Chapter Forty-one #2
Jonah clears his throat. “So you know Carter had me looking into your ex-husband.”
I nod.
“Well, there’s been a new development. He’s been arrested.”
I sigh and shake my head, addressing my words to Carter. “I told you it won’t work. He has too many connections. I’m not going through this again and—”
“Sweetheart.” Carter walks over, sits on the large arm of the chair, and puts a hand on my shoulder. “Just listen to Jonah for a minute. Hear him out, okay?”
I roll my eyes in silence and look back at the man.
Jonah clears his throat. “It doesn’t matter what connections he has, Kenna, the guy is going to jail for attempted murder.”
“Attempted murder?” My mind races. I shoot up out of my chair. “Oh my God, is my dad okay?”
“As far as I know, yes. This has nothing to do with your father. Cyrus shot a man named Lionel Sommers. Shot him four times, actually. It’s a miracle the guy even survived.”
My jaw slackens. He shot someone? Cyrus actually shot someone. With a gun.
My blood runs cold. That could have been me. Amelia. Carter or Christian. Maybe the big guy standing off to the side is a bodyguard. Are they worried Cyrus will come after me next?
“Wh-when did this happen? Is Amelia in danger?”
“Two days ago. And no, your daughter is not in danger. Cyrus is being held in the county jail.”
“Who is the man he shot? That name means nothing to me. Was he a client?”
“He’s an enforcer.”
My brows smash together.
Sensing my confusion, Jonah explains, “An enforcer is someone who collects gambling debts through threats, intimidation, or physical force.”
“Oh my God.” A hand flies to my mouth. “And you’re sure it was Cyrus who was the shooter and not the victim?”
Carter passes me his phone. It’s open to a news article. Actually, several of them. I scroll through them, reading as Jonah tells me more details.
“Apparently, Lionel had been after him for some time. Showing up at Cyrus’s residence.
His place of business. His gym. The confrontation happened outside the gym.
Kinda lucky for everyone that’s where it happened, too.
Had it been at his apartment or office, he may have gotten away with protecting himself on his own turf.
But on the public street, it was just one thug shooting another.
Cyrus will be going down for this, regardless of whatever self-defense bullshit he tries to sell to the court.
Witnesses say this Lionel character wasn’t even attacking him. Not then anyway. Cyrus just snapped.”
I finish reading the last article and look up, my eyes bouncing between Carter, Jonah, and the third guy who I’m still not aware of why he’s here. “Are you… sure?”
“I’m sure. And, Kenna, if that’s not reason enough to help you breathe easier, now might be a good time to tell you Ethan here is a private investigator. One of the best in the business.”
I shoot a condemnatory look in Carter’s direction then state, perhaps a bit too brusquely, “You hired a private investigator?”
Jonah intervenes, sensing my disapproval. “Just friends helping friends, Kenna.” He motions to Ethan. “Tell her what you found out.”
“When I did some digging, I found some very unscrupulous activity regarding Cyrus’s business. My guess is, he’ll be brought up on charges for those things as well. Seems he’s been stealing from clients for years.”
I close my eyes and let the tears fall. “How did I ever let myself get involved with such a monster? Amelia could have been…” I can’t even finish the thought before I break down in Carter’s arms.
“Thanks, guys. I can take it from here.”
I wipe my nose on my shirtsleeve and try to look presentable. “Thank you, Jonah. For everything. You too, Ethan.”
“Sure thing,” Jonah says, studying me intently. “But… I have to ask. Did you really win the lottery?”
I glower at Carter.
“Carter didn’t tell me,” Jonah adds quickly. “In fact, I told him. I mean, he already knew, but when Ethan did more digging into Cyrus, your name came up and he stumbled across that information.”
My eyes soften. Carter really didn’t tell anyone. I feel guilty for even assuming as much.
I nod. “Please don’t say anything. It won’t matter anyway in the long run.”
Jonah looks at me, confused. “Okay, if you say so. And mum’s the word.” He holds out his hand. “It’s been nice meeting you, Kenna. I hope we cross paths again.”
“Thanks. You too.”
Jonah and Ethan leave and I walk back into Carter’s arms. “Does this mean what I think it does?”
He laughs. “You betcha. You can keep the money, Kenna. It’s incredible.”
I instantly pull back. I was referring to being free of Cyrus. “I don’t want the money, Carter. It’s brought me nothing but bad luck. This doesn’t change anything. I’m still getting rid of it.”
He seems shocked for just a moment. Then he pulls me against him. “It’s your choice, of course, but at least now you have options.”
“But… what about the Cerebral Palsy Foundation?”
He chuckles. “I’m sure they’ll survive without your money. But sweetheart, you could do both. Keep the money and be charitable.”
“I don’t know. Would you be mad if I gave it all away?”
“Kenna…” He kisses the top of my head. “I get to be with you now. Without you always looking over your shoulder or worrying you’ll have to run. How could I be mad? I don’t care how I get to be with you as long as it happens.”
“You swear?”
“Babe, I’ll drop to a knee right now and swear my life to you even knowing you might not have a penny to your name.
I don’t give a shit about the money. You can’t miss something you never had.
But I’ve had you, Kenna. And I know damn well what I’d be missing if I were to ever find myself without you. ”
My eyes close as I absorb his words. He wants me. He really still wants me. He’s not mad. Not trying to force my hand. Not manipulating me as every man before him has.
Our future flashes before my eyes. Kids—several of them. Vacations to Disney World. Friends for Amelia. Friends for me. Us in the town I’ve come to love dearly.
I shrug. “Maybe I will keep some of it. I mean, Amelia was really looking forward to going to Disney World.”
He laughs and picks me up, swinging me around before he puts me down and kisses me. “I can’t wait to start our lives together. Say you’ll move in with me.”
I smile. “Of course I will.” I hold up a hand when he starts getting excited. “In the basement. At least for now. While we all get used to this.”
He snort-chuckles. “My girlfriend, the millionaire living in my basement.”
I shoot him a look of mock disgust. “You call me a millionaire again and I will give all the money away.”
He holds a hand to his chest. “I wouldn’t dare. Now if it pleases you, why don’t we go next door? I can’t wait to see Amelia’s face when we tell her you’re moving back downstairs.”
“Actually, nothing would please me more.” I take his hand and spring for the door.