Chapter 13 #2
The mayor steps out of her office as she’s speaking and comes to stand behind the receptionist who now looks like she might pass out at any moment.
“Perhaps I can’t stop the earth’s rotation, but the people on earth stop when I snap if they know what’s good for them,” Hunter retorts.
“Is your office this way? My colleagues and I have a few things to discuss with you.”
“You wouldn’t really run for mayor, would you?” Mayor Brandt asks as we stride past her through the door she just came out of.
Hunter turns and smiles. “Not likely. It wouldn’t make my wife happy. But I would throw every resource I have behind an opponent of my choosing. And unless I like what I hear today, that’s exactly what I’ll be doing. I already have a candidate in mind.”
Her face goes pale. Some people really do need power and influence to live. It’s always baffled me. Then again, I’ve always had a lot of influence, and I’ve never had to live without it. But I’d like to believe I would do just fine.
“I’m listening, Mr. Novak,” the mayor says as she sits behind her desk.
“Your son is a nuisance.”
Yes, Hunter. Insult her son. The man we’re trying to keep from killing Lili. I keep the thought to myself, but just barely.
“His wife is the problem. But it sounds like that’s being taken care of as we speak.”
Hunter steps closer to the desk and bends over it, palms flat on the desk.
“Let me get one thing clear, Mayor Brandt. If any harm comes to Liliana Draven, I will not only end you, but your son will not come out of this unscathed, either. You will lose your career, publicly and shamefully. He will go to prison for the rest of his life if my friends here don’t put him in the ground.
And if they do, I will help them cover it up. ”
Her face goes pale, and for a moment I think he’s got her on the hook. But her mask of professionalism slides into place once more, and she stands, pulling her phone out of a desk drawer.
“Mr. Novak, I can get the Nevada Gaming Commission to jam you up for months. Suddenly the fire marshal is going to take great interest in the number of people in your theaters, and health departments across the country will inspect every restaurant and bar you own.”
Hunter laughs as if he’s watching a stand-up comedy routine.
“That’s very cute. We both know none of that actually threatens me.
Your son’s sniper shot my wife. She’s facing months of rehab and almost died.
All because we were helping Liliana get out of an abusive situation.
I was willing to be reasonable, but now that you’re making impossible threats, you’ve pissed me off.
You have forty-eight hours to resign your office, or not only will I end your career and back your opponent, but I’ll also make sure you spend the rest of your life behind bars just like your son. I’m capable. Ask anyone.”
Hunter and Mayor Brandt stare at each other for several seconds before Hunter speaks again.
“Where has your pathetic excuse of a son taken Liliana?”
There is more silence, and he dials a phone number. “Samuel, how would Erin like to help me out with a mayoral campaign? I was thinking of Oliver for the job. He’s looking to move, isn’t he?”
The mayor holds up a hand. “Hang up the phone. Please.”
Hunter tucks the phone back in his pocket and taps his foot impatiently when she doesn’t speak right away.
“I don’t know where he is,” she finally admits. “He left four days ago, and I haven’t seen him. If he has her, he wouldn’t take her to his house.”
His house. Not their house. The mayor has either never accepted her daughter-in-law, or she’s on board with whatever Phineas has planned.
“I want a list of every property he owns.”
Owen—who has remained quiet this whole time—holds up his tablet. “I’ve got a list here. But with all of his offshore accounts, we need to make sure it’s accurate.”
Hunter takes the tablet and slams it down in front of the mayor.
“Jesus, what is it with you two and my tablets today?” Owen grumbles.
Hunter ignores him and points at the screen.
“Read it,” he demands.
She scans the list and sighs. “This looks like everything that I’m aware of.”
“Check it again. Make double sure,” Hunter says. “Because if I search every place on this list and I can’t find them, I’m going to be extremely pissed off, and you won’t be able to win an election for dog catcher, let alone governor of this state.”
Her eyes go wide and Hunter sneers.
“Did you really think I hadn’t heard you’re planning a gubernatorial run?
You underestimate me, Mrs. Brandt. I hear fucking everything.
Garrett Oliver is looking to relocate with his family.
I’m willing to bet the great state of Nevada would welcome him with open arms. Especially if I back his campaign. ”
Her hand trembles as she picks up the tablet and scrolls the list again. “There’s a cabin missing. On paper, it’s owned by my foundation, but Phineas has the keys and uses it for…”
“Getting fucked in the ass by women?” I offer helpfully.
Hunter turns and glares at me, but the mayor is even whiter than before, and I worry she’s going to pass out.
“How did you hear about that?”
“I just told you, Miranda. Nothing gets by me in this town,” Hunter says, snatching the tablet and passing it back to Owen.
“Write down the address of this cabin. Clear your calendar for the rest of the day. I’m placing a memeber of my security team outside.
You are not to leave this office until you hear from me. ”
The mayor drops into her seat and nods. Her eyes are glazed over, and I wonder what has caused this change in her demeanor. Is it really just that I’m aware of her son’s sexual proclivities? There has to be much more to it than that.
Lili did say her husband has an odd relationship with his mother, but I don’t exactly know what that means. Now I’m not sure I want to know.
“Let’s go,” Hunter says, turning on his heel after he takes the sticky note with the address from the mayor.
We follow him out and go back to Owen’s car.
Hunter is already on the phone with someone barking orders to get a team to the cabin.
In the car, Owen types the address into the GPS on the dash, and Hunter pulls out of the parking garage.
“Samuel and some of his colleagues are meeting us there,” he says.
We drive deeper and deeper into the desert, and I pray every mile that Lili is OK.
Grace is blowing up my phone, and I’m ignoring it like a coward.
Owen holds up his phone for me to see. “Grace is calling me. Do I answer?”
I close my eyes and look at the ceiling of the car. “Worrying her is the last thing I want to do, but she’s probably panicking since we should have been home hours ago.”
“I’ll talk to her,” Owen says.
He presses accept on the call.
“Hey pet, what’s up?”
He’s quiet as he listens, and the guilt gnawing at my stomach grows further.
“He’s safe. That’s all I can tell you right now. We’ll call you as soon as we know more.”