Chapter Sixteen.
Jess/Loch Ness Monster
“No.”
Mitch shook his head at her reply. “Jess—”
“No.”
“Jess…”
“Mitch, they’re going to be looking for you. I know what you did. You didn’t just go after Frederick. You’re preparing to take the entire family down. Maeve wouldn’t have lingered once you gave her permission. Neither of us knows what is happening out there, but I bet it’s freaking chaos.”
Mitch sighed, and Jess waited. She knew she was correct, and Mitch was being stubborn. “That’s why I have to attend. Jess, my name will be mentioned, and the public will believe I’m running because I’ve something to hide.”
“He’s right. The media are questioning where Mitch is. I know you two have been locked in the love shack for a week, but all hell’s breaking loose. The arrests of the entire Weideman family and their alleged attempted assassinations on Mitch are leading people to wonder if he’s dead,” Leon said.
“They can take a hike,” Jess shot back.
Leon laughed. “Hate me as much as you want. Mitch ought to show his face and be surrounded by power players when he does. It needs to be clarified that he has nothing to do with his despicable family.”
“Mitch will be exposed to any Hunter assassin they send after him,” Jess snapped. This was a bad idea. She didn’t like it whatsoever.
“He’ll be protected. I’ve made some calls to associates, and Drew, Vladimir, and Jase are expected to be there.
We won’t let Mitch face the media or the public alone.
Mitch will appear with some powerful businessmen and give a statement stating his disgust at his family.
He’ll make a few more appearances before fading back into the background.
The good news is Mitch has extensively donated to several charities over the years,” Leon said.
“And ones that link to his family’s victims,” Jase announced, entering her quarters.
Jess eyed the front door. At this rate, she might as well install a revolving door.
“You can’t protect him,” Jess argued.
“Yes, we can. Trust us,” Leon urged.
Jess wanted to agree, but she was too scared. She’d finally found her mate, and Mitch was in danger already.
“Nothing will happen, I promise,” Mitch declared.
“Fine. But it’s not happening in London, where Mitch’s murderous family has its power base,” she countered.
Leon pursed his lips. “Where?”
“Inverness, we’re safe there,” Jess argued.
“We could make that work,” Diar said, entering, and Jess double-looked.
Behind him came Bronwen. Since her release from the Hunter Centre, Bronwen had been quiet and kept to herself.
Everyone knew she was still healing. Jess couldn’t even imagine how many times Bronwen must have died for the Hunters to examine her rebirth.
“How?” Leon demanded. “We need Mitch where the businesspeople are. That’s London!”
“Unless they’re meeting at my hotel to raise money for a cause. I can throw a buffet together easily and invite whoever you want. If we schedule for the weekend, we can call it another conference but with fundraising in mind and sharing business ideas,” Diar suggested.
Leon pursed his lips. “That would work. Do you have the free rooms, though?”
“If I don’t, I’ll make them. I’ll offer compensation to those we move,” Diar said.
“You shouldn’t be out-of-pocket over this,” Jess replied.
“It’s for Mitch. Where he’s concerned, money is no problem,” Diar stated.
“That’s kind of you, but I’d prefer you not lose business,”Jess argued.
“Diar can afford it. He’s the one hundred and forty-fourth richest person in the world. He sits directly behind me,” Mitch said smugly, and Jess began laughing.
“Wow, sibling rivalry at its best,” she teased.
“And they are all behind me,” Leon proclaimed.
“Because you’ve got a cheat! You can turn anything into gold!” Mitch exclaimed, outraged.
“And?”
“That’s cheating. You didn’t get to number one through hard work,” Diar agreed.
“Dude, it’s really taxing converting those fuckers into gold to melt down,” Leon argued.
“Wow, you’re going there?” Jase demanded, turning to Leon.
“Don’t even start; my skills helped you get started!” Leon retorted.
“I made my fortune,” Mitch interjected.
“Hey, you had four shops your mum left you!” Diar exclaimed. “I originated from nothing! You’re all fakes and cheats!”
Jess’s eyes bounced between them as they argued.
“Okay,” she sighed and left the apartment. She’d rather have had a swim.
Mitch
“Can I help you?” Archere/Quasimodo asked as Mitch hesitated on his threshold.
“I wanted some information and don’t wish to upset Jess.”
“You wish to learn about the three Great Plagues and the lesser one?”
“Jess told me about the Great Plague of London,” Mitch admitted.
“Come in, you’ll want a couple of stiff drinks for this. You’re aware Jess will sense your emotion through your mate bond?” Archere asked.
“Shall we stick to the facts and not make it personal? I’d ask Jess, but she was distressed enough telling me about the Plague of London,” Mitch replied.
He wanted to know because he needed to understand what tormented Jess.
Once or twice, she’d woken with a nightmare, and Mitch had guessed it had something to do with her past.
“Jess caused three great plagues. The Plague of Justinian, The Black Death, and the Third Pandemic or the Great Plague as it was known in eighteen-fifty-five. Each time, a man who proclaimed to love her but didn’t, betrayed her.
That also includes the Great Plague of London.
Those four are the main ones; she’s had a few outbreaks, but nothing like those.
They’re the ones that torment her dreams,” Archere mentioned as he led Mitch into his study.
Mitch looked around in approval. It was clear Archere worked here a lot, and the room was warm and welcoming.
“Jess told me about Simon and his betrayal. Tell me about the others,” Mitch said as Archere offered him a whiskey neat.
“You’ll need that,” Archere replied forebodingly.
Jess/Loch Ness Monster
She breathed in deeply and sighed. While not exactly pure air, it was cleaner than most areas globally. It met the World Health Organisation’s standards and often exceeded them. Loch Ness was a special place indeed.
Within a few days, Diar had organised a conference and several influential millionaires and billionaires were attending.
Leon and Jase had succeeded in gathering forty people to attend the weekend and made it known that they supported Mitch and his innocence.
Luckily, Diar had managed to juggle some customers around who’d accepted the compensation offer.
When she and Mitch arrived at her cottage, they decided to stay at the hotel, where they’d be seen. The paparazzi were hovering, so there’d be plenty of footage. Diar had already provided a statement saying that he hoped this would be the first of an annual fundraising weekend.
He’d explained, in his press release, that they were coming together to organise donations between them and to select several charities.
The media had been given a list of names and gone berserk over seeing Mitch’s on there.
That made Jess naturally nervous. She needed him to be safe, and this didn’t feel secure.
But his company’s sales had taken a direct hit, and Mitch needed to be public.
Mitch was driving the car as they headed to the hotel.
They’d spent the night at the cottage, gearing up for what was coming.
On Jess’s finger was a beautiful engagement ring that made a statement.
Mitch wore a promise band Jess had gifted him, crafted by Midas.
As they approached the hotel, Jess’s stomach knotted.
“We can go home,” she said, and Mitch smiled grimly. He was dressed for success today: a twenty-thousand-pound suit, a Rolex, gold cufflinks and a tie pin. Mitch was every inch the billionaire he proclaimed to be. A crowd of people waiting outside turned, and Jess sighed.
“Here we go,” she murmured as Mitch parked up. Within seconds of him doing so, the bodyguards who’d been following surrounded their car. Seconds later, the media descended in mass and shouted questions. The guards forced their way through the crowd and got Mitch and Jess to the doors.
Mitch checked his cuffs, then turned to face the reporters. Jess stepped up close, and Diar and several others came outside.
“Mr Weideman, what do you think of your family’s arrest?”
“First, my surname is legally McQuoid and has been since I was eighteen years old. Please use the correct name. Second, the Weideman’s haven’t been my family for twelve years.
As for their arrest, I’m shocked, like the rest of the world.
While personally I believed my former relatives were evil, I’d no knowledge of any of their crimes,” Mitch stated.
“Mr Weideman, were you privy to any of these events?”
Jess gripped his hand as Mitch ignored the inquiry.
“Mr McQuoid, were you aware of what your family was doing?” a female reporter called, and Mitch smiled.
“Thank you for using the correct name. In answer to your question, no, I’d no idea.
However, I am pushing for the police to reopen my mother’s death.
At the time, it was classed as an accident, but one of the reports leaked shows a completely different death certificate and autopsy results.
I’m also paying for her body to be exhumed.
If my mother was murdered, I want answers,” Mitch stated.
“Do you think your father killed your mother?”
“Alexander Weideman may have donated the sperm that made me, but he’s no dad.
He’s a cruel, indifferent, arrogant, greedy fool.
Alexander, like his father Alfred, believes he’s untouchable, and perhaps he was.
Somebody in law enforcement had to help cover his crimes; I sincerely hope they are also tracked down and charged.
Including the mortician who signed a false autopsy on my mother,” Mitch said.