded, Major gestured to the burner phone. “Everything okay?”
“No. I still can’t get in touch with Daniel.”
Major shoved his hands in the pockets of his cargo pants. Tabitha had already reamed Craig for placing calls. He obviously didn’t care. “Do you think he’s in trouble?”
Craig twisted the phone in his hand. “That’s just it. I don’t know, but if I had to wager a bet? Yeah, I’d say he’s in some sort of trouble.”
“And that pisses you off?”
“You have siblings. Would your father expect the youngest one to be responsible for one of the older ones even though they’re a complete fuck-up?”
“In our family, we all look out for one another, and I’m not referring only to my siblings.
Take Mateo, for example. I texted him at ass o’clock this morning.
Not only did he come to do the DNA test, he cooked breakfast for us.
I could call any one of my siblings or cousins, and they would drop everything if I needed them.
Look, Craig, I won’t say I know what it’s like being you because I don’t.
I don’t know how you were raised. The dynamics of being a royal.
I do know about being a brother. Have you ever stopped long enough to try and understand why Daniel acts the way he does?
When you arrived in the States, you went to college, and he fucked off with drugs.
Was he doing it to get back at you? Your father?
Or was he hurting and needed an escape? Was he always a fuck-up?
Or did one instance set him on a course of failure?
Sure, he used you and your money, but was there something keeping him from having a purpose?
And now? What if he did get Carmen Lawrence pregnant?
What if he actually loved her and was looking forward to being a dad? ”
Craig ran his boot through the snow in an arc.
The silence was thick until his green eyes met Major’s gaze.
“To answer your question, no. I haven’t considered any of that.
Before…” Craig leaned his head back, staring at the sky.
“When we were younger, Daniel was the best of us. He tried hard to be the perfect son. He and I both were ignored. Invisible. Then he stopped trying to be perfect because what did it matter? Anyway.” Craig straightened his shoulders.
“No matter why Daniel is the way he is, if anything happens to him, my father will blame me, and I will have to deal with the consequences.” Craig walked away, leaving Major with more questions than answers.
As soon as Craig was out of earshot, Major called Nikita and told her what he found out from Shawn, asking her to look into the editor.
How had Stanton Briggs known someone famous was at the safehouse?
When she assured him the Trio was on it, he made his way inside to the aroma of cinnamon and something else.
Tabitha was waiting just inside the door, so he didn’t have to recount his conversation with Craig.
He did tell her what happened at the farmhouse.
“I think Nikita was right when she said we’re looking at more than one party after Craig.”
Major took Tabby’s hand and led her away from the windows. “I agree, but who?” He snagged one of the cookies cooling on the baking sheet and shoved the whole thing in his mouth. Sweetness along with something a little spicy had his tastebuds doing a happy dance.
Tabitha left Major to the cookies while she opened a pack of chicken and cut it into cubes before tossing them in the crockpot. “Someone knew which doctor he used to get him to that office for a vaccine. If it isn’t someone close to him, they had to have watched him for a long time to know—”
Major’s phone rang. “It’s Mason.” He slid the answer bar and put it on speaker. “Hey, Boss. Craig’s outside, so you can speak freely.”
“Everett heard back from the lab in North Carolina on the DNA results. There is a twenty-five percent similarity, proving Craig isn’t the father.”
“Meaning he could be the uncle,” Tabitha said.
“Correct.”
Major grabbed another cookie and broke it in half as he told Mason about Shawn and the drone. “Cabretti is in Miami, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t put someone else in charge of looking for Craig.”
Tabitha opened a package of cream cheese and plopped it on top of the chicken.
“True, but going back to what we were talking about a few minutes ago, Craig was convinced to get the vaccine before all of this started. Then we have the drugs that were sent to the rental with a name similar enough to Daniel’s real one for it to be too much of a coincidence.
We know Daniel did drugs while Craig was at school, so if Daniel didn’t buy them, someone who’s aware of Daniel’s bad habits did.
We need to find Daniel, not only so Craig will stop worrying, but so we can question the man ourselves. ”
“That’s another reason I’m calling. The Trio tracked him down. He’s in the Corona Municipal Jail for drunk and disorderly, then resisting arrest.”
Tabitha ignored the food and leaned against the island where the phone was. “Corona? Isn’t that where Carmen lived?”
“It is. And Daniel wasn’t in a bar when he was arrested.
He was at the cemetery. When the night guard was checking the grounds, he found Daniel sitting against Carmen’s headstone, passed out.
It was when the cops showed up that he became disorderly, saying he had every right to be there.
We need to know how the editor found out someone famous is staying at the safehouse.
I’m sending Zane to speak to him.” Zane West was a fellow Gryphon who also worked for Steele Securities.
“We need to know if Daniel killed Carmen, so once Zane finishes with the editor, he’s flying to Corona to question Daniel, pretending to be his lawyer.
If he’s guilty, Zane will deliver him to Everett.
If he’s innocent, Zane will voice the cops and bring Daniel to you, then remain at the safehouse to help watch over the brothers.
Even with the contract canceled, someone out there is after Craig.
I’ll let you know what Zane finds out and whether you can expect him and Daniel. Until then, stay alert.”
“You got it, Mason.” Major thumbed the call off, and while Tabitha went back to prepping the food, he strode to the door to put eyes on their client.
Craig was walking in circles around the courtyard, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his heavy jacket.
“I’m going to tell him about Daniel.” Tabitha gave him a weak smile, and Major stepped out onto the patio. “Craig. The Trio found Daniel.”
Craig rushed to where Major waited. “Where? Tell me. Is he okay?”
“He’s unharmed, but he’s currently in jail.” Major explained how Daniel ended up there.
Craig threw his head back, yelling, “Fuck!”