Chapter Sixteen
Funny thing about wanting something so badly, the desire takes over your brain, body, and soul. Then when that “something” actually arrives? Like a long-lost stepbrother standing in the middle of Trick's office? No amount of mental visualization could prepare one for the reality. It took Max three more weeks, but he finally found Jay.
Jay swayed a little on his heels. His back was to her, but she could see his chin lifted in bold defiance.
“Jay?” she asked.
He turned, and she sucked in a breath. He looked terrible. A scruffy beard marred his once angelic face, and there was a wild, haggard set to his eyes. He glanced at her and then focused on a point behind her. Trick's hands came down onto her shoulders and with a gentle nudge to move aside, he skirted around her and into the room.
“Trick Masters. I should have known this monkey belonged to you.” Jay cocked his head toward Max, who leaned casually against the wall.
“Jay, it's really you.” She ducked around Trick.
“Hey, sis,” he said with a grimace.
“Where have you been?” She rushed forward, unwilling to let Trick stand in between them despite his best effort. She stopped a foot from where Jay stood. The musty scent of clothes gone unwashed and unhealthy hair and skin created an uncomfortable wall between them.
His glazed eyes narrowed a little. He shrugged. “Around.”
Max pushed off the wall. “Pulled him out of a casino just outside of town.”
“Casino?” she asked. “Here?”
Jay scrubbed his hair. “Want to let your bulldog stand down? Just for the record, being thrown into a car trunk is against the law.” He stared at Max, which isn't something she'd seen many people able to do comfortably.
Rachel leaned forward and gave him a hug, which he did not return. “Jay, I was worried. Your phone is disconnected.”
“Lost it. Had to get another. I was going to call.”
“Lost phone? You'd still have the same number, idiot,” Trick said. “We found your phone in a dumpster. You tossed it because you knew you’d been located.”
Jay didn't respond, instead eyed her up and down. “Jesus, Rachel. What are you wearing?”
She looked down at the scarlet dress she had borrowed from Luna Belle. A splash of sequins decorated the front. Rachel was learning to like sparkle. She shrugged and walked over to the couch, gesturing to it. “Sit, and then tell me where you've been.”
Jay didn't move. “Not until someone tells me why I got tossed into the back of a Crown Vic by that thug and driven to this”—he waved his hand around—“dump.”
“Watch your tone,” Trick said.
“Like hell. I should call the police.”
“You do that.” Trick chuffed.
“Listen, asshole—”
“Fuck you.”
“Stop, both of you,” Rachel said. “Jay, you have to talk to me, starting with the truth about our trust fund. Tell me you didn't take the money. I need to hear that.”
Jay shook his head. “You need. That's rich.”
She glanced at Trick, who appeared angry and on edge. Of course, he would. The man who landed him in prison stood before him, clearly high on something.
“Tell me you didn't set up Trick, leave—”
“Rachel, you're tilting at windmills here,” Trick said.
She glared at him, and he raised both hands in surrender.
“Okay, I'll tell you I didn't,” Jay said and stumbled over to the antique bar cart in Trick's office. He lifted a bottle of Oban scotch. “Fancy.”
She stepped forward. “I mean, is that the truth?”
He poured a full glass and took a swig.
“Why don't you talk to your boyfriend over there,” he said. “He ever tell you how he borrowed money from that trust fund?”
What?
“Oh, I see by your face, our man Trick here hasn't told you everything.”
Trick's mouth screwed into a frown. “No, I didn't tell her that her brother was a worse fuckup than she wanted to see. Yes, Rachel, I withdrew funds twice to help pay for Jay's gambling. He begged me not to tell you.” Trick eyed Jay with a look of disgust. “I see you've graduated to drugs now. Not a wise move, but then I wasn't wise withdrawing the money to cover for you.” He took two steps forward, and Rachel noticed Jay stiffen. “So tell her the whole story. How I made you pay it back. How you didn't like that very much. How you stole it all eventually.”
“Was my fucking money,” Jay said into his glass. “Jesus, man . . .” He pointed at Trick with his index finger. “You made it so fucking easy. It was as if you were inviting me to take it. You made transfers in front of me. Same password all the time. Rachel with an ‘at’ sign and a three for the ‘e.’ Pussy. You probably still haven't changed it. You deserved to go down for stupidity if nothing else.”
Rachel strode over to him, and her palm cracked the side of his face before she could even think. The tumbler flew from his hand, and scotch splashed in an arc, wetting the oriental carpet under their feet. Her blow wasn't hard enough. She wanted to pummel the shit out of him.
“What the hell?” Jay pitched sideways and then straightened, putting his hand where she'd slapped him.
“You bastard. I have news for you. That money was ours.”
“I was going to cut you in when things turned around.”
Trick grabbed her arm before she could punch him. “Whoa, whoa. Everybody calm down here.” He pulled her backward and behind him.
“I'm going to hate you for the rest of my life,” Rachel ground out, staring hard at Jay.
“You always were a bit of an emotional wreck, Rachel,” he slurred.
Trick threw his arm in front of her to stop her lurch toward Jay just as a soccer mom might when braking hard to prevent someone from getting thrown through a car windshield.
“Fuck, man, it was like taking candy from a baby. Candy. Baby.” Jay leaned forward and waggled his chin at Trick.
How could he not punch the guy? She wanted to.
“We're done here,” Trick said. “Thanks for all that info, bro.” He pointed to the corner of the room. “Security cameras. They're everywhere.”
“Not admissible in court.”
“I don't care. I only needed you to confess to your sister, who is worth a hell of a lot more than three million.”
He waved his hand and reached for the Oban again. “Take her.”
“I have a better idea.” She strode to the door and opened it. Max pushed off the opposite wall, a cigarette in hand.
She turned back to Jay. “I'll let Max take you.”
Jay's face blanched.