23. Crack In Our Souls
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CRACK IN OUR SOULS
Payne
Feigning interest in my clients’ children, grandchildren, vacation homes, and pickleball leagues on any normal day is trying, but today, it might do me in.
Not knowing where one client is in particular has something to do with it.
But moving Ruby into my house and knowing she’ll be in my bed tonight is the real reason my insides are churning.
Ansel Reid is officially missing. It’s all I can do not to log into his portfolio, make the shittiest investments known to man, and let him lose his ass on Wall Street.
But it seems I do have boundaries, and my reputation as a financial advisor means more to me than revenge. Plus, when Reid is rotting away in prison for arson and attempted murder, he’ll be more worried about becoming some guy’s bitch rather than an early retirement.
Everyone knows the fire has officially been declared arson, but very few know why Alice Sinclair was the target. Secrets in a small town are rare, but somehow that one is being kept close to the vest for now.
Telling Alice and Blake that someone set fire to their home went about like I thought it would.
More tears from Ruby, followed by her begging her family for forgiveness. But the Sinclairs did exactly as I said they would.
Alice was angrier than I’ve ever seen her on behalf of her granddaughter.
And Blake proved he’s the king golden retriever of all golden retrievers—loyal, forgiving, and loving no matter what. Even if he did lose everything he owns, other than his old truck that he rebuilt himself and the suit he was wearing last night.
It didn’t matter how many times I told Ruby that her family would forgive her and support her, it took Alice to whip her into shape.
Ruby’s grandmother had been taken off oxygen when we broke the news.
From her hospital bed, Alice looked Ruby in the eyes, and her exact words were, “I’m fit to be tied.
That damn fire didn’t take me out—I dare the Mafia to do their worst. If that man steps foot west of the Colorado River, they’ll have to deal with this angry old woman.
They’d better leave my granddaughter alone, or else. ”
That’s when I realized I have another job on my hands—to protect Alice Sinclair from herself. I’ve never been on the wrong side of the Mafia before, but I’m pretty sure Enzo Caruso isn’t going to be humored by an old woman telling him where and where not to step.
Which is why it’s a good thing I am on the right side of another Mafia family, who I never in my life thought I’d be asking for another favor.
“The Carusos are fucking around in our territory. I’m not willing to look the other way. Winslet is barely a blip on the map, and he thought he could get away with arson. He fucking can’t, and he’ll learn the consequences soon enough.”
It seems the Vitales don’t fuck around either. Brand is pissed. Never did I think I’d have to talk my Mafia A-Lister client off a ledge because he wants to exact revenge on behalf of the lost love of my life who I gave an earth-shattering orgasm to this morning.
Nope. Not on my list. And I’ve made a shit ton of lists in my time.
I pull in a deep breath as I stand at the curb in front of what used to be the Sinclair home.
It doesn’t matter how big or small a structure is, when it comes to four walls, a roof, and the people inside it, that’s what makes it a home.
Most of the good times that live in my memories happened here.
I can’t imagine how Alice, Ruby, and Blake feel right now.
I left them at the hospital. Alice won’t be discharged until late this afternoon.
I came to see what, if anything, could be salvaged from the fire.
When I got here, that was already being taken care of.
Alice is popular among the townsfolk. Blake too.
Ruby’s been gone for over a decade, but she was once the sweetheart of Winslet.
I tell Brand the truth. “I hate to drag you into this. Ansel will surface, but I wish I knew what to do about Enzo Caruso. I’ve got a private investigator watching his every move. If he heads this way, we’ll know.”
My first client appreciation weekend is in the books. Everyone checked out over an hour ago and are on their way home, wherever in the world that is. For Brand and Art, it’s the outskirts of Seattle.
I hear the low hum of his engine as he speaks. “Feel free to cancel your private investigator. I sent a man to New York after the fire last night. He’s on the ground and following Enzo.”
I pause and watch one of the volunteer firefighters shake the soot off a picture that’s charred on the edges. “So you’re saying your guy might run into my guy?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. And we play by different rules. Tell your guy to go home. My guy is more effective.”
If by more effective he means he doesn’t give a fuck about the law and can get this shit done faster, I’m willing to consider it.
“Look, I know this is your territory, but I’m already in debt to you for the first favor. I don’t want to be in debt to you further.”
“This isn’t a favor or a marker or a debt of any sort.
This is me taking care of business and making sure the rats stay out of my house.
The West Coast is ours. It’s an agreement my father came to years ago with the Carusos.
There are other players close by, but they’re not the Vitales.
Don’t even get me started on the Riccis. ”
I have no fucking idea who the Riccis are, and I don’t ask because I don’t want to be an accessory to anything else. Brand already has an attorney. I can’t claim client privilege because I’m his financial advisor.
“As much as I need Enzo Caruso to leave Ruby the fuck alone for good, I’m not sure about this.”
“You’ve made me and Art a shit ton of money over the last two years—legit money. My family has another layer of protection we need, and it’s because of you. I’m doing this whether you ask me to or not. This is what I do for family. And from here on out, you’re family.”
“Damn, Brand. I don’t know what to say. Thank you. Consider me your adopted cousin from now on.”
Brand laughs, but it’s his wife, Aria, who speaks up over the Bluetooth.
“Adopted cousin or not, Brand is doing this for Ruby. Tess and I are official fangirls of the love of your life, and that was before we heard her story. Brand and Art will take care of this. They’re doing it for you and Ruby and for us. ”
“There you go,” Brand states. “My wife has spoken, and she gets whatever she wants. If you knew the things I’ve done for her, this is nothing. Consider it set in stone.”
Shit. I want to know that even less than I want to know who the Riccis are.
I have no choice but to relent to the new cousin that I never asked for. “I appreciate you and Art. The only thing I ask is to keep me in the loop. I’m moving Ruby and her family into my house today. It’s private and secure, but I can’t lock them up forever. I need to know they’re safe.”
“Capisce. For you, I’ll do that.” There’s a promise in Brand’s tone that should put me on edge, but it doesn’t.
I breathe a sigh of relief. He keeps talking.
“And just so you know, we don’t operate like the Carusos.
My goal is for that family to implode. They can do themselves in, and we can keep our hands clean on this one. ”
Again, I don’t want to know how they haven’t kept their hands clean. “Thank you. I’ll send my PI back to Texas. But I’ll sleep better if I can locate Ansel Reid.”
“I’m working on that too. He’ll surface eventually. Every rat does.”
Aria pipes in one last time. “Tell Ruby hi for us. You two should come up to the lake for a weekend.”
Brand doesn’t give me a moment to try to turn the offer down and proves he’ll do anything for his wife. “We’ll get it on the calendar.”
I guess when Brand claims someone as family, he doesn’t half-ass that shit. Ruby and I are about ten percent back together, and we have weekend plans with the Vitales. But I’m not one to argue. “Sounds good.”
No more family declarations or plans for retribution are made. After we say a quick goodbye, I press go on a number that I moved to the top of my Favorites list.
Ruby answers on the second ring with no greeting. “Is everything okay?”
“Relative to the last twenty-four hours, yeah, everything is great.”
“That’s not saying much.” I hear Alice arguing about something in the background, and Blake trying to placate her.
“We’re still waiting on the doctor to officially release Grandma.
I’m not sure when that will happen. But Grandma’s friends drove all the way to the city and went shopping for her.
She’ll at least have something to wear other than her hospital gown. ”
I think about how Alice and Blake are a package deal with Ruby, and I’m happy.
Call me crazy, but I’m looking forward to having other people in the house.
Sadie cooks and tends to my mother, but pretty much leaves me alone.
That house has never been alive with anything but tension and vices.
The Sinclairs, and all their banter, will be a breath of fresh air to my otherwise stale upbringing.
“I’m at your house. The town has kicked in and are digging through the wreckage to salvage what they can. There’s no reason for any of you to have to go through it too.”
“Thank goodness.” Ruby exhales a relieved sigh. “I don’t want to leave Grandma until she’s released.”
A marked police unit turns down the street heading this way. I squint through my shades, but it’s not until he parks and climbs out that I see who it is.
I lift my chin at Dean, who yanks his WPD ball cap over his head of thick hair.
I turn my attention back to Ruby. “Is there anything else you need before I pick you up from the hospital?”
Ruby’s tone is hesitant. “I could use some couldn’t care less and a case of I don’t give a shit, that would be nice to have in my back pocket before moving in with your mother.”