Chapter thirteen

JAMESON WILCOX

I sit on Grace’s bed, patiently waiting for her to return from her shower. It was the sole condition she had listed before she agreed to talk to me.

My mind runs through a gamut of possible causes for her mood and I grow anxious.

Had she learned something about my true identity?

Why had she left the grocery store so abruptly yesterday without any purchases? Watching her from my truck, I’d seen a noticeable difference in her demeanor when she left.

Something had definitely happened.

Grace re-enters the room and I watch her make quick work of getting dressed.

Her level of comfort with me in the room isn’t lost on me. She trusts me.

With damp hair falling beneath her ample breasts, I’m momentarily captivated by the picture she makes.

The somber look on her face reminds me that this isn’t a pleasure visit.

Taking a seat beside me, she sighs heavily.

“I think my ex is looking for me,” she reveals.

I carefully control my features into a look of concern.

“What are you saying, Grace? He wants you back?”

Her expression darkens and she begins to fidget with her hands.

“In a manner of speaking,” she states.

I wait for her to disclose more.

“He wants to get me back for something I did when I left him two years ago.”

My ears perk up in anticipation. It looks like I’m finally going to discover what it was that she did to get on Brick’s bad side.

“What did you do?” I coax her to share more.

Shame mingles with regret on her face before she shakes her head sadly.

“I stole from him.”

I stop breathing.

She was admitting guilt.

I was protecting… and fucking a guilty woman.

I want to smack myself for being so stupid.

“Jameson, are you okay?” I hear her ask and I know my expression must have faltered.

I shift my eyes back to her.

She looks worried, wringing her hands as she watches me.

“Sorry,” I clear my throat. “Why did you steal from him?”

“I was stupid,” she admits, raising her eyes to look at me.

On my feet, I begin pacing and digesting this new information.

I’m betraying a client’s trust because of her and she’s telling me that it’s for nothing.

Grace looks at me, resigned.

“I wanted to hurt him as much as he had hurt me and I knew money was the answer.”

My pacing ceases and I come to a stop in front of her. I’m simultaneously enraged and intrigued by this new piece of the puzzle.

Had Brick laid his hands on her?

“He hurt you?” I ask for clarification as my jaw clenches.

Grace nods, her face wrinkling and I know that this isn’t easy for her talk about.

“Not physically,” she clarifies. “But it didn’t change the fact that I was terrified of him.”

“What did he do to you?” I ask, gravely and suddenly back on the defensive.

Just the thought of anyone harming Grace has my vision blurred by red lines.

“I guess I should start from the beginning.”

I give an encouraging nod.

“His name is Brian Masner, but people call him Brick. And he was my first everything.”

I absorb the significance of those words in stride, working to conceal my jealousy and repulsion.

That rat-faced motherfucker had been her first love.

“I grew up in Ravenwood a few hours south of here and he was the king of that town. I imagine he still is.”

Watching her carefully, I wait for her to go on.

“Anyway, I always had a crush on him because of his status in town. He had money and lots of it, but I didn’t know the origins of that money until it was too late.”

“What do you mean?” I pry.

“He commits insurance fraud with his brother,” she says cautiously. “Brick is a life insurance broker. He owns one of the largest agencies in the state. His brother, Matthew, is a coroner. They work as a team to scam innocent people out of millions of dollars every year.”

The puzzle pieces are starting to fall in place for me.

“Couple goes in to buy a life insurance policy, a few months later the husband or wife dies mysteriously. The other spouse cashes out on the claim and gives Brick a generous cut for his services,” she says ending her phrase with her fingers raised in air quotes.

“Wow,” is all I can say.

“His brother miraculously intercepts the deceased at the morgue. He shows up and rules no foul play was involved, saving the ‘grieving’ spouse from murder charges or further investigation. He and Brick split the earnings and then repeat the process.”

“How have they not been found out?” I ask, taking a seat next to her on the bed.

A sad sigh precedes her answer. “Brick and his brother are pretty powerful in Ravenwood. Most people fear them and the others have been bought with the promise to stay out of their way. They get away with a lot.”

I don’t doubt it but I still want to know where she comes into the picture.

“What happened between you two?”

“I challenged him. He was so manipulative and controlling during our relationship because he was used to getting his way. The infidelity and emotional abuse really did a number on me. He somehow managed to make me believe that no one would want my damaged goods if I left him. Young and naïve, I believed him. At least for a while.”

“Shit, Grace. I’m sorry he did that to you.”

She gives a mirthless laugh, dismissing my words.

“It came with the territory. Or so I thought. I thought we were going through a rough patch and that things would eventually get better.”

“When did you realize they wouldn’t?”

Grace releases a shaky breath.

My hand finds hers in a silent offering of support.

“About a year too late. He started threatening me, telling me if I left he would kill me and have his brother cover it up. Said if I ever tried to tell someone, no one would believe me because everyone has a price. He would just buy their silence.”

Livid, I take controlled breaths and study her profile. She’s so composed, her strength admirable.

“So why do you think he’s looking for you now? After all this time?”

“Who knows,” she shrugs. “When I finally left, I stole about five-hundred thousand dollars cash from him before I hightailed it out of town. I dumped it in the ocean before I came here. As much as I could have used it, I didn’t want blood money. I just wanted to hit him where it hurt.”

“Damn,” I admire her guts. I’m more determined than ever to keep her out of harm’s way.

“He probably made it back in a few weeks’ time, but I suspect he’s ready to hold up his promise. My mom called me yesterday and told me he’s hired someone to track me down.”

My head snaps towards her at this news.

Shit.

Reading her face, I try to determine if she has any inclination that I’m that someone. Her face doesn’t reveal anything.

She continues solemnly, “My first instinct is to run again but I know it’s a short-term solution for a long-term problem. He will eventually find me and I’ll have to face him.”

Grace’s words are resolute and hopeless. She doesn’t see another option.

Impulsively, I blurt out a solution.

“I will protect you.”

Shocked, she stares at me with a question in those gorgeous eyes.

“I’m the owner of a newly founded private security firm. Or have you forgotten, Ms. Chambers?”

“Oh,” she mutters.

“You’ll be my first client,” I decide. “I won’t let that bastard lay a hand on you.”

“As tempting as your offer sounds, I can’t afford to pay you, Jameson. But thank you,” she declines with a gracious smile prompting me roll my eyes.

I tackle her to the bed playfully, catching her by surprise with my swift movements.

“I don’t want your money, woman,” I growl against her lips. “You don’t have to face this on your own. Let me help you, Grace.”

She giggles and I know I’ve effectively lightened the mood.

“Okay,” she agrees breathily.

“But I do have another form of payment in mind,” I say deviously, nipping at her ear.