Chapter 22
Dax
Leander Lamb sits in a rear booth at Seven Heaven, smug and sure of himself. He thinks he’s here to receive a check for his campaign. He’ll get his check, but it’s me who will get what he wants.
It’s taken far longer than I wanted it to, but Devin Lamb revealed himself to be the fuck up that he is. He’s been stealing cash from the register. He has stolen high-value equipment and sold it online. He’s created fake refunds and deposit transactions.
In the past month, he’s stolen over ten thousand dollars from me. Anyone else would have their life ruined for that and would have to pay back two or three times that amount, if not more. Not Devin Lamb. He will never know it, but he did me the biggest favor of my life.
“I was pleased to hear from you,” Leander practically rubs his hands together.
“I’m afraid this won’t be a pleasant visit.” My voice is low and lacking the usual fake pleasantness I reserve for certain people.
“Oh?” He raises an eyebrow and shifts in his seat. “How are things with you and Cori?” He sounds hopeful, and while I should be happy at the question, I’m disgusted by it. He thinks my relationship with his daughter will benefit him, and I can’t stomach that.
“That will depend on what you do next.” I tilt my head, and Preacher arrives with his iPad.
He sets it on the table and presses play.
The room is quiet as we watch a montage of Devin stealing cash from the register and taking equipment from the storage room.
There are shots of him creating fake returns.
Leander’s eyes widen at each frame, but he remains quiet until the screen goes black. I don’t speak, and despite the cold January weather, there’s a thin coat of sweat on his forehead. He uses his handkerchief to wipe it.
“I know you don’t deal with the police.” The words stumble out of his mouth.
He clears his throat and wipes his forehead again.
He’s probably relieved by my lack of police involvement, and I won’t as long as I get what I want.
Otherwise, that worthless piece of shit he raised will have to deal with the consequences.
“Not yet. I don’t appreciate thieves, Mr. Lamb. In my line of work, thieves don’t fare well.”
“It’s Leander. Or Lee.” My jaw clenches, and silence blankets the room. “I’ll pay you back.”
He can’t afford it. I know it, and he knows it. He has a second mortgage on his house, medical bills in the six-figure range, and, according to Preacher, three maxed-out credit cards. The man is beyond broke.
“How much, Preach?”
“Ten thousand, two hundred and eight dollars. Give or take.” He twists his neck until it cracks. “You know how I feel about thieves. Let me deal with him.”
Leander swallows and abruptly stands. He should be scared of Preacher. He’s tall, broad, and would pick up and toss Devin like a rag doll.
“We can work something out.”
“Plus interest,” I add. “And I’m not a fucking bank, so I can charge whatever amount I think is fair. I’m extra punitive when it comes to thieves.” The sweat returns, now coating his upper lip as well. “Or you can give me something I want.”
His eyes light up at the offer he thinks I’m about to give him. Politicians are all predictable scum who will do anything for money.
“Otherwise, I’ll let Preacher teach your thieving son a lesson, and I’ll still press charges.
At most, he goes to prison. At least, if he has a generous judge, he’ll be a convicted felon.
Either way, he’s fucked, Lee. He’ll never be employable again, so you and your wife will have to take care of him and his child forever. ”
“Tell me what you want, and it’s yours.”
I gesture for him to sit. Once he does, I pour each of us a bourbon and take the chair opposite him. I down mine, and he does the same. I pour him another. He’s going to need it.
“Before we get into what you’re going to give me, I have a question for you.
Why did Cori mention paying rent?” He dabs his forehead with a napkin and tosses the damp rag on the table.
He swallows. “Our deal from a few years ago was that she could live in the apartment rent-free in exchange for you expediting some licenses for one of my businesses.”
“What are you talking about?” He dabs his forehead again.
“Don’t fuck with me, Leander. I’m not going to ask again, so I suggest you answer me now before you piss me off more than you already have.”
“It was only five hundred dollars. That’s all. It’s a huge discount and—”
“What the hell can five hundred dollars do for you? You’re in the hole for way more than that. That won’t put a dent in your debt.” He looks around the room like a cornered animal. “Don’t even think of lying to me. I hate liars as much as Preacher hates thieves.”
“I gave that money to Devin. To help him out. Cori has a good job with the lawyer, and she brings in money selling those dresses. Devin—” I hold up a hand, unable to stand the sound of his voice for another moment.
It’s exactly what I thought, and for a moment, I feel guilty for using a person Cori hates to get what I want.
But it’s not about Devin per se. Cori seems to be in a family of vipers who have no issue putting their son above her.
It’s my duty to come and save her from herself and from them.
“You know how wrong that is, right? I hope you never wonder why she resents him.”
“Just tell me what you want. How I deal with my children is my business.”
“Not for long, but I’ll get right to the point. I want your daughter, Lee.”
His head rolls back. “What do you mean you want her? I thought you two were getting to know each other.”
“She’s stubborn, and I’m impatient. I need some stability in my life, and in my line of work, you’re respected more if you have a family.
I’ll get way more opportunities with a beautiful woman on my arm.
” I leave out the part about being obsessed with his daughter.
The idea of her and another man will make me set this entire fucking town on fire.
“I want a wife, and I’ve chosen her. You will make it happen, or I’m going to stick the screws in your son.
He’ll be in prison, and you and your wife will have to raise his daughter.
I guarantee you, Cori won’t.” I move across the table and get closer to his face.
“I’ll tell her what you’ve been doing with her rent money.
She already knows I own the apartment complex. She’ll believe it.”
He looks at me with fear-filled eyes and shakes his head in defeat. He lowers it and puts his head in his hands.
“She will never agree. Cori won’t care. In fact, she’ll be thrilled to see him in jail.”
I have a good idea why, but I’m not here to discuss the family dynamics that he created.
“But you care, don’t you?” I use my soothing voice. It’s the one I use when I play good cop.
“Of course. He’s my son, and he’s—”
“He’s a fuck up, Lee. You raised a fuck up. Tell me something.” His eyes, which look like his daughter’s, search my face. “How do you raise a beautiful, smart, and capable daughter and a complete fuck up of a son?”
“He’s not a fuck up. He needs some mentoring. Maybe you can take him under your wing and—”
He lets the words dangle. I could do that.
I could give the boy some tough love, but I don’t think my soon-to-be wife would appreciate that.
She’s already going to be pissed at me, and the last thing I want is to add to that, so I ignore Leander’s request. At least for now.
I’m not a monster, and the man has a baby.
The next person he double-crosses won’t be so accommodating.
I open the drawer and drop a folder in front of him. “In that folder is the name of a surgeon in Chicago. He’s agreed to review Mrs. Lamb’s medical records. Now, Dr. Amos is an orthopedic trauma surgeon, and if your wife qualifies for surgery, he can help her walk again.”
He shakes his head. “Our insurance won’t cover another surgery. She’s—”
“She had a botched surgery. I know all of that. I also know about the insurance issue. Don’t worry about that.
I will pay for it all.” His head snaps up, and I see the wheels turning in his mind.
The man never lets an opportunity slip, and I appreciate that about him.
“I’ll fly her to Chicago and provide a place for her to stay.
I’ll pay for all her treatment, including physical therapy.
Any future treatment will be covered by me indefinitely.
I’ll even pay off the mortgages on your house and clear your credit card debt. ”
He licks his bottom lip at my offer. It’s more than generous, and he knows it. It’s an offer no man in his dire financial position would pass up. It’s everything to him, but a drop in the bucket for me. It’s less than nothing.
“And Devin? What will you do with him?”
I want to take him in a back alley and beat the fuck out of him, but I won’t. I do find it telling that he hasn’t asked me what I plan on doing with his daughter.
“Preacher will scare him straight, and I’ll find some grunt work for him to do.” He exhales in relief. “Don’t be too happy. It’s going to be back-breaking work. If he quits, he’s going to pay back every dime plus interest in thirty days.”
“Cori will never go for it,” he sighs. “You already know she resents him.”
“I’m not a father, Lee, but in my experience, when siblings resent each other, it’s usually due to bad parenting.” He dabs his forehead and swallows.
“You’re not a parent, so you don’t know. I do. Cori won’t do it.”
“Well, it’s your job to make sure she does.”
“I don’t know if I can. And how do I know you won’t hurt her or—”
“I’m glad you finally got to that. Do you always put your son first?”
His tired eyes find mine, and he creases his brows in confusion. “What are you talking about? Of course, I don’t do that. I love both my children.”
“But you don’t love them the same, do you? Your priority was making sure your son was fine. Cori is an afterthought.”
“Cori isn’t facing felony charges. Devin is.” He waves his hand in dismissal. “What the hell do you know? You don’t have children. You think it’s easy? It’s not. So, answer me. How do I know you won’t hurt my daughter?”
“You’ll have to trust me. For the record, I’d never hurt a woman, least of all my wife.
I’m not that type of man, and my mother raised me better than that.
You have my word.” He leans back in his chair and covers his face with both hands.
“And I need this done today. I’ve waited long enough.
It’s time everyone in this town knows who I am, and I’ll be less formidable if I marry one of Shadow Cove’s very own. ”
He sighs again. “It won’t work.” He hangs his head in despair.
“My daughter will never willingly marry you. Why can’t you court her and get her to fall for you?
” He eyes me up and down. “You’re a handsome guy.
You can’t have problems getting a woman.
Wine and dine her. She’s a sweet girl and very beautiful.
” I want to snort at the sweet part. The woman is a lot of things, but sweet ain’t one.
She’s nosy, sneaky, conniving, and a damn liar, but that’s okay. I’ve always preferred spicy to sweet.
“You shouldn’t have any problems—” I hold up my hand, and he shuts up.
I don’t. Until Cori, I’ve never had problems getting women, but I’ve never been a player. I was busy building an empire, and I prefer a connection to empty sex.
“Don’t worry about that.” I point at his phone.
“Call and tell her to meet us here right now. Tell her it’s an emergency, and she has ten minutes to bring her behind to you.
And listen to me when I tell you this, Leander, because this is the most important part.
” He tosses his reading glasses to the table and stares up at me.
“Under no circumstances is she to go home before she gets here. Make sure of it.” He gives me a blank stare. “Now pick up the fucking phone.”