Chapter 18 #2
“I thought we discussed this. You were going to take care of her.”
“I went to her place,” Kiernan said. “There was no connection to her or the owners of the mine. She doesn’t know anything about who we are or what happened. It was all a coincidence that she was in the same region when we were.”
Grant didn’t like sharing as much information with the buyer as he demanded, but the asshole threatened to pull out of the deal altogether if he wasn’t told exactly where the diamonds came from.
Grant didn’t trust anyone, and risking exposure was not something he was comfortable with, but the buyer said it was mutually beneficial information.
They knew enough to bring the other down, which brokered a tentative trust.
Telling the asshole about Harmony Gibbs and the potential threat she posed was not part of the plan, but it came out and Grant couldn’t take it back.
“And it was a coincidence that she witnessed the break-in? I don’t do business with people who leave so many things to chance and then trust that they are coincidences.”
“We found nothing to support that the woman knows anything more than what she’s reported so far. Her bank accounts and lifestyle definitely suggest she has no money. And if she knew anything about the diamonds, she would have already tried to get something else out of me,” Grant said.
“What if she’s working with the authorities? There wouldn’t be money exchanging hands, but it would still bring everything down. Did you consider that option?”
Kiernan shifted in his seat.
Grant threw his brother a glare that froze him. “The only time she’s working with the authorities is when we force her to. All the heat dies down when she’s left alone. It’s just her and that protector who’s more of a lap dog than protector.”
The buyer sipped his water and set the glass on the table.
He leaned back in his seat and focused his gaze on Grant.
“I’ve seen things like this go wrong too often.
She needs to be handled. If you want this sale to go through, I need assurances it’s not going to blow up in our faces at the last minute. ”
Grant sipped his water, trying to pretend he had a handle on things. He was getting upset with this asshole acting like he was the one in charge. Making it seem as though he could call the shots.
“What do you think she’s going to do?” Kiernan asked.
“Whatever the fuck she wants,” the buyer spat.
“Okay, we have the pasta primavera here,” the server said brightly, snapping the tension at the table.
She set the dish in front of the buyer. “And the bolognese here.” She set it in front of Kiernan, then accepted the third plate from the server who was helping.
“And finally, the filet.” She spun the plate in front of Grant and stepped back.
“Is there anything else I can get you, gentlemen?”
“We’re all set,” the buyer said shortly, dismissing her.
She glanced at Grant and Kiernan for confirmation, then smiled and walked away when they shook their heads.
Grant focused on his steak, cutting into the meat and spearing his first bite. It was perfectly cooked, medium-rare with a char on the outside. The broccolini and red-skinned mashed potatoes were just as good as the steak.
Grant caught his brother’s eye, seeing the joy on Kiernan’s face, too.
They didn’t grow up with food like that.
They were lucky if they had anything to eat many days.
Ever since Grant started collecting his millions, they refused to eat the garbage they fought to find when they were kids.
They only went out to eat at restaurants with tablecloths and cloth napkins. No more paper for them.
The three of them ate their meals in silence. Grant didn’t feel the need to say anything, and the others followed suit.
Every time the server checked in with them, they assured her they were fine and didn’t need anything.
When they finished eating, the buyer cleared his throat and looked between the two of them. “Thanks for lunch, gentlemen.”
Grant’s brows shot up.
“If you take care of the issue we talked about, the rest of your meals will be on me. If not…” He stood. “Then I guess our business is concluded.”
“We’ll speak to you soon,” Grant growled at the man.
“You know how to reach me.”
Grant watched the man walk out of the restaurant. He growled at the asshole’s back, angry that his time was wasted.
“What are we going to do?”
Grant didn’t like Kiernan’s question. “Considering we don’t have other options, we are going to do whatever we have to do.”
“I thought we were just going to scare the woman. Make it all seem like we were people after her money, not after her.”
“And I thought the team you assembled wasn’t going to fuck everything up in the first place.”
Kiernan flinched. “I didn’t expect her to call the cops and for us to get caught in the building.”
Grant sighed. “I know.” He saw the server approaching and pasted a smile on his face.
Kiernan picked up on his body language and mimicked his expression.
“Your third had to go?” she asked.
Grant nodded. “He did. I’ll take the check when you have it for me.”
“No dessert for you two?”
“Not today, thank you.”
“All right. All set then. I hope everything was good.”
“Amazing. Thank you.” Grant put his credit card in the folder for her, smiling when she tucked it in her apron and carried away their empty plates.
“You can’t be seriously thinking about this,” Kiernan hissed.
“I’m thinking about our future. About us being able to disappear and be done with all the bullshit. That’s what I’m thinking about.”
“There has to be another way,” Kiernan said.
Grant shook his head. “And if there’s not?”
Kiernan held his breath, holding Grant’s gaze.
Grant exhaled roughly. “We’ll figure it out, brother. For now, let’s get the hell out of here.” Grant thanked the server and pocketed his card. He gave her a big tip and signed the receipt, then stood.
Kiernan stood with him, leading the way to the door, pausing to hold it for Grant. Outside, they walked side-by-side to the waiting car, both men lost in their thoughts.
“Oh my God,” Harmony breathed, watching the two men from the window.
“What?” Damien asked.
“That’s… No. There’s no way.”
“What? Are you okay? You’re white as a sheet.”
“That was the man who broke into my apartment.” She pointed toward the two men walking to the SUV outside.
“Are you sure?”
She nodded, unable to tear her gaze from him. “I’m positive.”
“Which means he’s also one of the men you saw breaking into Pickens Systems Inc.”
“And he was just getting into a car with Grant Pickens.”
“That makes no sense.”
“It doesn’t, but they were. And to make it even more confusing, I think they might be related.”
“What?”