by Eve, Jaymin
It was probably Catherine, trying to freak me the fuck out.
And if that was the case, it was working.
9
By the time the guys returned, I’d managed to brew an entire pot of coffee, drink that pot, and then get a second one on for all of them.
I was a jittery, hyped-up mess.
“Did you find anything?” I said, jerking to my feet when they all filed in. Dylan held the flowers in his hands. Evan had been waiting outside the door while they searched, and I smiled gratefully at him, because he’d been the only reassurance I had that Dylan, Beck, and Jasper weren’t being murdered in the street.
“Nothing,” Dylan growled, his eyes locked on the roses. “Whoever left these knew what they were doing. Front security didn’t see a thing.”
“Is it blood?” I had to ask, even though I wasn’t sure I wanted the answer.
Dylan gave a single nod. Holy fucking shit.
Jasper whipped out his phone then hit two numbers and then a second later: “We need to add some security to our building.” There was a short pause. “Only those vetted through the network.” The other person must have said something, and Jasper’s face darkened. “Yes. That’s what I fucking said. I want it done today.”
He hung up the phone then, and I shook my head at their demanding nature. Beck’s gaze was on me, like he knew exactly what I was thinking. Especially how it related to this morning in the shower—the control he sought. But I was determined not to give any of them an inch. I couldn’t.
“Coffee is over there,” I said, waving to where I had all their cups lined up. I’d already added sugar to those that took it and milk to Evan’s—he was the only one who didn’t drink it black.
Dylan dropped the flowers on my coffee table, kissed my cheek as he passed, and the rest followed suit to get their morning shot of energy.
“Can we assume these flowers are some sort of scare tactic from either Catherine or Graeme?” I asked, following them into my small kitchen. “And can we also assume the blood is from an animal or something?” Please. I wasn’t sure if animal or people blood was worse, actually. I liked most animals, humans on the other hand…
I hovered just outside, because the kitchen wasn’t really big enough for the four of them to fit comfortably, but they made it work, moving around each other with the ease of people who had spent a lot of time together.
“We can assume nothing,” Dylan said, taking a long sip of his coffee. “We have multiple enemies, and with the vote drawing closer, a lot of those assholes will crawl out of their gutters to try and take us down.”
“But what is the point?” I asked. “I mean, the flowers aren’t taking anyone down, right?”
All of our eyes shot to the vase on the table.
“Maybe we should leave them outside,” Evan suggested, and I wondered if they were also imagining some sort of toxic gas secretly emitting from them.
“I’ll call the captain and get him to test them to see if there is anything to worry about,” Dylan said, moving to make the call.
It wasn’t like them to involve the police, but in this situation, we could let someone else do the grunt work.
Once the flowers were outside for the police to collect, we finished our coffee and had some toast and cereal to keep us going, and then we got back to the research. Two hours passed in silence, and I tried my best to focus on the spreadsheets and not Beck, because I was really hating this tension between us.
“I don’t know if we have enough here,” Jasper said, stretching his back. “There’s a lot of circumstantial stuff. Lots of incriminating numbers, but nothing to specifically tie Delta or Huntley to any of it. Dante could testify, but it’s going to be his word against Catherine’s unless we can make some of this evidence link them as well.”
I hadn’t forgotten what Rob said: we needed our smoking gun. Irrefutable evidence.
“How would Dante even have this information if he wasn’t somehow part of it all?” I asked, dropping a folder back on the table. “Maybe that’s evidence in itself and will give his word some more credibility.”
Beck placed both hands on his knees and leaned forward in his chair. “This could have all just been doctored or typed up by anyone. We have no original documents. Nothing that their computer techs could search. The phone is a burner, and can’t be connected to anyone. This is all just circumstantial stuff and will end up being a known gang member’s word against Catherine Deboise, of Delta corporation.”
Evan rubbed a hand over his face before ruffling up his hair in a tired manner. “We need help. We’re in over our fucking heads with this law shit. We’ve always fought with our hands, this is something different. We need to find an expert.”
I waited to see if anyone would speak first, and when they didn’t, I decided to remind them. “What about Sami from school? Her father is supposedly a big shot lawyer in New York, remember? Can we check and see if he’s on the Delta payroll? And if he isn’t, maybe he will help us. Or at least point us in the right direction.”
The guys exchanged a look, but no one argued. “If he’s based in New York, there’s a high possibility that he’s on the Delta payroll,” Beck warned me. “But it’s still worth checking out.”
“One issue though,” Dylan said, standing in one smooth movement. “The true client files are only on internal servers. We’re going to have to get into Delta offices and go from there.”
The others stood as well, and I followed suit. “I’ll get the car,” Jasper said.
Beck nodded. “Are we going to sneak in or make this an official visit?” he asked us, leaving the choice in our hands. “I have access to the files, all of them, but it is going to leave a trace that I was there.”
I raised my hand and then felt like a fucking idiot when they all smirked at me. “Maybe Richard will help. I don’t have to tell him what I want his login for, but he owes me. Or more importantly he owes us all for bringing Debitch into our lives. Maybe it would be safer to use his login.”
Beck’s attention was fully on me then and heat flared through my stomach, wrapping around my arms and legs, holding me immobile. Fucker always knew what he was doing.
“You might be placing your father in danger,” he said softly.
I shrugged. “Honestly, I’d prefer he was versus any of you. And I’m really not that worried—Richard is a secret psychopath like the rest of them. Nothing will take him down easily.”
Beck nodded then, and I ducked off to grab my phone and make a call. Five minutes later I was back, code written in a small notepad and nerves fluttering in my stomach.
“He didn’t even question me,” I told them, lowering my voice. “And he said he’d keep the board busy for the next day or two in the safe houses, going over their game plan for the vote.”
No one looked hugely reassured by this, which didn’t surprise me—Richard wasn’t exactly trustworthy, but I hadn’t told him our plan, so there was a minimal risk to asking for his help.
Beck extended his hand to take the notebook from me, and without really thinking, I moved it out of his reach and pressed it to my chest. The motion made us both pause, and Beck arched a brow at me in askance.
“Butterfly?” he prompted. “I need the code if I’m going to search the database.”
I frowned, mostly at myself, and glanced down at the notebook pressed into my shirt. “Yeah, I know. But you don’t need it until we’re at Delta HQ, right?”
At this, Beck’s other brow shot up to join the first, and he looked legitimately startled. “So you’re going to keep it secret until we get there?”
I nodded, not totally sure what I was doing.
Beck’s gaze darkened. “Don’t you trust me, Butterfly?”
My mouth opened, but no sound came out. His glare held me frozen to the spot like I’d been doused in liquid nitrogen, and I flailed for the right answer. Obviously, yes, I did trust him. Sort of. With some things ... like my heart, I guessed. But did I trust him to take R
ichard’s login code for Delta and not use it past this one task?
“Well, that’s a question asking for trouble,” Dylan muttered, saving me from an actual response as he physically stepped between us and wrinkled his nose at me. “You have every reason not to fully trust any of us, Riles. Beck shouldn’t be pressuring you when he’s the one at fault.” This was delivered with a sharp glare in his friend’s direction, to which Beck just grunted and sank back into his seat.
“It’s not that,” I tried to salvage the situation before it got out of hand. “I’m not holding old grudges, it’s...” I trailed off with a helpless shrug. I didn’t really know what my issue was. Maybe I was just being a bitch to punish him for leaving me high and dry in the shower?
Dylan shook his head and smoothed his palms over my shoulders, rubbing my upper arms in a comforting, friendly way. “You don’t owe us explanations. If you don’t want to hand over that code, we won’t make you. When we get to Delta you can input it yourself then tear up the paper, okay?”
I nodded, not wanting to dig myself any deeper into the hole I’d created. Already, I could feel Beck’s angry glare and see the worried frowns on Evan and Jasper’s faces. When I glanced over at them, though, they were quick to fade into easy, reassuring smiles.
“Okay,” I agreed, giving Dylan a grateful smile. He’d diffused what was potentially heading for a nasty fight with Beck, and all of our energy was better spent elsewhere. “So when do we leave?”
Dylan deferred to Evan for that question, who checked his heavy Tag watch. “Like, two hours? The police haven’t grabbed the flowers yet, and I’m sure they want to ask a few questions.”
While they were distracted, I ripped the page with Richard’s code out of the notebook and tucked the paper into my front pocket. Beck watched me do it, though, so I made a mental note to just memorize the damn thing.
“We also need to document these flowers in our database,” Evan added.
This clicked something in my brain. “You have a database of creepy gifts and threats? Does that apply for all of you or just me?”
Evan looked startled at my question, and I figured he didn’t know Beck had told me about the other threats left at the Deboise manor after I moved out.
“All of us,” Jasper answered with a lazy grin. “Some of us have thicker files than others though.” He winked, like it was some kind of competition to have the most death threats. Crazy fucks.
“That’s nuts,” I muttered. “But if you guys have this many threats, wouldn’t Katelyn? She was a Huntley heir, after all. Shouldn’t she have had just as many crazy fucks leaving gifts on her doorstep?”
The guys considered this, and Evan nodded. “Yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised to find they do. Most people with considerable wealth, influence, power, or status get death threats; it’s just part of the gig. Anyone would have to be dumb as fuck not to keep a record of them though. You never know when a harmless stalker will escalate.” He must have just seen where I was going on this line of thought, and he gave me a long look. “You think Katelyn could have been killed by a normal crazy?”
Heat bloomed in my cheeks, and I folded my arms over my chest. “I just know it wasn’t Dante. So shouldn’t we see if anyone has checked her ‘database’ for any threats of stabbing?” I had air quoted the word “database” then immediately felt like a child, so I tucked my hands back under my armpits.
“Someone at Huntley probably already checked it,” Dylan offered, but the frown on his face said he was thinking about it.
I snorted a sound of contempt. “I bet they haven’t. Everyone is so fucking sure Dante killed her, why would they bother looking for another suspect?”
“She’s got a good point,” Evan backed me up. “Not saying the killer had sent Katelyn a threat, but if there is enough reasonable doubt, then they surely can’t convict Dante.”
“Unless he really is guilty,” Beck snapped, standing up from his chair and stalking closer to me. “After all, he has a history of violence against women.”
Anger burned through me, and I snarled at him. “He didn’t kill that bitch, and you know it. I don’t know what the fuck he did to get your panties in a wad since he’s been in jail, but you need to get over it.” I poked him in the chest, refusing to be physically intimidated by him.
Beck just glared. Typical.
My phone buzzed then, and I realized it was Eddy.
Eddy: Get me out of here, girl! I can’t do the family thing any longer.
Eddy had been with her grandparents in Texas since the Dante thing, and even though she complained, I secretly thought she was happy to get away from all the Dante drama.
Another buzz. Eddy: Grandpa just challenged me to chess. Fucking chess!
I laughed. “Good news?” Beck said, arching an eyebrow at me.
“Just Eddy,” I said, shooting back a quick text before pocketing my phone. “She’s dying at the ranch.”
Jasper snorted. “Glad they stopped inviting me there. Only so many times I can see our grandfather bang the maid and grandma take sixteen different pills with breakfast before it starts to get old.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “Dramatic much. At least Eddy has been safe with your fucked up family. Away from Jefferson.”
Jasper nodded. “There is that. But she’ll be back soon, and then we’ll have to make sure this doesn’t touch her.”
Keeping my friends safe was the top of my list, and I truly believed the only way to do that was to ensure that all of Delta’s board was gone.
Permanently.
10
Rolling up to the Delta office some hours later I felt like I was playing a role. I wasn’t Riley Jameson, chick racer and poor orphan. I was Riley Deboise, heir to the Deboise family fortune and future leader of Militant Delta Finances. This time I’d dressed the part. Power suit, black and white, with my favorite heels.
I looked rich and successful, my long dark hair slicked back in a high ponytail, the ends dead straight from my flatiron. Still, when my heels clicked across the marble foyer as I followed Beck with Dylan beside me, I couldn’t help feeling like the worst kind of imposter.
Three months ago I’d been a teenager living in a low-income area. Now I was an heir to a fucking billion dollar company full of sociopaths.
Weird.
The doors to the elevator slid open soundlessly and the three of us stepped into the mirrored box and remained silent while the doors closed again behind us.
“Something on your mind, Sebastian?” I whispered, getting sick of the cryptic looks he’d been shooting my way when he thought I wasn’t looking. In a fully mirrored elevator, though, there was no hiding the direction of his gaze.
Beck’s jaw clenched, but he said nothing in reply. Dylan’s soft snicker sent my suspicious look his way, and he just gave me an unapologetic lopsided grin. “Beck’s just pissed off that I was already tagging along and he can’t do all the dirty, depraved things he wants to do to you in that outfit.” Dylan smirked in the direction of his friend, who glared death back at him but didn’t deny the truth of it. “Beck’s not good at dealing with the fact that he’s stuck with that hard on until we get the info we came for and get home.”
My brows shot up and my gaze went straight to Beck’s crotch. Well, I mean, that was like waving a red flag at a bull, wasn’t it? He made a frustrated sound in his throat and angled his body away while he rearranged his pants to—I assume—hide the boner in question. What kind of addicted bitch did it make me that I wanted him to just whip it out and let me deal with it right then and there? Dylan could watch for all I cared. Hell, that could be kinda—
“Butterfly,” Beck snapped, a throaty growl underscoring my name. “If you don’t stop looking at me like that, your dress isn’t making it out of this elevator in one piece.”
My cheeks flamed, and I very deliberately dragged my gaze away from Beck and peered at the carpet. Damn that was nice carpet.
Seconds later, the doors slid open on the top flo
or, and Dylan snickered a laugh. “Shit, I was really hoping you’d push that a bit further, Riles.”
The startled look I gave him as I stepped out into the corridor was nothing on the warning glare Beck shot his friend. None of us had forgotten that kiss at the gala it seemed.
“Come on,” Beck growled. “We need to get this done before any of the board catch wind that we’re here.”
He led the way down the hall, and into an office the size of a studio apartment with floor to ceiling windows offering breathtaking views over the city. It was way excessive for one person’s office.
“This is your dad’s office?” I wrinkled my nose at Beck as he powered up the integrated computer at the massive desk. “Kinda compensating for something, huh?”
Beck flashed me a quick smile. “Actually this is Richard’s office. Soon to be yours.”
“Oh.” I looked around again. “Well, it’s, uh, lovely.”
Beck shook his head with a grin, and Dylan covered a laugh with a cough. Asshole.
“Here.” Beck indicated for me to sit in Richard’s desk chair. “Put the access code in, and then I’ll find the files.”
I did as he asked, sitting down then very deliberately withdrawing the slip of note paper from my white lace bra. It was just visible over the top of my dress shirt.
“What?” I asked, acting innocent when Beck let out a frustrated groan and Dylan scrubbed a hand over his face. “This outfit doesn’t come with pockets, okay?”
Funnily enough, it actually did have pockets in the jacket. But I was enjoying the sexual power play even before seeing how Beck would react to my clothing choices.
Peeking at the note, I quickly typed the code into the computer then watched with satisfaction as the screen changed to display a desktop with just a few icons on it. It took me another moment to recognize the image Richard had used as wallpaper, but when I did, my heartbeat stuttered.
“Oscar,” I whispered, staring at the image of my half-brother. I’d seen a handful of photos of him around the Deboise manor, but this one was totally different. He was relaxed, his arm thrown around Richard’s neck as he laughed toward the camera. Richard in the photo had his face turned away from the photographer, looking down at his son with total love in his face. “Richard really loved him, huh?”
