CHAPTER 21

Isobel

 

Even if it hadn’t been long, it seemed weird to be back in the house. Dinner with Jimmy had gone smoothly. At least the little shit put on a show of listening to me. Deep down, I knew the bastard was plotting something, but until I was sure what it was, things were in limbo.

Everything was exactly where I remembered it, but things were different. A few weeks with Brock in his place and I knew I didn’t belong here anymore. Although, for the moment, I was stuck. I wandered aimlessly through the rooms, trying to find a place where I felt comfortable. None of them called to me. The large Italian leather couch I spent many nights on reading or watching TV to avoid Nathan couldn’t compare to being curled up in Brock’s arms on the couch in his living room. Things were easier there. I didn’t have to look over my shoulder every moment. I might never be the carefree girl who came home from college again, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t ready for a little peace in my life.

To get that I needed to figure out what Jimmy’s plan was and either find a way to stop him or warn Brock so he and the Hawes family could find a way to stop him. The little shit had pissed me off so bad earlier, I hadn’t bothered to dig deeper. I’d also been worried about giving myself away. Ordering him to stay away from the Hawes family for the moment was pushing it. Hopefully, my reason for staying away from them gave me enough of a cover. Then again, my gut told me Jimmy was up to something. He was always a sleazy bastard, but something was different this time. I flopped down on the couch. I really needed to be a fly on the wall for every conversation Jimmy had. That’s when it hit me.

The cameras.

Nathan’s sleaze ran so deep, he didn’t even trust his own employees. Sometimes, I was surprised he trusted me. Then again, I did put on a good show. Either way, I leapt from the couch and ran up the stairs. Nathan had hidden cameras installed in every office and building he owned. He’d spend hours every night watching the feeds, making sure none of his employees were trying to screw him over. I think the only reason he showed me the cameras was to combat my accusations of cheating. Hell, if it kept him away from me, he could have slept with every bitch in town. I was more concerned with the diseases he might be bringing home to me. Turned out he spent the time watching the footage on a computer he kept locked in a safe behind the bookshelf.

I threw the office door open and went to the bookshelf closest to his desk. Since it sat in the corner of the room, you’d have no idea it swung forward unless you were looking for it. I had to admit, it was the perfect place to hide a safe. The thought of praising Nathan made me vomit in my mouth a bit. I shook off my disgust and yanked the corner forward. It had a simple combination lock. Thankfully, Nathan was a creature of habit. I turned the knob to the dates of my birthday and watched as the safe slid open. He’d always say that by using my birthday or real name for his passwords and codes, it would remind me that I was his and there was no changing that.

Good thing the bastard couldn’t see the future.

The door to the safe creaked open. There were papers piled almost to the top, covered by a razor-thin laptop. I grabbed the laptop and flung it open. With the way Jimmy stormed out of here, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him try and implement his plan sooner rather than later. When the password screen appeared, I typed in Amanda. Fucking controlling bastard. The laptop immediately came to life, all of the icons on the desktop loading their pictures. Now, I had to figure out which one of the twentysomething icons was the one with the video for the cameras. Anti-virus programs, accounting programs, even porn sites I wasn’t surprised to see. I scanned through them all. It wasn’t until I reached the final icon that I found what I’d been looking for.

Blaine Security Server.

I always wondered why Blaine had been here more often than not. Apparently, he’d been the one to set up the security system. I clicked on the icon and rows and rows of mini recordings appeared across the screen. There were more than I imagined. My stomach churned for all things he could have sat there and watched over and over just to get himself off. The more he hurt someone, the more excited he got. Once again, I forced myself to focus. I would have time to worry about all that when everything was over. I scanned the little boxes, looking for one face in particular. Jimmy wasn’t on any of the cameras. My heart sank. I thought for sure I’d find him. Then, I saw the almost transparent arrow on the right-hand side of the screen. I clicked on it and a whole new set of cameras came into view.

Holy hell, how many cameras had Nathan set up?

I looked through the new set and about two thirds of the way to the bottom, I found him. I selected that camera and watched as it filled the whole screen. There was Jimmy, sitting behind Nathan’s desk at a warehouse downtown. The face of the man sitting across from him was hidden from the camera. Their lips were moving, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying. I realized the volume had been muted and pushed the button to unmute it. That quickly their voices came through the speakers loud and clear.

“What do you mean she’s back?” asked the other guy. His voice seemed awfully familiar.

Jimmy picked up a glass from the desk, finishing off whatever liquid was inside. “She’s at the house. She came home when I was looking for Nathan’s safe. She almost caught me.”

The unknown guy ran a hand through his hair. “Where the fuck has she been? Does that mean she’s running the show from now on?”

My hands began to sweat as I waited for Jimmy’s answer.

“I have no fucking idea. She’s got some story that she’s been away at a spa for a week for her birthday.”

Unknown guy shrugged. “Makes sense. Nathan was always sending her on that type of shit for her birthday. Why, I’ll never figure out. He owned her ass, why woo her.”

“You know as well as I do, he wanted a wife like him. Someone who thrived on the benefits of his money and would do anything to keep it.”

“And you don’t like the benefits of money and won’t do anything to keep it?”

Jimmy laughed, the sound slithering down my spine the way Nathan’s used to.

“No. I love the things I can do with money. But I’m not wooing any bitch. If the woman I’m with doesn’t do as she’s told, I’ll tie her ass to the bed and use her as a sex toy until she learns her place.”

Mystery guy stood and crossed the room to the small bar. “Sounds much easier to me.”

“I think so.”

“So what’s your problem with Isobel’s story?” He poured himself a drink and turned, giving me the first good look at his face.

“Oh, shit,” I said to the empty room.

Anthony Neymann.

Anthony was Nathan’s go-to hitman. Not someone he called when he wanted someone roughed up or the easy kill. Nathan called him when he needed a hard job done. The only reason Jimmy would be sitting down with him would be if he’d already decided who to go after. Anthony took his seat again as I moved to the edge of mine, making sure I didn’t miss a single word they said.

“It’s too convenient. She happens to go away the same day Nathan disappears. On top of that, her own family hasn’t been seen or heard of since that night either. I also don’t like the fact she told me to stay away from the Haweses for now. You’d think she’d want their heads on a platter for possibly killing her husband.”

“You don’t know for sure if they did. I can see how she’d want to be cautious on that. She’s not as reckless as Nathan. Probably the same reason he’s dead.” Anthony leaned back, laying his ankle on his knee.

“Who else would it be besides the Hawes family?”

“You know as well as I do, Nathan had enemies everywhere. I’m sure it was the Hawes family, but I can’t blame her for wanting to be cautious.”

Jimmy snarled at him. “Your analysis of what a good job she’s doing on her first day is not why I called you here.”

Anthony set his glass down. “Then what is it you want done?” The tone of Anthony’s voice was no longer friendly and polite, but icy and direct.

“I want Miller Hawes dead and I want it done tonight. When you finish there, I want Isobel Marcello taken care of too.”

“You want me to kill Isobel Marcello who now runs the whole organization?”

Jimmy stood, pounding his fist into the desk so hard, the pen holder on the end went tumbling to the ground, scattering pens everywhere. “She’s not in charge,” he screamed. “I am! I won’t let that bitch ruin everything I’ve worked my ass off for. With Nathan out of the picture, I’m taking over and no one is going to stop me.”

“As you wish.” Anthony stood. “I’ll check back in tonight when it’s done.”

Jimmy dismissed him with a curt nod and dropped back into the chair. “Fucking Isobel. What the hell had Nathan seen in her? She’s nothing but a pain in the ass. At least she won’t be for much longer.”

He opened one of the drawers in the desk, pulling out a small black bag. I knew I needed to leave, to get out of there and warn Brock, not to mention save my own ass. I had no desire to be in the house when Anthony showed up looking for me. My eyes were glued to the screen. Jimmy opened the pouch and removed a bag of white powder. Carefully, he measured out two lines of cocaine, inhaling both lines within minutes. The features in his face relaxed and his body slowly settled against the back of the chair.

The bastard would be out of commission for a while, which gave me enough time to pack and get the hell out of the house. I reached for the phone I’d purchased the other day to text Brock and warn him when I remembered I’d left it at Brock’s house. I didn’t want to have any incriminating evidence on me. The only way to warn Brock was to catch him leaving the baseball game. I slammed the safe closed, locking it, and pushed the bookshelf back into place. When I was sure no one would be able to tell where the safe was—no doubt Jimmy would come search the house when they couldn’t find me again—I grabbed the laptop and ran for the bedroom. I ran right for the closet, looking for a bag to carry the laptop and the papers I kept hidden in the back of my dresser. All the information for every part of Nathan’s business as well as the paperwork proving my name change. I glanced around the room to see if there was anything else I wanted to take with me. This was the last time I planned on setting foot in this place.

My hands shook as I grabbed my wallet and threw it in the bag. Nothing else except bad memories surrounded me. There was nothing worth saving in this house. The only other thing I’d need was something to defend myself with should I run into Jimmy or one of his goons. In the back of the closet was a gun safe. I unlocked it and took the pistol Nathan had bought me a few years ago. He expected me to use it against the Hawes family or someone else trying to take his business. Little had he known I’d be using it against his men.

I threw the bag over my shoulder and ran for the stairs. There was no way I could call a car company to come get me without the fear they’d tell Jimmy where I went. My only option was to take my car and hope I wasn’t followed. I’d hide it in Brock’s garage until I could figure out what to do with it. I bolted down into the garage, not bothering to set any of the alarms. The smell of burning rubber hit my nose as I peeled down the street. I turned the car in the direction of the stadium and hoped I wasn’t too late.