CHAPTER 26

Isobel

Brock stirred below me, and I knew it was time to face the music. I’d been cautious when Malcolm first asked for my help, but as each day passed I saw that Brock had been right. He was able to ignore all my past transgressions at Nathan’s side since I hadn’t put myself in that position by choice. He even offered to put my mother and brother under his protection when they returned. Before that could happen, we had to deal with Jimmy Delgado.

Malcolm’s plan was solid. He’d thought about every detail we might encounter, except for having to explain it to Brock. He assumed Brock would just accept it as it was because Malcolm told him to, but I had a feeling since it was me we were talking about, Brock would put up a fight.

I climbed from the bed and went directly for the en suite bathroom. Brock was stuck with sponge baths until the cast was removed from his leg, and I always felt bad rubbing it in that I could stand under the hot spray and let it wash all my problems down the drain. By the time I stepped out of the shower, the mirrors were completely obscured by steam. At first, I’d been nervous about staying with Malcolm. It was one thing to help Malcolm plot against Jimmy, it was another to stay in their home.

Too many years of being forced to see the Hawes family as the enemy. I wondered about having to sleep with one eye open, but everyone in the family went above and beyond, taking care of Brock and making me feel welcome. And Malcolm hadn’t wasted any time planning how to take Jimmy down, which left Brock under Faith and Elena’s care when they weren’t at the hospital.

There was rustling in the other room and I knew Brock was probably trying to get out of bed by himself. He adamantly refused to use the wheelchair he’d been given, instead relying on crutches he couldn’t use properly with his broken ribs. His stubborn side was making things worse on himself. I wrapped the towel around my chest and walked back into the room. Brock had pulled himself into a seated position.

“Do you want to tell me what you meant last night about it almost being over?”

I grabbed my clothes from the suitcase on the floor. “Not really. You’re just going to be pissed.”

“I’m already getting pissed.”

I glanced over my shoulder to see he had his arms crossed in front of his chest.

“Let’s go see what Faith’s making and we’ll talk over breakfast.” I’d learned the first few days that Faith always made something fresh for breakfast and that you better be prepared to sit down and eat it. I hadn’t eaten so well in forever. Nathan loved the glamour of a place. He was never one to worry about the taste of the food.

“I’m not letting this go. You’ll explain this to me before you leave this house again.”

That brought my head up in a flash. “And you better remember that I don’t respond to demands. Might want to think about that before you drag yourself out of bed.”

Our gazes connected and we were locked in a battle of wills. It was only Faith’s knock on the door that ended the stalemate.

“Breakfast is ready.”

I handed Brock his crutches and then wrapped his arm over my shoulder and helped him to stand. It was slow going, but Brock made his way to the couch in the living room, where Faith had already laid breakfast out on small tables. Malcolm sat in one chair, a cup of coffee in his hand. Brock settled himself on the couch, and I took the seat next to him.

I picked up the cup of coffee in front of me, but Brock ignored the food on his plate and the medicine bottles beside his drink. I knew what he wanted, but I had no plan on starting that conversation.

“We’re at breakfast,” Brock said, his tone flat.

Malcolm raised a brow. “Not that it looks like you’re eating it.”

“I want to know what the plan is.”

I looked at Malcolm to see what he would say.

“For you to get healthy while we take care of Jimmy Delgado.” Malcolm lifted the mug to his lips as if he hadn’t just brushed Brock’s question aside.

Brock still sat with his arms crossed over his chest, the annoyance radiating off him in waves. “And how do you plan to do that?”

I knew Brock wouldn’t give up until he knew it all. Hell, he was used to being the one in charge of things like this.

“We’re going to take the entire upper level out,” Malcolm offered without any more of an explanation.

“How?” A one-word question.  The short, clipped tone meant Brock was almost to his breaking point.

I set my fork down on my plate. “We’re going to hit them individually. Each one of us has a different target.”

Brock’s face flashed three different shades of red, but I had no intention of backing down. “Us? You’re involved in it?” He turned his focus to Malcolm. “You always lecture us on keeping the women out of the business.”

“She’s been involved in the business for years,” I snapped.

Brock knew this wasn’t the first time I’d been directly involved in the business.

“She has more knowledge of their day to day activities than any of us do,” Malcolm offered, probably trying to soothe Brock’s anger, but I could see his eyes narrowed to slits. It wasn’t working.

“And who is your target?”

I wasn’t going to let his reaction to my answer make me back down. “Jimmy Delgado.”

“Motherfucker.” He slammed his fist on the small table, tipping his coffee cup onto the plate in front of him. “Are you goddamn kidding me?”

“Brock,” Malcolm said, a note of warning to his tone.

“I’ll get more coffee.” Faith was quick to leave the room and head to the sanctuary of her kitchen. From what I understood, it wasn’t very often that business was discussed in front of her. She preferred it that way. She didn’t give a shit what her husband did as long as she wasn’t involved. She also knew he wasn’t the type of man to abuse his power.

“We’ve watched them long enough to know their routines, and Dean was able to copy the program, which means we’ll all have access to the cameras they know nothing about.” I needed Brock to calm down, not because it would change my mind, but because I didn’t want the way the vein was throbbing in his temple to impact his recovery.

“So you just watch him on video for a few days and think you know his every move?” Brock pointed at me. “You’re staying out of this.”

I jumped to my feet, almost upending my tray onto the floor. “I’m not staying out of anything. I’ve been around these assholes for nine years. I know most of their habits inside and out. And Jimmy’s as egotistical as Nathan. He won’t change his routine because we might be after him. He’ll keep his routine to prove we can’t get him.”

“And what if you can’t?”

“I will. They took my freedom from me and I’m not letting them have theirs for one more day.”

“Brock, she’s going whether you like it or not. The decision is final.” Malcolm got up and walked into the kitchen, not giving Brock the chance to argue.

He still refused to pick up his fork and eat or take his pills. “Brock, even if you’re pissed at me, you need to take your meds.”

I walked over to the table. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me down next to him. “I can’t lose you again.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck. “You won’t lose me. I’ll be back tonight after everything is taken care of.”

His nostrils flared. “You make it sound like it’s a walk in the park to handle him.”

“Malcolm has everything planned down to the last detail.”

He pulled my arms from around his neck and crossed them over his chest. “How the hell am I supposed to know that since you won’t give me the details.”

I sat back. “And what are the details going to do for you?”

“At least I’d know what to worry about. I already know what a nutcase that fucker can be.”

I pried his hand away from his chest. “That’s exactly the point. You’d worry over every detail and question every decision we made. You have enough to worry about and you just need to trust me.”

He used the hand I was holding to pull me forward into his chest, without thinking. He sucked in a breath as I scrambled backward off his ribs. His eyes were tightly shut, the line of his mouth in a grimace. When his face began to relax, I moved closer to him and covered his lips with mine.

Content to stay in his arms forever, I rested my head on his shoulder.

“I can’t attend your funeral again.”

Pain shot through my chest at the realization Brock might think that was the only outcome. “You won’t. I’m going to be around until we’re old and gray.”

We sat there for a few minutes longer, his breaths getting shallower. I sat up and opened the bottle of painkillers. I handed Brock the pills along with a glass of orange juice.

“Thank you.” He dropped them into his mouth and swallowed them down with the juice. I had a feeling he wanted to say more, but he kept whatever thoughts were going through his head to himself.

“I brought you another plate.” Faith emerged from the kitchen, a new plate and mug in her hands.

Brock lifted the coffee filled plate up. “Sorry about the mess.”

Faith shook her head. “No need to be sorry, just make sure you eat up.”

She placed the new plate and mug on the table before taking the ruined plate from his fingers and returning to the kitchen.

After a little bit I finally convinced Brock to finish his breakfast. He didn’t eat much else throughout the day, but it was better than nothing. In the hours leading up to us leaving I kept trying to reassure Brock, but I didn’t think I had much success.

“I love you,” I said when it was time to leave.

“I love you, too. Now please don’t go.”

“I have to, but I’ll be back before you know it.”

Reluctantly, Brock let me go when Malcolm came down the hall. He wanted the assholes out of the picture as much as I did. Jimmy’s death would be one I’d never wrestle with. I knew it was me or him in the end and I had no plans to go down without a fight.

Faith was nowhere to be seen when we entered the living room. Malcolm didn’t seem to be fazed by his missing wife. He didn’t stop until we reached the elevator. The ride down was silent. Any information about the night’s events would only be discussed in the safety of the car where we could guarantee who was listening. The valet appeared the moment we stepped out the doors of the building. 

“I brought a car home from the dealership,” Malcolm leaned over and whispered, only loud enough for me to hear.

A dark blue sedan pulled up to the curb. The vehicle was obviously luxurious. Malcolm couldn’t be seen driving something below his normal standards. I didn’t mention anything, simply climbing into the passenger side once Malcolm opened the door.

“It’s completely unmarked. No way to trace it,” Malcolm said as we pulled away from the curb.

“I had a feeling.” I ran my hands along the soft leather interior. “Still fits your style.”

“The shop will detail it in the morning, not leaving a trace of anything we might bring back.”

I nodded and looked out the window. Even through the heavy tinting, I could see the lights as we passed through the city. The look on Brock’s face when we left wouldn’t leave my mind.

“He’ll get over it when we get back.”

“Huh?” I turned to face Malcolm.

“Brock. He’s pissed now, but when you get back tonight he’ll be fine. He’ll forget why he was pissed in the first place.” He never took his eyes from the road.

“Am I that obvious?”

“No, but I know Brock. And I know he probably gave you shit all day about coming tonight. He’s not used to being on the outside. He’s used to leading the charge.”

“This is my fight. That fucker will die by my hand.”

“Yes, he will, along with the bastard who shot Miller. We’ll be at the drop-off before long.”

While Ashton, Dean, and Charlie had their own targets throughout the city, both Malcolm and I were going to the same place. It seemed Jimmy had hired Anthony as private security, and Malcolm was determined to kill the fucker who shot his son.

We parked about a mile away from the motel Jimmy liked to use as his main office outside the one at the house. I opened my phone and pulled up the camera for the motel. Thankfully Dean was able to create an app for our phones. Jimmy was inside, but Anthony was down the hall watching TV in one of the rooms.

“They’re separate just like we hoped.” I turned to show Malcolm the screen.

“Good. Let’s get up there before the bastards decide to leave.”

Malcolm shut off the car, wiping down any fingerprints in case someone found the car before we got back, and we started our way up the hill. About fifteen minutes later the motel came into view. I’d been there enough times with Nathan I knew where the back entrance was for housekeeping. We could get in without alerting anyone in the main lobby we were there. They’d have to find their bodies later.

“This way.” I led Malcolm down a long hall leading to the back maintenance elevators. I punched the number two as soon as we stepped inside. Once the doors opened again, I showed Malcolm which direction Anthony was in. Once I was sure he knew where to find him, I turned down another hall, looking for the surprise I’d arranged for Jimmy.

Exactly like I’d asked them to be, Rick and Alex were waiting for me in a closet off to the side. “Hello, boys,” I said when I walked in. During my time with Nathan, they were assigned as my guards when needed. I had a feeling Nathan wanted them to keep an eye on me and report back, but over the years we’d formed a truce. They’d keep quiet about my visits with my family and anything else I did without Nathan’s approval. For that I’d pay them more than Nathan. I knew they’d be more than willing to help us find all Jimmy’s men. It helped the two men hated Jimmy almost as much as I did, which made them the best choice to pay off.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Isobel?” Rick asked. After the last few weeks, it felt weird to be called Isobel again, but I went with it.

“I’m positive. I’m going to show that bastard who actually controls this empire.” I held my hands behind my back where they loosely wrapped a rope around my wrists.

“I’ll work for you anytime,” Alex offered as he tucked a small knife in my hands between the fake bindings. I’d had to keep my hands up to keep the rope from falling off before I needed to drop it.

“Ready?” Alex asked.

“More than you know. Let’s go.”

With a hand around my upper arm, Rick led me down the hall to the office. He didn’t bother knocking, simply pushing the door open. “Look who I have.”

Jimmy must have been desperate to find me if he was willing to let anyone barge in on him at any time. “Well, well, well. Who managed to land on my doorstep?”

“Fuck you, Jimmy. It seems that you’re squatting on my doorstep.” My instinct was to dive forward, but I really needed him to come to me.

Jimmy laughed and stood from his chair, walking around to the front of the desk. “That’s funny considering you’re the one all tied up.”

Just like I knew he would, he dismissed Rick, who stuck to the plan and left the room, where he and Alex should be taking up residence right outside the door to keep anyone from coming in. Jimmy came closer to me.

“Looks like with Nathan out of the way, I can get a ride on you. Maybe more than one before I make your body impossible to find.” He nosed along the side of my face, and I was done.

I dropped my hands, the rope falling to the floor in a pile. “Not in this fucking lifetime,” I said, bringing the knife around and stabbing him in the upper chest.

“Fuck,” he screamed, grabbing hold of the wound, attempting to stop the blood flow.

His knees buckled, bringing him to the ground. I took my foot and shoved it into his chest, making sure my shoe made contact with the hole in his chest. He fell backward screaming. I didn’t give him a second to think or move. I pulled two more knives, taking each one and slicing up his armpit to his shoulder and down his bicep, cutting the tendons and rendering his arms useless. Blood began to stain the fabric of his shirt.

“I will never let you harm someone I care about again.”

I dragged the blade down his chest in small, shallow, vertical and horizontal lines.

Jimmy writhed in agony beneath me. “You bitch,” he screamed. “I’m gonna make you watch while I slice your boyfriend into tiny little pieces.”

That one comment about Brock only fueled my rage. I continued to make cut after cut across the rest of his body and limbs until I could no longer see the color of the fabric of his clothes, only the blood seeping through. The last few cuts, Jimmy passed out. Fucking little pussy. Brock had suffered through ten times the amount of pain before he’d passed out.

I’d had enough. I didn’t bother waiting for him to regain consciousness before I ripped the knife across neck. His eyes flew open the moment the cool metal touched his skin. I watched him gasp for his last breath as I stood there with the knife in my hands. When his chest no longer rose and fell, I grabbed the other two knives, doing my best to wipe the blood from them. I nodded at Rick and Alex on the way out. They knew what to do and how to contact me after Jimmy and Anthony’s bodies were taken care of. I took off back to the car.

Malcolm was waiting in the driver’s seat when I arrived. He took one look at me. “You had a little too much fun, didn’t you?”

I shrugged. “Maybe. Bastard got what he deserved.”

“We can’t take you back to the house like that. Faith will go crazy if you walk into her house covered in blood.” He pulled a bag from the back seat. “There are clothes and wipes. Put everything you use back into the bag. My cleanup guys will take care of it when I tell them where we dump the car.”

I pulled the shirt over my head and shoved it in the bag. All I wanted was to get back to Brock and show him I was fine. I finished changing and dropped the last wipe into the bag. It wasn’t perfect, but it would have to do until I could get to a shower. We left the car on an unmarked road where Malcolm’s Audi R8 waited for us, nestled in a small clearing in the woods. He had one of the guys drop it off after the sun set. We climbed in and started for home. On the way back to their building, Malcolm got calls from Dean, Charlie, and Ashton.

It was over.

We reached the building in no time considering how anxious I was. Not because of what I’d done. Hell, I’d done worse at Nathan’s side, but because I wanted to ease Brock’s mind.

Even at three in the morning, Brock was sitting on the couch waiting for us. “Thank fucking God,” he called out when we walked into the room.

I went straight into his arms, and they banded around me tightly. “It’s over.”

“I love you,” he whispered next to my ear.

I held him tighter to me. “I love you, too.”

He pulled back to look at me. “From now on I deal with the hands-on jobs. I can’t handle this shit anymore.”

“Whoa. What have I told you before about that shit?”

He sank his fingers into my hair and kissed me deeply before answering. “That you can take care of yourself. It’s not about whether or not you can protect yourself. Now you don’t have to.”

I gave in gracefully, something I was slowly learning to do again. If he was going to protect me because he wanted to, I could handle that. Never again was a man in my life going to tell me what to do. It had gotten me in this mess in the first place, but it also brought me back to the only man I’d ever love.