CHAPTER EIGHT
– HELENA –
We’re standing near a river that runs through my property. Ballard wanted to discuss some of the details with his friends, and I agreed. These people have had a front row seat to the havoc Burk, Nolan, Royce, and Jolene caused.
The research Ballard and I did last night only gave us some information, and we still have nothing. Well, more questions and maybe a motive for Jolene’s part in things. So, it’s good to bounce ideas around with the people who are involved.
Though, we have to be careful not to be seen together if Ballard and I want to get closer to Royce. If he sees Ballard and I getting cozy with those he targeted, then he’s unlikely to trust us. Hence us meeting in the woods near the river.
Seamus and Jaxie, along with Murray and Elodie, brought their dogs. They are facing away from us and have been given the order to guard. According to Seamus, they will bark if they hear someone approaching.
Ballard stares at the dogs, and I can tell there’s a hint of longing in his gaze.
“Not being able to voice commands is a bullshit reason not to get a dog,” I tell him.
Seamus steps closer. “She’s right. You can whistle to catch their attention when needed, and train them to follow hand commands.”
Ballard takes a piece of paper from the file he’s holding and shows it to Murray, clearly ignoring me and Seamus.
I release a sigh and start to explain to the others, “I was invited to Jolene’s party yesterday and brought Ballard as my plus one.”
A gasp rips from me and is instantly smothered when Ballard cups the back of my neck and plants a kiss on my mouth.
“Wow. I didn’t see that one coming, and yet I did,” Elodie mutters.
“Dude, you move fast. Faster than Seamus,” Murray remarks.
I can feel my cheeks heat, and I know I should mention the fake relationship arrangement Ballard and I put in place. Yet, I don’t want the same reaction Ballard gave me when I mentioned it yesterday. Last night after I confessed about my trauma and scars, he reacted with patience.
Kissing, caressing, looks of adoration, and keeping his distance when it comes to taking the next step. He made me feel safe, unrejected, while keeping the door open a crack for more if I wanted it.
And I do want it...eventually.
“Fast, but not as fast as the lie he told Royce.” I throw a pointed glance in Ballard’s direction. “He basically said I’m pregnant.”
“Said? Like, he actually talked?” Seamus asks with wide eyes.
I try to hide my wince. Shit. I should have worded it differently.
Waving a hand in Ballard’s direction I grumble, “The man clearly has no issues to speak up without using his voice. He’s bossy, overbearing, and...”
Ballard shuts me up by kissing me again. My eyes fall shut and I let myself get lost in the warm tingling feeling this man triggers inside my body. A giggle makes me aware we’re not alone. Shit. This man is dangerous with the brain fog he creates once his lips are on mine.
Pulling away, I clear my throat. “Royce offered Ballard a desk job with an office, and I really think we managed to gain some trust.”
Jaxie signs and I follow her hands but can’t make sense of what she’s saying until Seamus translates. “We didn’t process his resignation. Ballard is still employed by Stalwart Ridge Security.”
Seamus turns to Ballard. “You damn well know your inability to use your voice doesn’t diminish your skills. Hell, during some assignments we never even used our voices. So, when this is all handled you better get your ass back to work. Thank fuck this woman saved you...twice in my opinion.”
My chest warms with the compliment. When his gaze hits mine I give Seamus a tiny nod to let him know I appreciate his words.
Ballard snaps his fingers and shakes the paper he showed Murray earlier.
“The finger snapping is annoying,” Seamus mutters, earning a smack against his chest from Elodie.
I take the paper with an image we printed out before we came here.
“This is Jacob Tucker. He and his wife, Stella, were at the party too. We discovered that Jolene threw the party because she wanted to announce that she was keeping the shares in her husband’s company to become a notary herself.
Ballard was standing near the couple during this announcement.
The wife flipped, and Ballard heard their heated argument.
Apparently, Jolene’s husband, Tim, wasn’t the only cheater in their marriage. ”
“So, Jacob and Jolene fucked.” Murray shrugs. “What does that have to do with finding evidence to put Royce and Jolene behind bars?”
I feel my shoulders sag. This is what I mentioned to Ballard this morning when he demanded we debrief them.
“Nothing yet. We’re just giving you an update on what we’re working on.
We’ve run a background check on both Jacob and his wife.
This might give an insight or an angle for Jolene’s motivation to have her husband killed.
I’m going to ask Orson to question Jacob and see if there’s anything he can share about the day the will was notarized or Tim’s death for that matter.
Wanting to inherit Burk’s money is one thing, but there might be evidence we can use to prove her involvement in her husband’s murder.
Then we can pressure her into giving us more details and maybe she’d give us Royce,” I explain.
Murray and Seamus slowly bob their heads while Jaxie and Elodie keep their distance.
“Ballard just wanted to update you guys.” I shoot the man in question a fake glare. “Or maybe show you guys he doesn’t need his mouth to make things clear.”
Ballard grins while the rest laugh.
“Anyway, this is going to take time. Rest assured Ballard and I are working on it, but we need to earn trust to let them loosen their lips when we’re around.
I might get lucky with overhearing another one of their discussions I can actually record, or something they say can lead us to evidence. Patience is what we need.”
I glance at Ballard who takes the paper from my hands and puts it back into the file he’s holding.
“A little hint,” Murray states and all eyes are on him as he continues. “Don’t take too much time because then Ballard needs to either knock you up for real or you’d have to start wearing a pillow under your shirt.”
Rolling my eyes, I snap, “I don’t intend on letting this drag on for months.”
“Good,” Elodie snaps. “That asshole needs to be brought to justice for what he did. Too many lives have been wasted and so many others affected.”
Jaxie reaches out and squeezes Elodie’s hand. I know Jaxie lost her father, and even if we can’t prove Dax was murdered, the suspicions are there. It’s clear Nolan killed Elodie’s horse to get both women away from the cabin so he could search it. He wanted the evidence Jaxie’s father found.
Evidence they gave us and yet it’s all circumstantial. Even if it’s enough for us to make a case and proceed with the sting to bring those who are still alive to justice.
“Let’s get together again in two weeks,” I suggest. “We can’t be seen like this if we want to get closer to Royce. He needs to feel at ease, relaxed enough for him to slip up. All while Ballard and I will keep digging.”
Seamus holds out his hand for me to shake and says, “Sounds good.” He turns to Ballard. “Looking forward to having you back at work. I imagine you’ll be acting as your normal asshole-self.”
The corner of Ballard’s mouth twitches and he nods. We say our goodbyes and they call their dogs and leave through the woods.
I turn to face the river and tell Ballard, “We should have waited on giving them an update. They might expect too much, even if I understand why you wanted to share some information with your friends.”
Ballard steps in front of me and cups my face with both hands.
He leans in and gives me another kiss. His soft lips move against mine, his tongue seeking entrance to taste me, and I’m lost once again.
I get the feeling the man thinks kissing is the solution, the answer, and the question, and the best reply to everything.
Then again, the way he makes me feel? I’d have to agree. I moan into his mouth and dig my fingers into his soft flannel shirt. For a moment I let myself drift off and enjoy the blissful fog this man pulls me into.
Damn. Will this feeling ever fade? Weeks, months, or years together...will the chemistry between us fade over time, stay this intense, or evolve in something stronger? It’s definitely worth exploring.
I slow the kiss and stare up at Ballard’s heated gaze.
Damn this man is gorgeous. I’m fully in and we’ve definitely left the fake part behind us.
We’re in a real relationship. All while the case we’re working on involves so many relationships gone wrong, bad, to shit, and whatever else toxic happened.
Which makes me think about what went wrong in Jolene and Tim’s marriage for Tim to cheat on Jolene. Why would Jolene pick his partner to cheat on her husband in return? Revenge? Things we need to unravel, pieces of the puzzle we have to find to see the bigger picture.