CHAPTER EIGHT
– MACSEN –
Legs slightly braced, I cross my arms in front of my chest and stand behind Lu who is sitting on a chair in front of her father’s desk.
I’m too wound up to sit and rather stand.
Holland’s face doesn’t give a hint about the information he might have gained overnight.
He’s completely ignored me from the second I stepped inside his office.
“The two soldiers I put on the Wilton mansion haven’t seen any activity regarding getting rid of bodies. I’ve called Dudley and demanded an update on the situation ’cause I won’t put my daughter at risk.”
I snort. Fucking liar. He’s put her life at risk every damn time he sent her on an assignment.
Holland shoots me a glare while Lu asks, “What did Dudley have to say?”
“One of his guards was murdered. He said they don’t have the assassination attempt on video because the security tape was tampered with.
Dudley had the fucking nerve to ask if I had other suitors for you who might have retaliated.
” Holland grits his teeth and adds in distaste, “According to Dudley their family were the winners of your hand in marriage.”
My reaction of distaste is the same as Holland at the sound of that statement.
Though, the stuff he put his daughter through does question his intentions.
Weird how this fucker functions and reacts.
It’s as if the fucker needs a mirror to be confronted with his own actions concerning his daughter because he’s protective when it comes to others so much as talking about her.
“Do you have other suitors aligned?” I wonder out loud.
Holland waves his hand. “Of course not. Gideon wasn’t planned either. I was out of options.”
“Out of options,” I echo and firm my tone when I tell the fucker, “You could have reached out to your other daughter and asked her to do a thorough background check. She has the resources and the ability to dig deeper than your contacts can. We not only have the government databases and satellites at our fingertips, but also Lenz. If they are auctioning off fantasies they might do it through the dark web. Lenz can utilize facial recognition software and let it filter through all the shit out there. It will take some time, but if there’s anything with Gideon’s face on the dark web? He’ll find it.”
Holland’s gaze locks on Lu. “They weren’t wearing masks?”
“No,” Lu states. “Though, it did sound as if they had a live stream. What if they don’t post videos or stream by using the dark web? A direct line with the one who wins the auction? Then nothing can be found, right?”
“They have to get their clients somehow.” I take my phone in hand. “One message and I can have Lenz work his magic if I give him the name.”
Holland leans back in his chair and contemplates my offer. “Is the government updated on every action of Wisely Dicey?”
I slowly shake my head. “We file reports of our activities concerning the cases we work on. We’re allowed to do research on any person we come across without raising any flags.”
“Fine. Run a check on those fuckers. I don’t want anything linking back to me. If word got to Bosco about my involvement, it would be very fuckin inconvenient.” Holland’s cold stare was meant as an added threat.
I’ve never been impressed by people who feel the need to voice threats to get their way. The name he just dropped is one I recognize and can link to an Italian mob boss. Bosco Elio rules the territory Dudley Wilton is a part of.
“Nothing will blow back on you,” I confirm.
“Our work is always under the radar without any links to our club. We might be new to working with the government, but our club has always been able to get the information we needed. The connections and databases we use with the government are the same Broken Deeds has used for decades. You know exactly who I’m talking about and their reputation along with it. ”
I don’t like sharing information about club business. Especially not with a criminal. Yet, this is needed to gain the fucker’s trust. Doing this research will give us crucial information as well, and who knows it might also help when we need to bring Holland down.
“I would appreciate an update as soon as you have one,” Holland grunts and waves his hand as if to dismiss me, and it’s clear he wants to get rid of me when he adds, “Leave to handle your club business so I can have a private moment with my daughter.”
“Lu,” I rumble.
She turns to face me and there’s a grateful smile on her face. “I’ll come find you when we’re done here.”
I give her a curt nod and leave Holland’s office. With those two having their much-needed family time to hash hurtful shit out between them, I might as well make a private call myself. Walking into the kitchen, I slip out the back door and once I’m in the garden I call Thorsten.
The man picks up on the third ring. “Need reinforcements? Livi wants in on the action if it involves raiding Holland’s mansion.”
I chuckle. “Is she still pissed she was kidnapped and held by Holland so he could explain who he is? You could have saved yourself the discussion by not telling her where I spent the night.”
“You’re shitting me, right?” my prez grits. “I won’t lie to my old lady. Especially not when it comes to Holland. Let’s just say she’s not amused or even remotely interested in doing some daddy bonding.”
“Looks like Holland only knows how to fuck-up when it comes to his daughters,” I mutter.
“What was that?” Thorsten asks.
Clearing my throat, I say, “I need you to put Lenz on a search for information.”
“Name?” is all Thorsten fires back.
“Gideon Wilton or his father, Dudley Wilton. Make sure he grabs a recent picture of Gideon and have him do his magic on the dark web or anywhere to search for a video with that fucker. We think they’re running some kind of auction; the highest bid gets a live stream to a snuff movie where their fantasy will be played out. ”
“What the actual fuck,” Thorsten growls. “Are we taking over?”
“No.” I glance over my shoulder to make sure I’m alone and out of earshot. “Not yet.”
“Building a case?”
“Definitely. Keep everything under wraps. For now, Holland wants to deal with those Wilton fuckers. Apparently, Holland, being the asshole he is, knew something wasn’t right with those fucks and arranged a marriage between Gideon and Lu.”
“What the actual fuck,” Thorsten growls again.
I keep going, “Lu had a bad feeling about her fresh new fiancé and decided to follow him home. Then, when the fucker was home, he came home again. She went in to check on the body double, saw the snuff video shit with her own eyes. She took one Gideon out. Hours later there’s a rumor.
..there was an assassination attempt on Gideon’s life. ”
“What the actual fuck,” Thorsten repeats.
“Can you stop throwing out that line? It doesn’t hold a punch when you keep saying it over and over.”
My prez snorts. “Well, stop saying crazy shit then.”
“I’ve said all I needed to say. Except for the fact that I need your word we’re keeping Lu out of all this.”
Silence is my answer this time. I would have preferred it if he threw out another “what the actual fuck,” because it would have been better.
His voice is sharp and has lost all humor when he states, “Are you asking me what I think you’re telling me?”
Fuck. My balls are on the line here. “Holland fucked her over with this arranged marriage. She came to me for help.”
“The ‘she’ in question is a damn assassin, VP,” Thorsten grumbles. “The government can’t link shit to either of them, but if he goes down so does she. Nothing we can do to stop it.”
A sigh rips from me. This was something I knew the second Lu stepped into my room.
“Still,” I press.
“Fine. But we’re not hanging the club out to dry because your cock likes her special warm hole.”
“What the actual fuck,” I roar.
“That’s my line, VP. So, think about that shit,” is all Thorsten says before he disconnects the call.
Pulling the phone from my ear, I glance down and keep cursing at the damn thing.
“Everything okay?” Lu’s voice is right behind me.
I whirl around to face her and notice her slightly red eyes as if she’s been crying.
“I should probably ask you that question,” I rumble and step closer to cup the side of her face. Anger is in my voice when I grit, “What did he say?”
She snuggles close and places her head on my chest. “It’s fine. We talked. Everything is fine.”
Yeah, right. Whenever a chick says it’s fine?
It means quite the opposite. For now, I don’t press the issue and simply hold her, hoping we both can enjoy our closeness for a little while longer.
The conversation I just had with my president clearly resulted in the knowledge of losing her sooner than I thought.