Chapter 23
Seth
I could see the hatred she had for herself playing across her face as she continued, and finally, I had to speak up.
She was blaming herself for things she wasn’t in control of, and seeing more of her experience through her eyes, the asshole playing against her need for love and affection seemed like the logical explanation.
When she realized there were women who’d been hurt and she was in no way connected, that was when she began to give herself grace. She lifted her eyes to Devlin as she said, “I’m . . . I’m sorry for saying those ugly things to you earlier.”
“I don’t remember you saying anything ugly to me,” he responded and offered her a grin.
She looked around, seeming off-kilter and unsure of what came next. Finally, she asked, “Did you find Ricardo?”
“Before I ask how you know that asshole, I need you to tell me something very important,” Lucian said, and she nodded. “Who did you kill and where are they now? I need to make sure nothing blows back on you, and the faster we can take care of it, the better.”
She fidgeted with her hands as she explained.
“It was . . . John, the man who works for Devlin and James.” Both men snapped their heads up as she continued.
“He told me that he got inside your organization over five years ago so he could monitor how close you were getting to them.” She looked at Stella and said, “He told me he was the one who sent the email about where to find Sergey. I guess they got tired of him testifying. Then he said . . . he said instead of you kidnapping me during our date, he decided to take me for himself.”
“And where is he now?” I asked, barely controlling my anger.
The look on Devlin’s and James’s faces spoke volumes. James leaned over and whispered something to Skid, who nodded before standing and jogging out the back door of the clubhouse.
Regan watched with a confused look. “He’s in a house in the Flats. I can show you which one.”
Skid returned with Gunner, and Devlin stood and stepped to the side as they spoke quietly. Gunner turned his attention to Devlin and whispered something back before clapping Devlin on the back and walking out. Devlin returned to us as Regan simply stared.
Finally, he said, “If that fuck infiltrated my company, then there isn’t anyone on my staff I can trust until everyone is questioned. Our families were being guarded by those men, so Gunner is taking over until we get home.”
Regan, looking worried, said, “If someone can take me to the house, I’ll show you where he is while you go protect Elise, Amaya, and the kids.”
Skid interjected, “The Death Hounds will take care of them until this is settled. This is family, so we’ve got it covered.”
She didn’t seem sure but gave a nod anyway. Looking over at James, she inquired, “Why don’t you seemed as shocked as I was expecting?”
James placed his pen into the book on his lap and closed it, resting his hands on the cover. He had a strange smile on his face as he looked at Regan. “I was wondering how long you were going to keep this inside before you finally exploded and spilled the beans.”
“You . . . you knew? This whole time, you knew?” Regan asked incredulously, shocked and confused.
“When Devlin and I found you, you were in pretty bad shape, and I refused to leave your side until I knew you were going to be okay. While they cleaned up the mess, I sat vigil over you and I learned something about you.” She furled her brow, so he explained, “You talk in your sleep.”
That she did. The one time she fell asleep in front of me, she had a clear, one-sided conversation with someone, giving me the information I needed to start putting the puzzle together.
“Why didn’t you ever say anything before now?” she asked, and I could see frustration on Devlin and Rhys’s faces.
“I wasn’t sure what you were saying was correct at first. I heard you say his name, but I knew he had distorted your perception and there was no talking about it. Then, you declined to speak for a year, and I believed you were living in a place of pain and refused to make it worse.”
“You could’ve said something to me, asshole,” Devlin remarked as Rhys scoffed.
“She’s my sister, dick,” Rhys groused, and for the first time since we laid eyes on Regan, she cracked a smile.
“What did I say?” she asked, and he stood and held the book out for her.
Reaching up, she took it from James and opened the book.
Running her finger down the pages, she skimmed a few before handing it back to him.
He returned to his seat as Hailey and Wren came back into the room.
Wren looked a little more relaxed as she took a seat next to Hailey at a table off to the side.
“We need to get back on track, if that’s okay,” Lucian stated, and everyone focused on him. “Who was the man with the tattoo on his wrist? The one who was in the back of the car with you?”
“Giovanni,” Regan remarked, and I watched her pull in on herself.
She lowered her eyes then her head as she hunched her shoulders and tightened her body. Stella, seeing Regan’s demeanor shift, patted her on the back. I wanted to be the one to comfort her but knew she would probably cut my balls off before she would give me another chance.
“I need to know what you know about this man so we can find him and stop him,” Lucian said.
She lifted her eyes and glanced at me before looking back to Lucian. “His name is Giovanni Marcora, and he’s set to be the new head of the Syndicate.”
“Like hell he is,” Devlin barked as he stood from his seat and started to pace. “How did I not see this? I mean, fuck.”
“See what?” Rhys asked, and Devlin marched off, grabbing his hair and turning back again.
“Marco, the man Sergey gave Devlin to and the man who kept us both locked up as his personal whipping boys, spies, and hackers . . . his full name was Marcus Marcora, and I assume this Giovanni is probably his younger brother,” James responded.
“He was his son from an affair,” Regan remarked, and everyone looked at her.
“Sergey told me about him. The oldest boy died in a car accident, and Sergey discovered a son outside the Syndicate who was eager to take his place. With Marco and the other brother gone, the family had no one to put forward and they lost their place within the Syndicate. Giovanni was in boarding school with John, and they were both promised money and power if they did the bidding of the Syndicate.”
“But with Sergey dead, the last two initiations getting busted before they could be completed, and a dwindling list of potential heirs, they’re getting desperate,” Rhys reasoned.
I could see everyone’s wheels spinning, but it was Wren who added something we weren’t thinking about. “What about the person he was talking to on the phone about owing them money?”
“Who? Giovanni?” Regan inquired.
Wren clarified, “The day after they took me from my dorm, we were at the house and the younger one was gone when the phone rang. The older man tried to keep his voice low, but I could hear everything. Apparently, he borrowed lots of money from some person in Atlanta who is demanding repayment. When he hung up, he yelled that Regan had better give him the account information or he was a dead man.”
“I heard him on the phone with someone too, and they demanded he show his face in the morning, which I’m guessing is in a few hours, or they were coming after him. He left us in the house with John and returned to Atlanta. He said he would be back today.”
“Who has that kind of capital to front without wanting a piece of the Syndicate?” Lucian inquired. “And still be connected to Dick Pickens?”
“Whoever it is, they’re back in Atlanta, and if we’re going to end this, we need to be there,” Devlin surmised.
“We need to get the ladies secure and get on the plane. I want this finished today, and for the first time, we have information that can lead us where we need to go,” Lucian said, and Regan shook her head.
“There is no way you’re securing me while you go and save the day. Giovanni Marcora is going to die at my hands, and if you try to stop me, I swear I’ll go by myself,” Regan warned. “He’s a sadist who needs a dose of his own medicine, and I’m going to deliver it.”
“Regan—” Rhys started, but I stood up and cut the line of crap off right there.
“Regan can come with me, and I’ll make sure she’s protected. But she’s correct—she has every right to be there, and with what she knows, there might be a need for her information. It would be better if she was there to react in real time instead of her being hidden away.”
“I don’t think she needs any more blood on her hands,” Rhys replied.
Grace, who had remained quiet while this whole thing unfolded in front of her, finally spoke, and instantly, I loved her.
She wasn’t pulling any punches. “Fuck you, Rhys.” He snapped his head at her, looking stunned by her bluntness.
“For years, you’ve taught women to take back their power, and the first chance your sister has to take back hers and make that motherfucker who hurt her pay, you want to lock her up again.
Fuck that, and fuck you for suggesting it. ”
Stella spoke next as she sat beside to Regan.
“If you try to keep her away from her revenge, any of you, I swear, I will make your life miserable.” She looked at her brothers.
“You two know what kind of mindfuckery Sergey liked to pull on people, so tell me if Regan should be denied her chance to get her pound of flesh.” Both men shook their heads. “Then it’s settled.”
Carefully, Regan went to stand, and Stella helped until she was steady on her feet.
With small steps, she walked to me and looked up the plane of my chest as she spoke.
“I should’ve been more honest with you, and I’m sorry for pushing you away.
But don’t ever try to manipulate me again.
” I nodded, feeling like shit for setting this whole shitshow into motion.
Regan reached out and placed her soft hand on my arm. “We both deserve a fresh start.”
I slowly leaned over and placed a kiss on her temple, being sure to avoid the ugly bruise Dick Pickens gave her. For that little move, I was going to bash his skull in with the heel of my boot and wipe it off on his face.
She smiled at me before turning to speak with Hailey and Wren.
Grace and Jacob were close by while Devlin and James spoke with Skid off to the side.
Rhys and Lucian were conversing while I watched it all.
Booker and Caldwell caught my gaze over the heads of the group, and I joined them far off to the side.
“What’s up?” I asked.
Booker shook his head. “Wren was right. Her birth certificate listed Adrik Volkovs as her father, but from all indications, she wasn’t connected to him at all. I don’t think her mother realized the heat that could bring to Wren.”
“I’m guessing they found it from a public records search, so I’m going to ask James to start one with the names of known families while we’re headed back to Atlanta to track that weaselly little fucker,” Caldwell said, and I could tell this was getting to him as much as it was me.
There were so many secrets, so many deals made behind closed doors, so many lies and manipulations, that I wanted to scream and bash someone’s face in.
“Will one of you make sure Wren is okay while we’re gone? I don’t want Regan worrying about her, and I made a promise.”
Booker nodded as he glanced at the girl. “Hailey extended her a place to stay on the compound until we get this settled and she can go back to her college. Jacob said she’ll be guarded, and no one will badger her for any reason.” He shook his head and added, “Girl can’t help who made her.”
I gave Caldwell a look that silently asked, ‘what the hell?’ The subtle shrug was telling of his confusion as we returned to the group.
The madman stood with most of the group in front of him. Since it was his fucking story a few years ago that shone the spotlight on Portstill and all the bullshit our lives revolved around, we let Devlin lead to a degree. He stood in front of the group as we returned from our side conversations.
“The Death Hounds have secured John’s body, and there are two men waiting just in case Giovanni arrives before we corner him.
Wren is staying with Hailey and Jacob until we get this settled, and Elise, Amaya, and the kids are being moved to Elise’s dad’s house, so they’re secured.
” He closed his eyes briefly before reopening them, showing the insanity that lurks inside him.
“We’ll find Dick Pickens and Giovanni Marcora, and I swear, I will torture them until they give up every last piece of information.
Then, I’m going to enjoy killing them slowly.
If anyone has a problem with that, too fucking bad. ”
I looked down at Regan and quietly asked, “Are you up for this?”
She looked up at me, the crazy look in her green eyes a little disturbing, and I knew she was going to be okay eventually.
She lived through some pretty fucked-up things, and for years, felt like she was the gatekeeper of everything.
She was probably nothing more than someone to keep Sergey from getting bored, but he kept his word and kept her safe.
Apparently, it was after his death that her true hell started, and for all we knew, her torture and assault for almost a year could’ve been predicated on a lie.
What if most of what Sergey said was a lie but there were some truths mixed into the crazy asshole’s plan? What if the accounts he told her about were accurate and this Giovanni fucker was right? And who were the financial backers calling in the debt?
Whoever they were, they weren’t getting a fucking dime, but if they wanted to pull it from Dick and Giovanni’s ass, I would be happy to help.