Chapter 22
Everett stared at the text message. Worry clawed at him. Ike was right. Most of the guys at Stingray were torn between loyalty to Bobby, the need for justice, and the fact that Everett was trying to protect Remington from the consequences of what she’d done.
But Rocco and Adonis would always be on his side.
No matter what.
So when he got back-to-back texts from both men, he knew he couldn’t ignore them.
Leaving Remington this morning had been harder than he’d expected.
She was quiet as she sipped coffee on the wooden deck, staring down at the black sand beach below.
The misty morning air swirled around her, lifting the long strands of her hair into the air.
He longed to go to her. Lose his hands in those silky strands and kiss her like he’d wanted to last night.
He’d proven to her how wrong she was as she lost herself in ecstasy.
The sweet, musky taste of her flooded his mouth as her orgasm tore through her body.
He’d savored every drop as his cock threatened to burst through his pants.
His heart wanted to lift her in his arms and carry her to the bedroom.
Unleash his cock on that sexy body and make her scream his name all night long.
But his head knew better.
He’d done the right thing.
Walked away.
He hoped he had the strength to keep doing what was best for Remington. Not give in to his selfish desires. He could, and he would help her with no strings attached.
And that’s why he couldn’t ignore these texts.
Rocco
Get to Conrad today. Early. Stay there until you know it’s safe to leave.
Adonis
Resurface. Today, if possible. Not for long. But be seen.
The Stingray app would ensure both messages vanished in a couple of hours, untraceable and unrecoverable.
“I have to go into Conrad,” he’d said, standing by the steps that led to the valley floor.
Remington didn’t look at him. She only nodded, as if his leaving didn’t matter to her. He knew it did.
She was angry now. One day, maybe, she’d understand that everything he did was for her. It was in her best interest for him to keep his distance.
Everett emerged from the back stairwell and pulled the door to Stingray Security’s official offices open. He stopped, sliding into the alcove out of sight as he watched Faroe, hunched over the receptionist’s desk.
Stilling his breath, he focused until Faroe’s hushed words became clearer.
“They were at the house for three hours,” Faroe said. “Most of that time was spent questioning Gabby. Apparently, she was one of the last people to see Remi before the murders.”
Monique nodded. “Rocco’s housewarming party. A lot of the team was there that night. I’m not surprised she was there.”
“Do you know if Everett was there?”
Monique paused, leaning back in her chair. “Why would you ask?”
“I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but I’m fascinated about this story like everyone else on the islands.”
“That’s not an answer, Faroe.”
“I might have overheard the cops saying something about Everett and Remi being in a relationship in the past when they were questioning Gabby. Is that true?” Faroe’s voice dropped lower. “You think he knows where Remi is? Maybe hiding her from the cops?”
Everett pushed the door closed with a loud bang.
Faroe jumped, turning toward the sound. Guilt flashed across his face before he took a step backward and bumped into the desk.
Everett walked inside as if it were a normal workday for him, when it was anything but. “Shouldn’t you be in the Breaklands? What brings you to the Stingray offices?”
Faroe reached blindly for a brown envelope behind him on Monique’s desk, then held it up in the air. “I did an assessment of my assigned area. Things I thought should be updated or changed to improve security across the remote parts of our family land.”
“What does that have to do with Stingray Security?” Everett snapped, too harsh for the situation. But Faroe’s probing had pissed him off.
Faroe looked confused. “Nothing …”
“Then why are you here?” Everett asked.
“Oh, well,” Faroe fumbled over his words. “Sebastian denied my proposal. He didn’t think any of it was necessary … but I mentioned my ideas to Serena.”
Everett crossed his arms over his chest and scowled at the man.
“She thought parts of them had merit,” Faroe held the envelope out toward him. “Serena wanted you to review my plan and give her an independent assessment, separate from Sebastian’s.”
“When does she want it?” Everett snatched the envelope from Faroe’s hand.
“The sooner the better,” Faroe said. “Look, for some reason, Sebastian doesn’t like me, and I don’t know why.”
Everett resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
Sebastian had little patience for incompetence, and Faroe had yet to prove that whatever experience he’d gained running a prison in the U.S.
translated to anything of use for the complicated security strategies used to protect King Family land, Hullabaloo coffee farms, or the members of the family.
“But I know you’re fair and will be objective in reviewing my ideas. I’d appreciate it if you could tell Serena what you think.” He shrugged. “Maybe you’ll agree with Sebastian. But maybe you won’t. Maybe you can see value in my ideas and help me get them implemented.”
“I will give an unbiased assessment of your proposal to Serena.”
“Thank you. You don’t know how much that means to me?—”
Everett held up a hand. “But it will be up to her and Sebastian to decide whether anything gets implemented. I’m not getting involved in King security. Understand?”
“Yes, of course,” Faroe said, then headed toward the door. “I should get going.”
Everett watched him leave, then turned to glare at Monique.
“I swear I was not going to tell him anything about you and Remi,” Monique said, her eyes pleading with him. “When he mentioned the police showing up at the King Family home, I thought he might have overheard something you’d want to know.”
“Sebastian will tell me anything I need to know about what happens where he lives. I don’t need or want you getting involved in any of this, Monique.” He softened his voice. “It’s for the best, okay?”
She nodded, then a frown creased her brows as she glanced at his office door. “You have a visitor in your office. He’s been waiting for you all morning.”
“Visitor?”
“I don’t know how he got in. Your office was empty when I got to work and then … it wasn’t.”
“I see,” Everett said, wondering who would be bold enough to break into the Stingray offices in broad daylight and skilled enough to pull it off. It wasn’t any member of the team, since Monique knew them all. “Did you engage with him in any way?”
“No.” Monique fidgeted with the pen in her hand. “I pretended like I didn’t know he was there.”
“Good move.”
Maybe this was why he’d gotten the two texts.
He wouldn’t put it past the island feds to send one of his old contacts to meet with him off the record and pry for intel on Remi. He had to stay sharp.