Weston's Treasure

by Riley Edwards

  Genuinely happy, maybe for the first time in my life, even with my dad acting like a fool and someone after me wanting to silence me—permanently, I was truly pleased McKenna was getting what she wanted. Which was to become McKenna Swagger, however, that might come.

  “The other good news is, I found out Leonard is in debt up to his eyeballs, but with a sick child that was expected. But the medical bills are staggering,” McKenna shared.

  Damn. I felt bad for Leonard—he was a nice guy. No parent should have to be worried about mounting debt while they’re scared shitless about their sick child.

  “But other than that, he was clean,” she went on. “It took some digging, but I found some hefty deposits in an account in Gary Goldbloom’s mother’s name. Six months ago the account had three-hundred dollars in it and was inactive. Now it has more than five-hundred thousand.”

  “Did you trace the deposits?” Weston took over.

  I was still in shock at the amount of money that had been deposited. Half a million dollars was huge.

  “Yep. Shell companies,” McKenna answered. “I’m still sifting through everything but I think it’s safe to say we found our guy. Now we just have to find who’s paying him off.”

  McKenna’s gaze came back to me and I hated that all the joy had melted away. “You okay?”

  “I don’t know. I’m pissed. Super-pissed. I wanted you guys to be wrong but you weren’t, and I’m really angry that someone I work with, a man who sits next to me in the boathouse, who sleeps in the next room for two weeks at a time while we’re on rotation, would not only stoop so fucking low he’d take dirty payoffs, but he’d sell me out.”

  “I get that,” she returned.

  “Babe?” Weston called as I tipped my head back so I could look at him. “Know it sucks, but this is good news. Now we can come up with a plan. This will be over soon. But we still have to talk about why he suspected you. No one else has had any break-ins. Which means Gary was watching you and doing it close.”

  That freaked me out. All of it—from it will be over soon, to Gary watching me.

  I was on edge about what came next. When this was over and Weston took me back to my apartment. Or as it were, since my car was outside in the driveway, when I got in and drove away, where did that leave us? Weston wouldn’t need to protect me anymore. I wouldn’t need to be in his bed every night. Did that mean that would be the end of us? And was there an us? Weston acted like it, but I had no points of reference. I had no idea what was going on, even though Weston had been forthcoming, I still didn’t know.

  Then there was Gary. What the hell was that about? He must’ve been watching me carefully because I couldn’t think of a single thing I’d done that would make him suspect me. I hadn’t kept written records, I hadn’t taken pictures, I hadn’t talked to anyone, taken phone calls—nothing.

  “He had to follow me,” I blurted out. “It’s the only thing that makes sense. I went to the Coast Guard, then I went to Washington to meet with you and Alec. Gary had to have been following me,” I repeated. “It’s the only way. Everyone involved knew my schedule and knew not to call while I was on rotation. We were careful about that. And I deleted the call history, so even if someone got my phone and unlocked it, they’d never see the calls. Alec’s number is saved as Bonnie and no one would know that either.”

  “That’d be my guess, too,” Nixon said, joining the conversation. “Gary was probably watching the whole crew, but Silver’s the only one who went off-routine.”

  “What’s this about someone following my daughter?” Dad asked as he stormed into the kitchen.

  I stopped looking at Nixon. I stopped being freaked out and I started being extremely pissed.

  “Enough!” I barked and my dad jerked. I would’ve felt bad speaking to my dad like that if I wasn’t so angry he’d been such an ass. I would’ve felt guilty if he hadn’t pulled me back into his shit with my mother. Something I’d tried very hard to separate myself from.

  “Scout—”

  “No, Dad. No more. You hauled your ass up here and I appreciate you being worried. That was nice of you. But now you know I’m safe so you can haul your ass back to Florida and go back to your life.”

  “You’re far from safe.”

  “You’re right. But Weston’s seeing to it that I get that way. Alec and the rest of the team are working on it, too. You blew in here like a maniac, refused to listen to me when I repeatedly told you what was going on. You embarrassed yourself, you sure as hell embarrassed me. And because of all that, I want you to go home. I want to concentrate on what I need to be doing to play my part in taking these men down. This is serious. We’re not scouting grids for sunken treasure, we’re trying to stop drugs from hitting the streets. Millions of dollars’ worth of drugs that will harm a lot of people.”

  “I embarrassed you?” My dad’s face paled and I would’ve felt bad about that, too, except I was too far gone.

  I was remembering all the times my dad hadn’t listened to me in the past. All the times I had to play peacekeeper between my parents. All of the times I was pressured to live a life I didn’t want because my dad was too selfish to see how miserable I was.

  “You’re seriously asking that? You were so insane yesterday, Weston had to tell you to leave. Today you grilled Alec like he was some terrorist holding me hostage. If Jonny hadn’t come in, you were still going to refuse calling the police to tell them I was okay. Which meant I was going to have to do it.”

  “I’m worried about my daughter,” he snapped.

  “Really? And were you worried about me when you were gone for four months and didn’t once check in with me? Did I cross your mind while you were diving off the Galapagos? Were you thinking about me when you were going through the Panama Canal? Rounding Cuba, passing Cancun, Belize? Did you think to call me when you refueled in Honduras? Maybe as you hugged Nicaragua, Costa Rica? No, you didn’t. You never do. Dale Coyle thinks of no one but himself and the next great thrill. I’m done, Dad. Over it. I don’t care what stupid game you’re still playing with my mother. I don’t care the only reason you want me to take over your business is so you can rub it in her face. And you know that’s the reason. It’s not because it is what would make me happy. It’s never about me. It’s always about you and Silvia and all the ways the two of you can piss on each other. I’m simply the tool you both use. Done. Way done. So done, I want you to leave and after that leave me alone.”

  My dad stood speechless. He also looked like I’d smacked him. That made me feel bad. Weston’s arm around my waist tightened just for a second, giving me the support I needed.

  “Dad—”

  “I’m sorry, Scout.”

  Then my dad turned to leave and guilt slammed into my chest. I’d never spoken to my father like that, never in anger, never with malintent, proving I was the worst, absolute worst daughter in the world.

  “Wait.”

  “I deserved that,” my dad started. “But you’re always on my mind. Doesn’t matter where I am in the world, I’m always thinking about you. Always loving you. Be well, Silver.”

  And with that parting shot, he was out the door. I stood frozen in Weston’s arms replaying my dad’s last words. He called me Silver. Not since I was five had I heard him call me by my name. That hurt worse than the look on his face.

  “Babe?” When my eyes didn’t move from the door, Weston’s hand cupped my jaw and gently lifted my chin to look to him. “We’ll give him a few hours and if you want, we’ll go to his hotel and the two of you can sit down and talk.”

  “I can’t believe I said all of that to him.”

  “You keeping all of that bottled up inside is not good—it needed to be said. Now that it has, we’ll give him some time to think on it and I’ll take you over there later.”

  My face planted on his chest and my eyes closed. Sure my dad was flighty, he was always on the lookout for the next best thing, the next good time to be had, but I knew he loved me. Something ugly wa
s building inside of me, so ugly I wanted to throw up. I’d turned into my mother. I’d said hateful things on purpose because I wanted my dad to hurt the way I did. I wanted him to feel the pain his abandonment had caused me.

  My worst fear—I was my mother’s daughter.

  “Got a minute?” My head came up to see Alec standing in the doorway.

  I was in Weston’s office. After that craptastic scene with my dad, Jonny went back to the station, and soon after, the rest of us went into the office, including Alec.

  No one had said anything about me squaring off with my dad, or about what a bitch I had been. At some point, I’d have to apologize, but I was too ashamed and embarrassed to bring it up yet.

  Weston had also taken me by the hotel, at which time we’d been informed my dad had checked out. At Weston’s urging, I’d called him and the call had gone to voicemail. It was official—I was a bitch and a horrible daughter.

  Weston being Weston, gently reminded me I had a right to my feelings and I said what I’d needed to say and my dad would have to deal. I didn’t agree, but I hadn’t argued. I didn’t think I had any fight left in me, not after I’d hurt my dad so badly—the only parent I had who gave a shit about me.

  “Of course,” I told Alec, trying my best to hide my foul mood. “Come in.”

  Alec prowled to the only extra chair in the office and that’s what he did—prowled. Alec didn’t walk anywhere, he was too big, too intense to merely walk. The first time I’d met the man he scared the shit out of me, and each time I’d been around him since hadn’t lessened the fear. He looked like he could snap a grown man in half, which meant it would take very little effort on his part to crack me in two.

  “We’re going over the canal roster looking into the vessels you’ve highlighted.”

  “Find anything?” I asked hopefully.

  “Howard Sposato,” Alec announced.

  “Don’t know who that is.”

  “He owns the Serafina. The Hatteras you flagged.”

  “Okay. I take it that’s good news?”

  “Far from good news. The Honorable Howard Sposato was the associate judge for the first district court before he became the chief judge for the district court of Maryland.”

  “Oh, no.”

  “Sposato also has strong ties to Avon Chapman, as in Sposato was Chapman’s attorney before his crooked ass took his seat on the bench.”

  “Crooked?”

  “McKenna found the money trail. They’re all fucked.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means Chapman paid your buddy Gary, but the money came from Sposato. It also means Jason Scott is fucked because he’s a dumbfuck who thinks he’s untouchable, therefore he uses his phone way too much. He made a call to Avon Chapman last night and he didn’t hide the fact he was pissed they lost the product from the Dora B. He bitched for twenty minutes how his guys were getting antsy, because no product means they got nothing to sell. If his soldiers got nothing to sell they’re not making money. Low-level scumbags have no loyalty, they’ll find another crew that will keep them supplied so the money’s not cut off.”

  “So it’s over?” I asked even though I didn’t want to hear the answer.

  Over could mean heartbreak.

  “It’s over,” he confirmed and my heart sank. “You did good, Silver.”

  “Thanks,” I muttered.

  “You didn’t have to get involved. You could’ve kept your suspicions to yourself. You could’ve turned a blind eye. And after what happened on the Dora B you could’ve walked away. But you didn’t. You stayed the course, pushed through. And because of you, two very powerful men are gonna go down. You saved lives. So when I say you did good, Silver, I mean you did good.”

  He was right, I could’ve ignored all of those things, but then I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself. No way I’d be able to look in the mirror every day knowing I was a coward.

  “See something—say something.”

  Alec’s lips twitched before they tipped into a smile and I was momentarily mesmerized. I’d never seen the man smile. But when he did, it transformed his whole demeanor. He was handsome even when he scowled, but when his features softened and his eyes crinkled he didn’t look so scary, therefore he looked approachable and really good-looking.

  “You should smile more.”

  The words had barely left my mouth when his smile faded.

  “How are you doing with everything?” Alec asked and I wished I kept my mouth shut. I had a feeling the DHS agent didn’t smile all that often—if ever.

  “Great. As you said, two powerful drug dealers disguised as upstanding citizens will be—”

  “I’m talking about your dad,” he cut me off.

  “Oh.” My eyes slid to the wall behind Alec. “Well…”

  I had no idea what to say and I wasn’t sure how I felt. Sure, I’d told my dad to leave and I’d said some pretty shitty things to him. but he was my dad—shouldn’t he have at least stuck around to try to talk to me again? But he didn’t. He gave up and went home. That hurt. I couldn’t imagine giving up on my child, especially after an outburst like I had. Wouldn’t he want to try to get to the bottom of my verbal attack? Find out what was eating at me that I would say such awful things?

  “Not my business, but the way I see it, you had a lot of shit built up. The problem with burying shit is when the cork pops, it boils over. And what fizzes out is never pretty. Now it’s out in the open and you and your dad can start repairing the hurt.”

  “Not sure he’ll be receptive to repairing anything. He took off.”

  “Don’t have kids, which means I’m not a father, but I suspect he needs a minute to lick his wounds. He knows now he did you wrong, and that has to kill. Give it some time.”

  “I behaved like my mother this morning. I was nasty and bitchy. Worse, I did it on purpose.”

  “You need to give that to Weston, let him help you dig that load of shit out before it festers.”

  Weston. Right. I’d already piled enough of my psychosis on him. He didn’t need anymore of my crazy.

  “Like you said, this is over. I’m no longer in danger—”

  “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “Well—”

  “Silver.” Alec stood, not letting me finish my explanation. “Straight up, now that this is over, if you turn your back on Weston, you are not the woman I thought you were.”

  That felt like a punch to the gut.

  “I think you have it backward. Now that I’m safe, he has no reason to put up with me. There’s no reason for me to be in Maryland. There’s no reason—”

  “For someone who’s fuckin’ smart, you’re not too bright.” His insult didn’t sting—it sliced through me. “Let me tell you a secret about Weston, he doesn’t put up with anything. And if you think he let you into his life, he wound you up with his team, with McKenna, put you in his bed, only to cut you loose when this shit was over, you’re seriously not the woman I thought you were.”

  “You don’t understand,” I bit out, getting super-pissed Alec was being so mean.

  “I damn well do. I get you’re scared. I get you were thrust into an extreme situation. I get things around you are moving fast. But mostly, I get you’re insecure as fuck. I know, Silver, because it’s written all over you. I know because, while you are damn good at your job, smart as hell, beautiful, and courageous you still hide. I know because when I look at you I see myself. I also know what it means to lose something because you can’t see what the other person sees. Clue in, Silver, before you push away a good man.”

  Alec didn’t allow me to respond before he stalked out, leaving me sitting behind Weston’s desk surrounded by the things that meant the most to Weston. I didn’t move mainly because I couldn’t. Alec’s accusation stunned me. But his admission did, too. He saw himself in me. And that sucked for him. And sitting there frozen, I began to realize just how much it truly sucked to be paralyzed by your past. I was
insecure.

  And if I wasn’t careful, I’d lose Weston.

  21

  Something had happened, and whatever it was had Silver pulling into herself.

  Weston had come back from picking up lunch and found out in the thirty minutes he’d been gone, McKenna had wrapped up their case in a tidy bow, and Alec had taken the intel and gone back to DC.

  He was also told that Alec had informed Silver. Instead of being happy that Alec was making the necessary arrangements for Howard Sposato, Avon Chapman, Jason Scott, and Gary Goldbloom to be picked up, she seemed upset.

  While Weston was contemplating what to do about Silver, a bond skip had been punted to Gemini Group, taking his attention. The skip was believed to be in Montgomery, Alabama. As he read the details of the case an idea came to him. It was a federal case, meaning the Marshals Service would pick up the skip and take him back to New York. It was a low-risk corporate case, the skip was not thought to be a danger to himself or the community.

  The more Weston thought about his idea, the more he wanted to give this to Silver. The more he wanted to give it to himself. Now all he had to do was convince her to take off a little more time from work and come with him.

  Thirteen hours in the car with Silver alone sounded perfect. Getting her away from all the shit that had infiltrated her life, even better. The added benefit was while they were in Alabama, she could meet his parents.

  So with all of that going on in his head, he hadn’t had a chance to suss out what was bothering her. But now they were home—alone. Holden was at his place and Chasin out doing whatever it was Chasin did. Probably hanging with Jonny. The two of them did that a lot, met up for a beer, which meant they were carousing. Weston knew, because he’d gone out with the two of them a few times and that was exactly what they’d been doing.