KALISTA: You arsehole. I can’t believe you left and didn’t even have the courtesy to tell me you were going. All that shit about wanting to be with me was about getting back in my pants again, wasn’t it? May as well try to get some while you’re stuck with me 24/7, huh? Well, fuck you, Abe Jamieson.
I read the message again. Is she serious? Leave it to me to fall for a woman with a temper. My fingers fly over the screen as I type out my reply.
ABE: Well, good morning to you too, sweetness. Good to see you have so much faith in me and my word. Can we talk about this when I get back tonight? I’m really busy trying to find the fucker that’s messing up your life.
Not a minute later, her reply comes through.
KALISTA: I’m sorry, what?
I choose to ignore it since A) I’m busy, and B) She just said some nasty shit.
I slide my phone back in my pocket, and glance at Axel. “So, what do you have for me, little brother?”
Axel cracks his neck, then pulls out a thick file from a drawer in his desk. “After we spoke, I started digging into Bradshaw. Brother, as far as shady fuckers go, this one’s real fucking shady. And from what I was able to gather on Astor, so is he. It appears these two have a long history.”
Interesting. I rub my jaw. “I’m listening,” I tell him, waiting for him to elaborate.
He smiles like he’s got a juicy piece of gossip. “Get this: these two have known each other since they were in high school. They were best friends until this chick got between them.” He pauses. “Gina Robinson. She was Ashlynn’s aunt. So, over the years, Gina goes back and forth. First she’s with Bradshaw, then she ends up married to Astor a few years later,” he says with a mischievous grin.
I shake my head. “Sounds like Kalista’s mother got mixed up with two shady fuckers and ended up dead for her troubles. I read the case file on her murder. Nothing about it felt right.”
Axel nods, agreeing with my assumption. “Abe, that’s not all.”
I raise a brow. “Okay. Hit me with it.”
He licks his lips, and pulls out another smaller file. “You mentioned the name Michael on the phone last night.” He looks me in the eye. “Bradshaw’s oldest son’s name is Michael. I’m betting that’s not a coincidence. Especially when you factor in that his youngest son’s name is William. That’s who gave Kalista that letter the first week you were with her, right?”
Axel continues, “Both Michael and William are bastards, and there’s another brother in between them,” he looks at his papers again, “Daniel. They all have Bradshaw’s name, but they’re not recognised in the public eye as his sons.”
Interesting, I can see it all coming together now, and I have solid proof that Neil Bradshaw is connected to this. But the knowledge doesn’t make me feel any better. I’m still trying to figure out what changed to make the Bradshaw’s step up their game so rapidly. If they went from letters to an I.U.D, what the fuck is next?
“Everything about this is making me uneasy, and it looks like maybe this is about more than business.” I stand to leave, turning back to my youngest brother before I exit. “Thanks, man. I really appreciate the help.”
He smiles knowingly. “She’s your Ashlynn; I get it. I’ll do whatever I can to help. Fuck knows I owe you for what you did for my little minx. This is the least I can do.” He shoots me a wink, then holds up the files for me. “You might want to take these, get another set of eyes on them, see if I missed anything.”
“Thanks,” I murmur, taking them from him. I tuck them under my arm and stride out of his office with a million different thoughts flying around inside my head. I give Gabe and Kai a nod as I leave; Axel has found himself a really good crew, and I’m glad he has them. These guys are his surrogate family. Alec and I live in the same city so we have each other, but it’s about three hours to Axel’s from here, with our parents bam smack in the middle of us.
Thinking about family has me feeling all kinds of things. Our parents have always loved and supported each of us. There were never any stipulations to earn or keep their love. Since starting this case, I’m more grateful than I ever have been to have such an amazing family.
Driving back home has me thinking about Gina Robinson. What a story that woman would have to tell if she were still alive. It’s obvious now that something deeper is going on between Astor and Bradshaw, something more than just two rich arseholes wanting to make more money.
My gut clenches. What really happened to Lissa’s mother? I read everything available on Astor when he initially contacted me, Gina’s file included. And it’s been playing on my mind ever since. It doesn’t feel right; something is off, like the file was doctored to make Gina’s injuries fit the crime. I wonder if Lissa suspects the mugging was a cover-up? ’Cause that’s sure as hell what it feels like. And Bradshaw and Astor are both involved somehow.
As soon as all this is over, I’m going to figure out what happened to that woman.
Hitting the button on the wheel, I call the office.
“Alpha One, how may I help you?” Miss Gene asks through the receiver.
I’ve missed the old girl. “Hey, Miss Gene. How’s it going?”
“Oh! Abe, my boy. How are you? We’ve missed you around here, but don’t you worry, I’m keeping them all in line,” she assures me.
A chuckle rises in my throat. “I don’t doubt that for a minute, Miss Gene. Hey, I actually called to ask you to set up a meeting for me tomorrow with Neil Bradshaw. I don’t care what time; I’ll make whatever he has available work.”
The line is silent for a moment, and I think the call has dropped. “Miss Gene, you there?”
She clears her throat. “Yes, honey, I’m here. Why do you want to see a horrible man like that? He’s awful. You don’t need to be getting mixed up with boys like that.”
I smile. Good ol’ Miss Gene, always looking out for me. “Don’t worry, Miss Gene. It’s for my client. I’m not going to make friends with the guy.”
Her sigh hums through my SUV. “Fine, I’ll make the appointment. I’ll have Jessa look up the number for me.”
“Thank you. Listen, I’ve gotta go. I’m driving through a bad area and the call is going to drop soon,” I tell her.
“Okay, bye honey. You take care of yourself now,” she says, then she hangs up.
My next call is to my brother.
Alec answers on the third ring. “S’up, fuckface?”
Forgoing our usual greeting, I get straight to the point. “How would you feel about paying Neil Bradshaw a visit with me tomorrow? Axel got the information we need to tie him or at least his sons to everything.”
“Fuck yes, I’ll be there.” He sounds way too excited about it.
I feel the need to clarify. “There will be no beat downs tomorrow, understand? We’re going to talk like adults, then if that doesn’t work, you can do what needs to be done.”
The disappointment is evident in his tone. “Fine, but guys like this don’t fight with their words, Abe. You know that. They use their money and lackeys to do their dirty work. Look at what he’s been put Kalista through in the last few months. Words aren’t going to be enough to finish this.”
Fuck. My hands tighten around the steering wheel, my knuckles whitening. “I know, but we aren’t going to stoop to their level, brother. Not yet. We do this the right way first. Then we kick some arse.”
“Whatever. It’s your call. I’ll be there though,” he assures me. Alec is more of an act-first-ask-questions-later kind of guy. In some situations, that’s the way to play it. But this isn’t one of those.
“Meet me at Lissa’s tomorrow. I’m not sure what time we’re meeting him yet, but I’ll let you know when I do.”
Hanging up the call, I feel good about going forward this way. I know Alec is right, but it’s all about mind games with these fuckers. We’re just going to go pay him a friendly visit to make him aware that we know his game, and we have no problem playing it.
Letting myself into Kalista’s apartment I’m not surprised to find Zak sitting on the couch, chatting with the demonling from last night.
Peering into the kitchen and coming up empty I ask, “Where’s Lissa?”
Zak jumps to his feet like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “She went to her room—said she has a headache. She took some painkillers about an hour ago and hasn’t come back out since.”
Little Red is just sitting there, twirling her long hair around one pointed finger. “Shouldn’t you be helping your friend get comfortable, or something like that?” I glare at her, my hands grasping my hips to keep me from throwing her out.
“Nope.” A sardonic grin covers her face. “She asked for some time alone. I’m doing what any good friend does and giving her what she wants.”
“Right, well, whatever. I’m going down to check on her, since you two are obviously too busy ogling each other,” I mutter in disgust. What does Zak see in her? She’s fucking evil.
Knocking lightly on Kalista’s bedroom door, I open it to find her lying on top of her bed like a starfish, her face tilted away from me. It doesn’t look like she has a headache. She doesn’t even lift her head when I enter the room, closing the door quietly behind me.
She’s wearing a pair of denim cut-off shorts with a black tank with the words I’m a freaking star on it, surrounded by a hundred little white stars. Chuckling to myself, I approach the side of the bed, sitting on the edge. I’m surprised to find she’s asleep. I consider leaving her room but change my mind, kick off my shoes, and lie down next to her. Good thing she has such a huge bed is the last coherent thought I have before falling into a deep sleep.