CHAPTER FIVE
– ELODIE –
After I asked Murray if he reported Burk missing, I’ve kept my mouth shut. Ballard and Murray are firing words back and forth, completely ignoring me. By doing this I’ve learned more details in the past few minutes than I have in weeks.
Ballard is shaking his head as he processes everything Murray just mentioned. These two have known Royce for years while I’ve never met the man.
It’s why I state, “He must have been the driving force behind everything.”
Both heads whip my way.
I shrug. “Think about it. If the three founders were friends for decades, he knew exactly who to push, how to get the ball rolling, and where to strike. Each action causing a butterfly effect he could contain if he was the one doing it. He would have been the one experiencing the tension between Dax and Burk firsthand. Maybe he thought it was the end of the company...needing to do something to save it. I mean, come on, the things you found out? Burk having a son who fucks up on the job multiple times while Burk kept him on the payroll? Dax having a one-night stand with Burk’s wife who just left him because some woman showed up on their doorstep with a kid?
Dax managing to knock her up in one go? Dax finding proof that there was a hit on his life?
Dax could have shared that information with Royce.
It would have made him freak out, knowing it would be the end for the company.
Yeah, the fucker has blood on his hands if Royce indeed had a will drawn up and signed when I already had killed Burk. ”
“We have to warn Seamus and Jaxie,” Murray says.
Ballard pulls his phone from his pocket. “I’ll shoot him a message to come here and bring his laptop.”
Turning to Murray, I ask, “Do you know what was mentioned in the will?”
“Royce is the executor. It’s why he brought it with him.
He told Orson Burk wanted to be cremated as soon as possible.
No funeral.” Murray looks at Ballard when he adds, “When Orson glanced through the document, Royce mentioned to me that Burk left his share of the company to him. Burk’s cabin, and the rest of his belongings will go to Joline Hagan, Burk’s daughter.
I have no clue about the finer details, but the headlines say it all in my opinion. ”
“This is so fucked up,” I murmur and curl my fingers into fists, pressing my nails into my palms.
None of it makes sense. Why would Royce deliberately screw with a good running company? Killing his friends? A power play...he would become the sole owner. What if he finds out we’re onto him? He’ll kill us too. Panic starts to consume me.
Something wet bumps against my fist, making me gasp. I look down and feel my chest tighten at the sight of Hank. He places his head on my lap and gives a soft whine. I take a choppy breath and slide my fingers into his fur.
“Good boy,” Murray rumbles and pets Hank’s back. “I knew you were just what she needed.”
I whip my head in his direction and our gazes collide. He brought Hank here for me. When my horse was killed, I swore I didn’t want to have another animal. Getting attached...hurts. The loss I experienced, seeing Goat, all that blood?
But dammit, the comfort and warmth Hank offers on instinct is what I miss. Animals can sense emotions. They flawlessly feel what you’re radiating, and it’s why they are a good judge of character.
I can’t believe Murray would get a dog with the excuse of always wanting one and having the opportunity to take care of it together.
The past few weeks we endured a forced proximity due to the necessity of the circumstances we’re caught up in.
It’s pretty obvious now that I was caught up in the middle of all of it, and Goat paid the highest price. ..his life.
While I should hold a grudge, there’s also a part of me stating the obvious; you can’t blame others for someone else’s actions. Jaxie didn’t want to lose her father at the hand of Burk, Nolan, or Royce. Shit. One of those might be dead, but the two others are still out there.
Hank starts to bark and pulls me out of my rambling mind.
“Seamus and Jaxie are here,” Ballard states.
I get up and turn to Hank. “Wanna meet some new friends?”
Barking from outside makes his ears twitch and he runs in the direction of the door. Before I can open it, Murray is there to do it for me. Checking first for any danger before stepping aside. The level of protectiveness is sky-high. I’ve never experienced a man like him.
Warmth spreads my back when he places his hand right above my ass. My heart skips a beat as I turn to look at Murray’s face. He’s ruggedly handsome with the frown on his face, deep dark eyes, a beard, and styled hair pulled back.
The flannel shirt along with his dark gray denim jeans makes his rugged, mountain man look complete. I can’t remember the last time I took a moment to appreciate a man’s features. Let alone think about a man being ruggedly handsome.
A relationship, sex, family life...none of those things ever crossed my mind, nor did I think about it concerning my future. Now, in the middle of havoc this man makes me wonder what it would be like if we were more than roommates.
“Hey there, fella. Murray, whose dog is this?” Seamus asks.
“Ours. Mine and Murray’s,” I state, earning every pair of eyes to lock on me.
My anxiety rises and the panic starts to affect my breathing. Without thinking I reach for Murray’s hand.
Jaxie’s movement catches my attention as she starts to sign. “You two are together now? I’m so happy for you.”
I wince and try to pull my hand away from Murray, but the man tightens his grip. He doesn’t know ASL, but he might read Jaxie’s expression by the way he brings our joined hands up to kiss the back of my hand.
“Are we going to stand here and talk about who is fucking who? Or get inside to discuss the shit we’re all involved in?” Ballard grumbles.
“Shut the fuck up, you jealous asshole,” Seamus snaps and steps forward to smack Murray’s shoulder. “Good for you. Both Elodie, and the dog. Finally.”
Finally. So, Murray did want a dog and didn’t just get him for me. Or did he mean finally me and Murray being together? Has Murray mentioned something to Seamus? My anxiety slips away by the different turmoil inside my head.
Murray is still holding my hand. He’s openly showing affection for me and isn’t correcting Ballard about the fucking...even if we didn’t...yet. Yet? Why did my mind jump to this little fact?
Seamus gives a short whistle. Their two hairless dogs, Macy and Benny, instantly stop playing with Hank to follow Seamus inside. We all follow and while the dogs start to play again, we take a seat at the kitchen table.
Ballard starts to explain what Murray just told us. Seamus takes out his laptop and boots it up. I’m still a bit nervous and need to make my hands busy, so I make a pot of coffee. Jaxie lets the three guys talk and joins me at the counter.
“W-what do y-you think?” she whispers.
I throw a glance over my shoulder and focus back on filling a mug with coffee.
“I think Royce might be rubbing his hands together at a plan well executed. Seriously, think about it...he’s known your father and Burk for decades.
He knew those two held a huge grudge due to your mother.
He had all the ammo to forge a plan to set them up, making him the last man standing. ”
Jaxie takes a mug and holds it out for me to fill as she slowly bobs her head. My mind is blown by all of this, and I can’t imagine what it’s like for Jaxie. I lost my horse while she lost her father, the only family member she had left.
“Motherfucker,” Seamus snaps and turns the laptop in Murray’s direction.
I walk toward them and glance over Murray’s shoulder to see what made Seamus curse.
“Holy shit,” I whisper.
“That right there is fucking motive,” Murray grits. “If he’s broke as shit, he needs to own the company. Look, what’s this huge amount of money landing in his account? He’s used it to pay outstanding bills, and it still wasn’t enough.”
Seamus turns the laptop back and his fingers start to fly over the keys.
After a few dragging minutes Seamus states, “Royce sold his cabin, which was the only valuable thing he owns beside his own house. Wait. The one who bought it shares his last name. Helena Elden, a thirty-year-old woman.”
“His daughter? Does the man have one? Fuck. I have no clue,” Ballard mutters.
“We’re getting sidetracked here,” Murray states. “We need to dig deeper into Royce and find out if there’s any evidence. Well, beside the will signed while Burk wasn’t alive anymore.”
“Give me a day to dig into all of this. I’ll start with the lawyer who had the will drawn up and notarized.
For now, there’s little we can do except research while keeping our eyes open.
Nolan is still out there.” Seamus closes his laptop.
“Which means Jaxie and I will return to our cabin, safer than all of us being in one place.”
Jaxie places her mug back on the counter and I walk toward her and grab her in a hug.
“Stay safe,” I whisper.
“Y-you too,” she murmurs back. “And h-have fun w-with your n-new man.”
I pull back and shake my head as I try to think of how to reply. There’s no time when Seamus wraps an arm around her and pulls her away. One short whistle has both of their dogs following them out and I stare at the door as they close it behind them.
They make a relationship seem so damn easy. Never in my entire life have I had a boyfriend. My gaze finds Murray. The man who I’ve been living with for weeks, and for the first time I allow myself to look at him differently...with an openly lust-filled gaze.