Beloved by Brothers [Doms of Destiny, Colorado 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Chloe Lang

  “I agree, but I need to bring in Niklaus. I’m still sheriff.” But for how long? The photo painted a clear picture. Shane was running with the Russian mafia, and his wallet was still in Jason’s pocket. I tampered with evidence. “Mitrofanov is enemy number one in Destiny, Brown. That’s got to be my main focus for now.”

  “I know you and Corey want to apprehend both Niklaus and Shane. I thought you would feel this way, so I worked it out with Dylan. The TBK jet is ready to take you to Chicago.”

  Corey’s concern for both his brother and sister was evident by the look on his face. “There might be an issue, Brown.”

  “Jason’s brothers are trying to get on a commercial flight in the morning with my sister and her assistant. They’re also going to Chicago. If they can’t get seats, I’m sure they will call Scott and Eric.”

  Brown shook her head. “No one can know you’re going.”

  “Agreed.” Jason wanted to keep Phoebe from being hurt. Yes, she would eventually learn that Shane had screwed up even more than any of them had imagined possible. But not now. Not tonight.

  “Why are they going to Chicago?” Brown asked.

  Corey told her about Phoebe’s deposition on Monday and why Lucas and Mitchell needed to accompany her and Ashley.

  “No problem,” Brown said. “I’ll make sure Jason’s brothers can get seats.”

  Jason wasn’t surprised she could get something like that done. Agent Brown was capable of a lot of things.

  “You’re walking into a hornets’ nest, guys, but if you can take down Mitrofanov before the exchange and retrieve the diamonds, we might be able to use that to our advantage to trap Lunceford. We recorded a call from Lunceford to Mitrofanov a couple of hours ago. Needless to say, they aren’t friends anymore. Lunceford told Mitrofanov that he better turn the diamonds over to him or there would be hell to pay.”

  “Now Niklaus has two hits out on him,” Corey said.

  He nodded. “The bastard will be lucky if he makes it out alive.”

  “Lunceford believes he is owed the five million since he orchestrated the whole con against TBK. The call originated from an apartment in St. Louis. With MacCabe, Jena, and Dixon on their honeymoon, that leaves us three agents short. Dylan and I are headed there now. I’ll put you in touch with my man in Chicago. Keep your ROCs with you, gentlemen, so we can communicate with each from both operational sites. With the level of security we have, Lunceford cannot break into them. We don’t want him tipped off that we are coming.”

  After a few other details were worked out, they ended the call.

  Jason had a really bad feeling about this trip. “I know Brown said she would make sure my brothers can get tickets, but I’m thinking we should pull the plug on Phoebe’s trip to Chicago completely. Shane is there. Mitrofanov, too.”

  “It’s a big city, Jason,” Corey said. “It’s an unfortunate coincidence that my sister is going there the same time we are, but she always stays on the Miracle Mile whenever she’s in Chicago. She’ll be miles away from the South Side.”

  Jason glanced at the photo of him and Shane one more time before leaving with Corey for the airport.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Phoebe placed her briefcase on the conference table. “Where are the Braxton people?”

  “They should’ve been here by now,” Ashley informed. “As of yesterday, they confirmed they would be here.”

  “Get them on the phone. Find out what the delay is.”

  “Will do, boss.”

  As Ashley made the call, Phoebe took a seat. Her mind wasn’t really on the Steele case. All she could think about was what Jason suspected about Shane. Murder. Not possible. Her whole world was crumbling and she wasn’t sure there was anything she could do about it. She loved Jason. She loved Mitchell and Lucas, too. But she also loved her brother.

  She turned to the floor-to-ceiling glass wall and gazed at two of the three men she wished she could spend the rest of her life with. Mitchell and Lucas sat together, scanning every person who walked by, clearly making sure none posed a threat. They were on high alert for her. Silly, since no one was gunning for her now. Andy McCrae was dead. The only threat now was to her heart.

  “The Braxton team is on their way now, Phoebe.”

  She took in a deep breath, hoping to clear her thoughts. She had a job to do. Jennifer Steele was not only her friend, but also her client in this case. Whatever was happening in Phoebe’s personal life must be put aside for the next few hours.

  Three men appeared on the other side of the glass. Mitchell and Lucas stood up and said something to them.

  She waved at her self-appointed bodyguards to let the men pass. The Wolfe brothers didn’t budge. Clearly, Mitchell and Lucas weren’t going to let the men into the room until they were satisfied the trio from Braxton was harmless. She saw one of the men reach into his jacket and pull out an identification card.

  For a brief moment, she smiled. But it vanished just as quickly when she thought about how hard it was going to be to say good-bye again. Mitchell and Lucas hadn’t told her that they were willing to be with her without Jason, should that become necessary, but she sensed they would.

  Not possible. I love them all. I won’t separate them.

  Being with Mitchell and Lucas now, in Chicago, was crushing her. There was a void, an absence that kept pounding at the back of her mind. Jason. Trying to build a life with one or two of the brothers would only end in heartbreak. Each was unique and wonderful, but all three were connected and reminded her of the others.

  Finally, Mitchell and Lucas seemed satisfied, allowing the trio of Braxton men to come into the conference room.

  “Hello, Ms. Blue.” The tallest of the three, and clearly the leader, held out his hand.

  She took it. “You must be Mr. Jenkins.”

  “Yes, I am. Nice to finally put a face to a name.”

  “It is. This is my assistant, Ashley Vaughn.”

  “These are my associates, Nicholas Walker and Sylas Hayes.”

  Someone was missing. She’d come to talk to the company’s vet, not these people. “And where is Harrison Rutledge? He’s the one I’m deposing.”

  Jenkins’s face tightened. “Mr. Rutledge will not be coming today, counselor.”

  She’d come all the way to Chicago to talk to the man. What were they trying to pull? “Then why am I here, sir?”

  “Please sit, Ms. Blue. There’s been a change you need to hear.”

  “Five minutes, Mr. Jenkins. Please don’t waste any more of my time.”

  “I won’t.”

  They all took their seats.

  “Braxton is withdrawing their case against your client,” Jenkins began. “Harrison Rutledge is no longer with the company. Mr. Walker and Mr. Hayes discovered several discrepancies in the records on file.”

  Phoebe had, too, but was saving that information if the case made it to trial.

  Jenkins turned to the two younger men. “Give me the file, please.”

  Both his associates were quite handsome and were having quite an impact on Ashley, who couldn’t seem to keep her eyes off of them.

  Mr. Jenkins pushed a file in front of her, its contents the official withdrawal of the case. “This whole thing was a mix-up.”

  “More than that, I’m certain. My client will be relieved to hear Braxton is dropping the case. I know Mrs. Steele well. She will not take Braxton back to court to seek compensation for any kind of damages, I can assure you. Off the record, what else did you find?”

  Jenkins studied her for a moment before turning to the other men. “Tell her what you uncovered.”

  “We found that Mr. Harrison Rutledge was a total fraud,” Walker said. “He came to Braxton a year ago with a resume containing credentials a mile long, all of them false.”

  “Didn’t your HR department verify the information on his resume?” She couldn’t wait to let Jennifer know they’d won, but even more she wanted to get back to Destiny and back to trying to find Sh
ane.

  “They did,” Hayes said. “That’s what’s so strange about this. When we got to digging after we suspected Rutledge had falsified the records, we rechecked everything, hoping to find something that would lead us to a connection to why he would do such a thing. Every place we contacted—his university, prior employees, prior residences, even his credit history—was blank. It was as if he never existed.”

  “I don’t understand. How would he benefit if Braxton won a case against Steele?” Ashley asked.

  Jenkins answered, “He wouldn’t have. That’s what is so very strange. He wouldn’t have gotten one red cent. There’s got to be more to this than we know at this point.”

  Walker shook his head. “Rutledge has vanished into thin air, but we do have the police trying to locate him and our own personal detectives.”

  Phoebe wondered what the guy’s motive had been. “Will you keep me informed if you find out anything?”

  “Certainly, Ms. Blue.” Jenkins leaned forward in his chair. “I just want you to know that Braxton is a very reputable company and we intend to pay all of your expenses, plus pay for all the hours that you put into this case.”

  “That’s very kind of you, Mr. Jenkins. After my investigation, I knew your company was very prestigious. I also have known Mrs. Steele for many years and knew how credible she is. That’s why none of this case made any sense to me.”

  “I’m glad we could clear this all up before going to trial.”

  “You know we would have won.” Phoebe grinned and stood, offering her hand.

  “I know your reputation, too.” He shook her hand. “Like I said, I’m very glad we didn’t have to face you in court. It would’ve been quite the battle.”

  Walker and Hayes rose, each shaking her hand. They turned their attention back to Ashley. They held Ashley’s hand a little longer than was proper etiquette. Phoebe could see that there was definitely chemistry between Ashley and the two men.

  After Jenkins and his two associates left, Lucas and Mitchell entered the conference room.

  “Ready to head back to Destiny?” Mitchell asked.

  Ashley smiled. “Not before shopping and some dinner. Our flight doesn’t leave until ten tonight. Sitting at O’Hare for hours isn’t my idea of a good time. Besides, Phoebe and I have a tradition of visiting the Magnificent Mile whenever we are in Chicago. I think she could use the distraction, don’t you two?”

  “I’m not sure I’m up for shopping, Ash.” Actually, she knew she wasn’t. She hated that their flight was so late in the day. “I could certainly use something to eat.”

  Hayes stepped back into the conference room. “Excuse me. Might I borrow Ms. Vaughn for a moment?”

  Phoebe smiled, seeing the light in the man’s blue eyes. “Certainly.”

  Ash’s cheeks brightened to a lovely shade of pink. She followed him out into the lobby.

  Mitchell grinned. “Looks like there might be a love connection happening.”

  Suddenly, Walker returned, nearly shoving Hayes to the side, jealousy written all over his face.

  “Oh boy,” Lucas said. “We might have trouble brewing instead.”

  She and the Wolfes had grown up in Destiny, a place where poly families were the norm. It was hard for them to understand why love didn’t work that way for everyone.

  She sighed. What am I thinking? Nothing about love is working for me. It’s a complete fucked-up mess.

  Ashley walked back into the conference room. “They want to take me to dinner at that French restaurant just across the street, Phoebe.”

  Mitchell’s eyebrows shot up. “Both of them? Together?”

  “Not at first,” Ash admitted. “I told them that I would only go if I didn’t have to choose between them.”

  “Good for you.” Phoebe remembered Ash telling her about the struggle she’d had with three men back in her hometown in Nevada. “Go. Have fun.”

  “But, boss, they’re not from Destiny.”

  “It’s only a date. Relax.” She put her arm around Ash. “Go to dinner with them. That’s an order.”

  “Aye-aye, sir.” Ash laughed. She left with the Braxton men.

  “You said you could eat,” Mitchell said. “Me, too. What are you hungry for?”

  Before she could answer, a text came in on her cell.

  * * * *

  The morning sun was hidden behind dark clouds. A storm was coming.

  The South Side Chicago neighborhood looked like a war zone. The glory days of the two-story houses lining Blackwell Avenue had clearly gone by long ago. Most windows and doors were boarded up. Piles of litter could be seen in every direction.

  Jason and Corey remained in the car with Neil Smith, the CIA agent Brown had sent them to. They were all taking stock of the impoverished place.

  Three men leaned against a tree that was in dire need of trimming. Several teenage boys on skateboards went up and down the street.

  “Something is off about this,” Corey said.

  He nodded, feeling the same. “Doesn’t look like that place has any occupants at all to me.” Glancing down at his ROC one more time, he verified the address. The white house in the middle of the block was the one Brown had told them was Mitrofanov’s headquarters of operation.

  “I agree.” Smith seemed like a typical CIA spook, secretive and dedicated. “This is too far from the action the Russian is into. Mitrofanov’s son, Sergei, ran drugs through an orphanage ten miles from here, but that was shut down a while back after your people took him out in Destiny.”

  The Stone brothers had rescued Amber from Sergei Mitrofanov. That had started the ball rolling. Niklaus wanted revenge against the entire town for the loss of his son.

  Corey opened the car door. “Let’s get to it.”

  Jason admired Corey’s determination. Shane was in trouble, mixed up with Niklaus Mitrofanov somehow and likely the killer of McCrae. They needed to find Shane and soon.

  They walked up to the door, each holding their weapons.

  The kids in the street stopped skating and the men by the tree stopped passing the bottle.

  They seemed to know something was about to go down.

  Maybe they were wrong about the house being abandoned.

  * * * *

  Phoebe looked at the text on her cell and felt her heart jump up into her throat. It was from Shane.

  Sis, I need you. I heard you were in Chicago. So am I. I’m sorry for all the pain I’ve put you through. Please come and get me. I’m at 11368 South Mainstee Road.

  Love,

  Shane

  “What’s wrong, baby?” Mitchell asked.

  She handed him her phone. “We’ve got to go. Now.”

  Mitchell read the text. “She got a message from Shane.” He handed the phone to Lucas.

  Her pulse raced. “I’ve got to help my brother.”

  Lucas put his arm around her. “Try to call him, baby.”

  Mitchell nodded. “Great idea, bro.”

  “Yes, it is.” She took the phone from Lucas and clicked on Shane’s number. “It went straight to voice mail. That’s not unusual for him. He always forgets to charge his phone.”

  “Phoebe, call Corey and let him know about the text,” Mitchell said.

  “No. He’s working with Jason” She stood, feeling every beat of her heart in her temples. “I want to wait until we hear Shane’s side of the story.”

  Lucas nodded. “Let’s get a cab and go get him.”

  As they rushed out of the conference room together, she felt anxious and said a silent prayer.

  Let Shane be innocent.

  * * * *

  Jason shoved the door to the house on Blackwell Avenue open.

  He, Corey, and Agent Smith rushed in fully armed.

  What they found crushed his hope for Shane. The place looked abandoned.

  “This is a fucking dead end.” Corey’s face filled with worry for his brother.

  “The cameras in every corner tell me that this was the pro
perty of someone pretty paranoid,” Smith said.

  Jason agreed. “Probably Mitrofanov. His home in Destiny had a ton of surveillance equipment.”

  “I read the report on that.” Smith handed him and Corey rubber gloves. “It blew up with one of the Agency’s best inside, didn’t it?”

  “Agent Black.” Jason remembered the explosion. “He was a good man.”

  “Fuck. This doesn’t help me one damn bit. I need to find my brother.” Corey holstered his gun and pulled out his ROC. “I’m contacting Brown.”

  “Hold on.” Jason pointed to the only thing in the space—a metal folding chair near the back wall. “There’s something in the seat.”

  “A bomb?” Smith kept his gun in his hand.

  Jason took a step closer. “Looks like a laptop. There’s an ashtray on the floor, too.” It was filled with cigarette butts. He bent down. “They all have red lipstick on them.”

  “Who the hell is the woman?” Corey stepped forward, likely to get a closer look.

  “Mitrofanov doesn’t have a woman working for him,” Smith informed. “This is very strange.”

  Jason opened the laptop and what he saw shocked him to his very core.

  An image of Shane appeared on the screen. He was sitting in a chair, his hands behind his back and a gun to his head.

  The man holding the gun was none other than Niklaus Mitrofanov.

  “Motherfucker.” Corey was clearly unable to contain his rage.

  Under the photo was an arrow with the word More.

  Jason clicked on it and a text message filled the screen.

  Gentlemen,

  As you can see, I have Shane Blue in my custody. I understand you care for him deeply. Having lost my son and nephews to tragic endings, I know how you must feel seeing him in such dire straits. Unlike what I received from you and your little town, I offer you a chance to change his circumstances.

  I want to negotiate with you, Sheriff Wolfe. I’m sure we can come to an agreement that will benefit us both.

  I calculate your driving time to be at an hour to get to my location. Be here in fifty or poor Shane will not be among us anymore.