Chapter 39 MATEO
MATEO
I slam the door to Ethan's office hard enough to make the glass wall shudder. Both men look up, startled from whatever deep conversation they were having. The sight of them, relaxed, drinking, talking like nothing's wrong, snaps something in me.
"Nice to see you two enjoying yourselves," I say, not bothering to mask the bitterness in my voice. "Having a good time while I've been busting my ass for three days straight?"
Declan's expression darkens. Ethan just watches me, those blue eyes giving nothing away.
"Kid..." Ethan starts, but I cut him off.
"Don't 'Kid' me," I snap, pacing the length of his office.
"I've barely slept. Haven't eaten anything that didn't come from a vending machine.
Been going through security footage frame by goddamn frame trying to figure out how someone put a camera in Jade's living room without tripping a single alarm. "
I stop to glare at them. "And what have you two been doing? Drinking whiskey and reminiscing about the good old days?"
Declan stands, his massive frame unfolding from the chair. Anyone else would be intimidated, but I'm too angry to care.
"Watch yourself," he growls.
"Or what?" I challenge, stepping closer. "You'll put me in my place? Like you did with that guy who..."
"Enough!" Ethan's voice cracks like a whip. He rises from his chair, authority radiating from him in waves that even my rage can't ignore. "Both of you, stand down. Now."
The command in his voice, honed through years of military service and leadership, cuts through the tension. Declan and I both take a step back, though neither of us looks away.
"Mateo," Ethan says, his voice calmer but no less firm. "Sit. Before I knock you on your ass myself."
I hesitate, then drop into one of the chairs facing his desk. Declan remains standing, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, watching me like I might explode again at any moment.
"If you'd bothered to check in," Ethan says, returning to his seat, "you'd know we weren't just sitting here drinking. We were making a plan."
"A plan," I repeat flatly. "For what?"
"To find out what's really going on with Jade," Declan says.
This pulls me up short. "What?"
Ethan sighs, rubbing a hand over his face. "We don't buy it either, Mateo. Her sudden turnaround."
Declan's voice is rough with emotion he rarely displays. "Something's not adding up."
"I've been saying that for days!" I burst out.
"We needed time," Ethan says. "Time to think. To get past the anger. To make sure we weren't just seeing what we wanted to see."
I fall back in my chair, the fight draining out of me. "And?"
"And we agree with you," Ethan admits. "The timing's too convenient. Her behavior too erratic. The woman who let us in, all of us, wouldn't have turned so cold overnight without a reason."
Hope surges in my chest, but I try to keep my expression neutral. "So what's the plan?"
"That's what we were discussing when you came in like a hurricane," Ethan says dryly.
"I still think we should confront her directly," I say. "Just show up at her place, demand answers."
Ethan shakes his head. "If she has a reason for pushing us away, barging in could make things worse."
"I'm out altogether," Declan says quietly. "My rap sheet... I don't want to be the reason she won't talk to any of us."
"That's bullshit," I argue. "You know she didn't care about your..."
A knock at the door interrupts me. Ethan's assistant, Linda, pokes her head in, looking apologetic.
"Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Cross, but there's a Ms. Sinclair here to see you. Says it's urgent."
The three of us exchange startled glances. Jade. Here.
"Send her in," Ethan says, his voice carefully controlled.
Linda disappears, and we all stand, tension crackling in the air. I don't know whether to be thrilled or terrified. After three days of silence, what could have brought her here? What will I say when I see her? What will she...
The woman who enters is not Jade.
It's Catherine Sinclair, Jade's mother. We've all met her before, briefly, during that epic house visit.
"Ms. Sinclair," Ethan says, his tone neutral. "How can we help you?"
She attempts a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "I need your help. My daughter is in danger."
"From who?" Ethan asks sharply.
"A woman named Becky Mercer." She pauses, gauging our reactions. "The daughter of Charles Mercer, Jade's first manager."
Charles. Jade's former manager? I look at Ethan who slightly shakes his head. Okay, not now. But he will have to share that story with us soon.
"What about her?" Declan asks, his voice dangerously soft.
Catherine shifts uncomfortably. "She's... she's been the one stalking Jade. Sending the threats. Breaking into her house."
"And how exactly do you know this?" Ethan asks, his eyes narrowed.
"I've been... helping her," Catherine finally admits. "Becky contacted me months ago. She said she wanted to get back at Jade, that my daughter deserved to suffer for what she did to her father. Firing him and all..."
The room goes deathly silent.
"And you helped her?" I can't keep the disgust from my voice.
Catherine shrugs, unrepentant. "I figured it was just about rattling her. A little pressure. Some cash. Nothing serious." She waves her hand dismissively, as if we're discussing a minor inconvenience and not months of psychological torture.
"You knowingly helped someone terrorize your own daughter for a payday." Declan's voice is barely above a whisper, which somehow makes it more terrifying.
"It wasn't like that," Catherine protests weakly. "It was just supposed to be pressure. Scare tactics."
"So why are you here now?" Ethan asks, his voice cold.
"I called Becky today, to ask when I'd get my cut. She laughed at me. Said there was never going to be any money." Catherine's face twists with genuine fear. "She said she didn't care about the money. She wanted Jade to suffer like her father suffered. And then... then she said it was almost over."
I feel the blood drain from my face. "When was this?"
"An hour ago." For the first time, she looks afraid, but not for Jade. She's scared her paycheck might bleed out before she can cash in.
Declan moves before anyone else can react. One second he's against the wall, the next he's in front of her, towering, silent, eyes black with fury.
"You helped someone hurt her," he says, voice low and deadly. "You think walking through that door buys you redemption?"
He doesn't touch her. Doesn't have to. Catherine shrinks back like she's already been hit.
"Declan, enough!" Ethan barks, though he makes no move to pull him off.
"We don't have time for this. Call the police," Ethan calls to his secretary.
"Mateo, call Jade. She's more likely to pick up your call.
" He turns to Catherine. "You're going to stay right here until the police arrive.
Then you're going to tell them exactly what you told us. "
I'm already pulling out my phone, dialing Jade's number. I put it on speaker so Ethan and Declan can hear.
"Jade?" I say, relief flooding me at the connection. "Listen, we need to talk..."
"No! I need you to listen to me," she cuts in, her voice hard but with an undercurrent of something I can't quite place. "Like I said before...this is over."
I freeze, recognizing something in her tone. Something's wrong. Very wrong.
"If you're unconvinced that a particular plan of action I've decided is the wisest, tell me so."
My mind races. The words sound familiar, but formal, unlike Jade's usual way of speaking.
"Now, if any of you sons of bitches got anything else to say, now's the fucking time!"
I lock eyes with Ethan and Declan, who've both gone completely still, listening intently.
"I didn't think so," Jade concludes softly, and the line goes dead.
For one split second, we all stand frozen.