Chapter 24 #2
He charged down the stairs toward the chopper.
"What the hell was that?" Cassidy whispered to Mitch as we followed.
"Trouble," Mitch growled.
The ride back to the homestead was even more tense than the ride out.
Bob sat rigid in the front seat, jaw working like he was grinding his teeth to dust. Nobody had spoken since we’d taken off, but two things were absolutely clear: Bob Ackerman knew exactly what had been hidden in those cottage walls, and Frank Branson was up to his neck in it, too.
The man I'd hoped was my father might be worse than the man I'd thought was my father all my life. That was messed up.
Back at the homestead, Bob jumped out before Cassidy cut the engine. He waited until Mitch climbed out, then jabbed his finger at Mitch's chest. "You contact me the second Frank turns up. You hear me? The second."
"What's going on, Bob?" Mitch's voice stayed steady, but his eyes sharpened.
Bob whirled on him. "What's going on? Looks like Frank's gotten himself into some serious shit, that's what."
"What? Why?" Mitch demanded.
"You think Dad pulled down those walls?" Cassidy said at the same time. “What for?”
Bob trembled with fury, his fists clenching and unclenching. "That's between Frank and me. You idiots stay out of it and keep your fucking mouths shut. Understand?" His eyes swept over all of us. "Call me when he surfaces."
He stormed toward his SUV.
"Bob!" Mitch called after him. "What the hell's going on?"
“Are you going to arrest those Henderson brothers for attempted murder?” Cassidy yelled, but Bob didn't answer, and he didn’t stop.
He climbed into his vehicle, slammed the door, and tore down the driveway in a cloud of red dust.
"Jesus." Cassidy stared after him. "This is not good."
"That's an understatement," Mitch said.
"Bob knew those walls had money in them," I said. "Didn't he?"
"Absolutely," Mitch said.
"Jesus. That means he’s a dirty cop." Cassidy's voice was tight with disgust.
"Yeah." Mitch's jaw worked. "And Frank's neck-deep in it with him."
Kayden and Declan appeared on the verandah. "What happened?" Kayden called out.
We walked toward them. "He knew about the money," Mitch said.
Declan's jaw dropped.
"You're shitting me. What did he say?" Kayden demanded.
As I followed them into the homestead, Mitch and Cassidy filled Declan and Kayden in on Bob's rage, his panic, and the way he'd stared at those stripped walls like he’d wanted to strangle someone.
We stopped in a room with a massive wooden dining table that could seat ten people. An old grandfather clock stood in the corner, but its pendulum was still. And a sideboard ran the length of the wall with dinner platters inside the glass cabinet.
Cassidy looked at Declan. "Is Bella around? Xavier and I have been living on canned food for days."
"Yeah, give me a minute." Declan disappeared down the hallway.
Mitch and Kayden settled into chairs across from us.
Cassidy leveled her gaze at them. “I know you want answers, and I promise you’ll get them, but we’ve been through hell. Give us five minutes to shower and change.”
They both scowled.
“Please,” I added.
Mitch flicked his hand. “Sure, but hurry up.”
She nodded at Mitch. “Tell Declan to take a change of clothes to the guest bathroom for Xavier.” Cassidy grabbed my wrist, yanking me away. She led me up the hallway and stopped at a bathroom doorway. “Have a quick shower and meet back at that dining table.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
A tiny smile wobbled across her lips, and I wanted to pull her to my chest and tell her everything would work out.
She squeezed my hand. “Declan will leave some clothes outside this door. Hopefully, they’ll fit.”
“If not, I’ll put on my dirty clothes, I don’t mind.”
Her expression morphed to half a frown, half a smirk, then she raced away. “Don’t keep them waiting,” she called over her shoulder.
In the bathroom, I yanked off my filthy clothes and jumped into the shower before the water turned hot. Gasping at the cold water attacking my body, I frantically lathered up and scrubbed, trying to get my wild thoughts away from wishing Cassidy was here in the shower with me.
I toweled off, peered out the door, and grabbed the change of clothes from the floor. The pants were too big in the waist and too short in the leg, so I pulled on my dirty ones.
As I buttoned up the borrowed shirt, I returned to the dining hall, hoping Cassidy had beaten me there. Then I wouldn’t have to face her brothers alone.
Relief washed through me as I entered the dining room and my gaze locked on Cassidy.
Cassidy nodded to the seat beside her, and I sat. Under the table, her hand found my leg and squeezed. I wished I knew exactly what she was trying to convey, because the glares her brothers were throwing my way were not friendly.
A few minutes later, Declan walked in carrying a tray loaded with sandwiches. Behind him came a young woman with fiery red hair, carrying another tray topped with cupcakes.
"This is Bella, my girlfriend," Declan said, setting the tray down. "Bella, this is Xavier."
"Nice to meet you." Her genuine smile lit up her whole face as she placed her tray beside Declan's.
"You, too,” I said. “Thanks for this food."
“My pleasure.” She nodded and left the room.
Cassidy grabbed the nearest plate and passed it down. "We've got Vegemite and cheese. Take your pick."
I eyed the sandwiches. "Vegemite. I've never tried it."
Cassidy's eyebrows shot up. "You want Vegemite?"
"Absolutely. I love trying new things."
"Right then." She grinned. "You'll either love it or hate it."
I took a Vegemite sandwich, bit in, and the salty, slightly bitter taste hit my tongue. "Intense." I nodded. "Not bad. Actually pretty good." I took another bite.
Cassidy stared at me. "Wait. You like it?"
"Yeah. Why not?"
"Most people spit it out the first time." She looked genuinely impressed.
"It’s interesting.” I finished the sandwich and reached for another.
“Leave room for Bella’s cupcakes. They’re the best in the world," Cassidy added, nodding toward the other tray.
I glanced at the cupcakes. "There's always room for cupcakes."
"Will you stop fucking around?" Kayden reached for a sandwich but kept his glare fixed on me. "Tell us why you’re here."
I took a breath. "It's a long story."
"Just fucking tell us."
I sat back, forcing Kayden to wait a beat. "I will, if you give me a chance."
Cassidy's leg pressed against mine under the table. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a small smirk crossing her lips.
"Oh, you think you're?—"
"Kayden." Mitch's voice cut through. "Let him talk, for Christ's sake."
I nodded at Mitch. "Thank you."
Bella returned with water and coffee for Cassidy and me, and cold beers for the brothers. The tension in the room was thick as everyone settled in and waited.
When Bella left the room again, I set down my sandwich. “Thirty-seven years ago, my mother and father, Pamela and Dominic, came to Australia to buy a parcel of Koolaroo Ranch.”
"What the hell?” Kayden blurted, plonking his beer bottle onto the table. “That’s bullshit!"
"Please, just let me finish," I said. "There's a lot to cover."
"Yeah, Kayden, and trust me, you want to hear all of it," Cassidy added.
"Christ almighty. Okay. Tell your damn story." Kayden lifted his beer again.
As I continued and we ate, the tension didn't ease but coiled tighter with every new revelation.
I told them everything, including what had happened after Mitch had called me about the suitcase found in the plane wreck. When I told them about Pamela stealing money from company funds, they all leaned forward. Maybe my mother’s theft had somehow aligned with their father’s criminal actions.
I told them about the plane crash, about the pilot and how he'd died, what Frank had done with his body, and what had happened to the jewels.
I paused to eat a bite of the lemon cupcake and drink my coffee.
"Bloody hell." Mitch's jaw tightened. "That's a lot to digest."
Declan just shook his head, like he'd heard one terrible thing too many.
But none of them looked surprised. Angry, yeah. Disgusted, absolutely. But not surprised.
Maybe they'd learned so much about their father's evil actions over the years that nothing could shock them anymore. What was one more body, or one more ruthless crime, when the list was already so long?
I took their animosity. All of it. Because part of me deserved it. I'd walked into their home and dropped a bomb that tore through everything they thought they knew about their father. About their family.
"So that's why you're here." Kayden leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. "To get your hands on the jewelry that belonged to your old man."
"No." My heart hammered against my ribs, trying to punch its way out of my chest. I swallowed hard.
The room went dead quiet. Blood rushed in my ears.
Under the table, Cassidy's hand found my thigh and squeezed.
I cleared my throat. "I'm here because I believe Frank Branson is my father."