Chapter 22 #2
"More likely millions," Xavier added.
"Yeah, nobody hides that kind of money in walls unless it's dirty,” I said.
"I agree with Cass," Mitch said.
"Of course, you fucking do. You two always stick together." Kayden grabbed another foil packet and ripped it open. "Who cares where it came from? It's about time we had luck on our side."
"What if Frank's disappearance has something to do with this?" I stepped closer, hoping I could get through to Kayden.
He glared at me.
Mitch’s scowl deepened. "You think he was killed for it?"
I put my hands on my hips. "I don't know. Maybe. But whoever owns this money could be looking for it. And if they find out we know about it?—"
"Then we're in trouble," Mitch finished.
Kayden threw the money down. "So what? You wanna just hand it over? We're broke, Mitch. We're drowning in debt, the bank's breathing down our necks, and you want to give away a million dollars?"
"Yes!" I shouted. "I'm not dying over money that isn't ours."
"You're always like this." Kayden's voice rose to match mine. "Always so fucking righteous, always so?—"
"Responsible?" I fired back. "Sorry for trying to keep us alive."
"I'm sick of being ganged up on." He kicked a packet, and it flew across the room and hit the wall. "Every goddamn time, it's you and Mitch against me."
"Maybe if you'd stop acting like?—"
"Kayden." Xavier's voice cut through the chaos, calm and measured. "Take a breath."
Kayden whirled on him. "What did you just say?"
"I said, take a breath. Getting worked up isn't helping anyone."
"Don't tell me what to do, asshole." Kayden advanced on Xavier, his entire body coiled tightly. "You don't get to come out here and act as if you know us, like you have any right?—"
"Kayden, stop." I grabbed his arm.
He shook me off. "No. I want to know what the fuck he's doing here, just when you find this cash."
"That’s right. We found the cash by accident. Us together,” I said, trying to get through to him. “The gas cylinder on the stove exploded in that inferno that nearly killed us and blew a damn hole in the wall. That's how we found the cash."
"That still doesn't explain why he’s here and why he wants Frank."
Xavier and I exchanged a look. His reason for being here sat heavily on my tongue, but I couldn't say it. Not yet. Not like this.
"We'll tell you," I said. "When we're all together. Declan needs to hear it, too."
"Bullshit." Kayden's eyes narrowed. "Tell me now."
"Later." My voice was steel. "Right now, we have a bigger problem."
Mitch stepped forward. "She's right. If Frank was involved in something dirty, or if he was killed because of this money, then whoever's behind it will come looking. We need to assume the worst."
“You’re gonna hand it to the police? Well, that’s fucking great.” Kayden stormed across the room and spun to us, glaring like we were the enemy.
"No. We’re not," I said. "We're going to hide it."
Kayden stared at me. "Hide it?"
"Yeah, until we figure out what the hell is going on or Frank finally turns up."
"Okay," Kayden said. "I can handle that."
"Where, though?" Mitch asked, his tone hitting that military note of his. "There's a lot here. Anywhere near the homestead is a bad idea."
"What about that plane wreck you told me about?" Xavier looked from Mitch to me.
Mitch nodded. "On Opal Ridge."
"Yes," I said. "That'll work. It's remote and hard to access. No one goes out there."
Mitch nodded slowly. "Then that's the plan."
Kayden looked between us, his jaw working. Finally, he threw up his hands. "Fine. Whatever. Let's just get this over with."
The chopper couldn't fit all the cash in one trip. It took three, shuttling back and forth to Opal Ridge. We used the woolen blanket tied with rope to create a makeshift cargo net that dangled beneath the chopper like the world's most illegal pinata.
Two hours later, we were finally ready to go home. Xavier sat beside me in the cramped back seat of the chopper, our thighs pressed together. The backs of our hands were touching, like we were silly teenagers sneaking touches in a forbidden romance.
And it was forbidden. And wrong. And weird. But I wanted it to be possible anyway. I barely knew Xavier, but this man who was so opposite to me in every way had crashed into my life, invaded my thoughts, and despite every reason not to, he'd found his way into my heart, too.
Nerves twisted in my stomach, as much from that realization as from what was coming next.
When we got back to Koolaroo, Xavier would have to tell my brothers why he was here.
Kayden wouldn’t take it well. He'd already accused Mitch of returning to Koolaroo just to take his piece of it. How was he going to react to a complete stranger having the right to take his piece?
If Xavier was correct, that was. Which I totally believed he wasn't. As rotten as my father was, I could never see him being with a woman like Pamela.
I glanced at Xavier and caught him watching me with those intense eyes of his and felt something twist in my chest.
No matter what happened next, my life was about to change.
The chopper banked toward home, and I closed my eyes, trying to prepare for the storm that was coming.
But how do I prepare? I can't.
I can only hold on and hope I survive.