Chapter 11
Will’s heartbeat rattled through his body. Hell, he was sure the desk guy at the hotel could hear it pounding. The kettle-drum rhythm stayed with him all the way to his future in-law’s suite.
Voices from the other side of the door spiked his blood pressure and his anger. How dare these people screw with his woman and his life. He wiped his sweaty hands on his pants leg, smoothed his tie, and gave three raps.
“It’s about time you got here. Dad’s about to have a conniption. Oh, you’re not Ra—Paige.” Angelique said. She looked like a harder, colder, less attractive version of Paige. The hair and the features were almost identical, but he’d never seen that sneer on his bride’s face and knew he never would. By some miracle, Paige had extricated herself from these people, and the circumstances that would put a look like that on her beautiful face.
He slid his hands into the front pants pockets of his tux. “No, I’m not.”
Angelique raised her arm to run her hand down his lapel. “You look nice.”
He quickly side-stepped the gesture, and she narrowed her eyes in speculation. He let his contempt bleed through his own stare. “May I come in?”
She shrugged and walked back into the suite, leaving him to trail behind her. The room was large, with a living room, kitchenette, and two rooms off the shared space. Rick reclined on the sofa watching a football game, while Gloria sat with Richard at a small table, both intent on a single laptop.
“About fucking time you got here, Raven. There’s some intel I need before our brunch with the senator and his wife,” Richard said without taking his eyes from the computer.
Hot, pure, murderous rage poured over Will’s body. He’d see these people in hell before he let them near his family or Paige. He wanted nothing more than to call Hank and have Richard Rohan arrested, but he had to neutralize the whole family, not just Richard.
“Um – Dad?—”
“Spit it out, Rick.”
“Paige isn’t here.” Will modulated his voice to courtroom-ready. He would deal with these people like he dealt with every criminal he met in court.
Gloria jumped up to try and smooth ruffled feathers. “Will, what a surprise. You’ll have to excuse Richard, he’s grumpy because he didn’t get his coffee this morning.”
He never broke eye contact with the older man. “I don’t really think Richard’s problem is caffeine deficiency. Is it, Richard?”
Richard’s snake oil salesman smile felt like the dead walking up his spine. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Will.”
He’d give it to the guy, you’d never know there was anything wrong by his demeanor.
Richard sat back in his chair as relaxed as you please. “What can I do for you, Will?”
Will rested his butt on the back of one of the living room chairs and crossed his arms over his chest, matching the other man’s casual air. “Actually, Richard, it’s what I can do for you.”
Gloria moved to stand behind Richard and Paige’s siblings went to sit at the table with their parents. A unified front. Did they do it on purpose to intimidate him, or was it purely instinctual? He doubted anything Richard Rohan’s family did, they did without intent. “And what’s that, Will?”
“I’m here today with a get out of jail free card. It’s a one-time offer and it expires,” he checked his watch, “in one hour.”
Richard laughed, then the whole family laughed too. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, son.”
Will narrowed his eyes at the Rohan patriarch. He was about to see how good of an actor he was. “I think you do, and don’t call me son.”
All geniality slid from Richard’s face. “What did she tell you?”
“Enough.”
“He’s lying,” Rick chimed in.
“Shut up,” Richard commanded.
“I’m not lying. I’m a fine, upstanding member of society, which is more than I can say for the four of you.”
Angelique examined her nails. “Don’t forget to include your lovely bride. She’s as dirty as we are.”
“Angelique,” Gloria reprimanded.
The skin on his neck tightened and a growl fought to escape his throat. “I don’t think so.”
“Ha. Then she’s only told you half the story,” Angelique added.
“No, the story she shared included everything she did before she ran. Every despicable thing you taught your children to do, forced them to participate in.”
“We were never forced into anything,” Rick spat.
Will just arched a brow at the guy. Rick looked away first.
“I spent several hours on the computer and phone this morning after your daughter left town to protect me. You can find the most interesting things on the internet. For example?—”
“Paige left town?” Gloria asked.
“Yes.” Pain ripped through him at the admission. “It wasn’t hard to contact the authorities who’ve investigated your illicit activities. They’d love to speak to you, by the way. You’ve been a very bad boy, Richard, and you’ve dragged your family down with you.”
Rick shot from his chair. “Take it back. Take it back, now!”
His roar raised the hair on Will’s skin, but he refused to back down. “No.” He turned away from Paige’s irate brother and gave Richard his full attention. “So here’s what I’m prepared to offer you. You and your family have,” he glanced at his watch, “forty-five minutes to pack your shit and get out of this town, this county, hell, the whole state of Texas, and never contact Paige again.” He pulled his phone from his pocket. The picture of him and Paige on his lock screen strengthened him. “Or I’ll call my contact at the FBI—they’d especially love a chat with you—and tell them exactly where to find you. I’m also prepared to enlist the help of the Zachsville police department if necessary.”
Other than the jerk of his jaw muscle, nothing moved on Richard’s stone face. Will slid his phone back into his pocket and placed his hands on the table in front of his father-in-law to be. He channeled every ounce of menace that rolled off Richard right back at the man. “You wanted a DA in your pocket, Richard? Let’s see how you feel about having one on your heels.”
“You’re bluffing.” Rick took a step in his direction, but Angelique grabbed his arm.
“’Fraid not.”
“You’re lying,” Richard sneered.
Will stood and shrugged. “Is that a risk you’re willing to take?” He straightened and buttoned his tux jacket. The tremor in his hands made it difficult, but he managed to slip the button through the hole. “I’d say it was nice to meet you, but it wasn’t.” He opened the suite door and glanced back to see four stunned faces staring back at him. “Oh, and Richard, be sure to pay your bill on the way out.”
The door snicked shut behind him. The two inches of wood couldn’t muffle the angry voices and a long string of curses that came from inside the suite. A pleased smile slid across his face.
He’d handled four Rohans. Now to marry the fifth.