Craving Justice (Sons of Sydney Book 1)

by Fiona Archer

  “You and Stanton Fox.” Adam said as a surge of unease crawled over Seth’s body. “He’s under investigation by the DHS and a couple of other entities. Whatever shit Fox’s into is deep, ugly and explains why the prick’s private business dealings are so secretive.”

  “Bloody hell,” Heath cursed.

  “And the shit just keeps getting deeper.” Dillon looked to the heavens.

  A buzzing at the door signified their guest’s arrival.

  What the fuck had Seth got his family into? The sale and the payoff from Brooke-Porter Digital was his moment to prove himself, to show everyone their faith in him was justified.

  And now the Feds were at his door?

  Adam stared at them all in turn, finishing with Seth. “Don’t volunteer information. Answer only if you have to.”

  As Seth walked down the hallway toward the entry door, each step felt like a chasm widening between him and his family with the soil crumbling away down a steep cliff until he couldn’t cross back.

  He opened the door to a man who was tall and built, with military-short, brown hair, salted with grey at the temples. But his carved features appeared mid-thirties at best. Cool, assessing hazel eyes stared back at him.

  “Mr. Justice?”

  The politeness only added to the alarm ringing in Seth’s head.

  “Yeah. I’m Seth. And you’re?”

  “Special Agent Tollison.” The man showed his DHS ID. He gazed down the hallway. “Adam here?”

  “Correct.” Seth moved aside and motioned toward the living area.

  Tollison walked past. Seth followed and then stood as his guest and Adam studied each other across the living area.

  “This everyone?” asked the agent.

  Seth frowned, but Adam kept his gaze on Tollison. “Our brother Zach’s with his kid elsewhere. For now, this is everyone you need to speak to.”

  Tollison turned to face Seth. “You’re in negotiations to sell your company to Brooke-Porter Digital?”

  Seth couldn’t hide the bite of frustration in his tone. “You know that already or you wouldn’t be here.”

  Call him crazy, but Seth would swear he saw a flash of respect in the agent’s eyes.

  “You’re pissed. Understandable.” Tollison pinned him with an assessing stare. “If I’d had the week you’ve endured, I’d feel the same.” The agent’s words went some way to dampening Seth’s frustration. “The moment you signed the statement stating you’d entered negotiations with Brooke-Porter Digital to sell Shazad, you came onto my radar. The second the posts concerning Adam hit the web, you moved from general study to dedicated attention. More because of their timing. And now there has been an attack on Dillon and a small matter of a suspicious bank deposit concerning Detective Justice.”

  Adam spoke before Seth could comment. “Dane, Seth’s only heard of these latest hits seconds ago.”

  “How about you tell us exactly what it is you want from our brother?” Heath rested his hands on his hip, conveniently drawing attention to the badge clipped to his belt.

  The faintest hint of a smile moved Tollison’s mouth, if only for a second. “You’re sticking up for your brother. I would too in your shoes. I’m not Seth’s enemy, Detective Justice. I need everyone to get that clear so we don’t waste time.”

  The guy’s manner was direct. In a way, he fit right in.

  “Ask your questions, Tollison.” Seth needed to keep things cool. Nothing, certainly not whatever he could salvage from this latest catastrophe, would be helped by Heath and Tollison butting heads.

  The agent had given Adam a heads up, and for that, Seth would play smart.

  Tollison’s gaze switched to Adam who moved to sit on one of the four bar stools. Seeing their brother sit was like a switch flipped from red alert to orange. Heath’s posture became more at ease, but he continued to stand. Dillon settled on the edge of the sectional lounge. Seth was too wired to sit, but he would allow things to unfold as Tollison wished—for now.

  The agent leaned back against the counter. “Adam and I go way back from when I worked for the same people he does now. That’s why I’m here and talking to you off the record.” He traded a measured look with Seth. “The posts regarding Adam weren’t made by an amateur. They shared confidential details nobody wants in the public realm. It’s safe to say enemies from Adam’s past will make the most of that opportunity.”

  Nothing Seth hadn’t guessed, but having the agent repeat the notion Adam was vulnerable to hostile physical retribution fired a jolt of fear through Seth. His big brother, the one who had saved his arse many times back in Sydney, was now a target.

  Tollison surveyed the room. “But that’s not my main motivation in speaking with you. I’m investigating Stanton Fox, including his commercial dealings. The man has…friends who, with him, facilitate money laundering, insider trading and a myriad of other activities that may or may not include murder.”

  The room fell silent. Whatever shit Fox’s into is deep, ugly. Adam wasn’t wrong. And Seth had invited this mess into his life, and that of his family.

  Family. His body tensed. Did Harper know any of this? Of course not. This was a woman who got excited about colored pens at an office supplies store. The tightness in his muscles released. She didn’t have the guile to pull off that kind of bullshit and still seem so genuine.

  Jesus, the little coffee girl would be crushed. She might not like her dad, but he was still her father.

  Tollison wasn’t done yet. “Fox is aware of our interest, and has taken steps to make scrutiny as difficult as possible, but my team and I like a challenge.”

  Seth could see it in the steel of Tollison’s gaze. The guy didn’t scare easy. That could prove either good or bad for Seth. “And you think somehow I’m involved?”

  “Hours after you signed a document on the sale of Shazad to Fox, a series of unfortunate events unfolded, all designed to inflict damage on your family. I’m curious as to the timing.”

  Adam crossed his arms over his chest. “As I said to you earlier, we’re already examining that angle.”

  Tollison slid a glance to Adam. “I’ve no doubt.” Then back to Seth.

  “We have no proof the timing is tied into anything…or anyone connected to Brooke-Porter Digital. All we know is that Heath, Dillon, Adam, and I have been targeted.” Seth kept to the facts.

  “But not Zach?” asked the Agent.

  “Not yet.” And God, Seth hoped he wasn’t, especially with Milly involved.

  “What contact did you have with Stanton Fox before he approached you regarding selling Shazad?”

  “I was introduced to him once at a tech convention a year ago, but apart from that, I’d only seen him address crowds at business functions and read about him in the press.” The guy was a billionaire. It was impossible not to know of him.

  “So you had no prior contact, including no third party contact on his behalf?”

  “No.”

  “Including consultants offering to broker a deal? No political figures, business mentors from outside counselled you about selling Shazad to Brooke-Porter Digital before Stanton Fox contacted you?”

  “No.” Seth unfolded his crossed arms. “The first time I had any meaningful conversation with Stanton Fox was after one of his managers contacted Dillon regarding their interest in our company and arranged an appointment for us to meet with him.”

  “But now you’re more intimately involved.”

  Seth stilled. “Because I’m in talks regarding the sale of my company?”

  “Because you’re fucking his daughter.”

  Finally.

  Seth slowly shook his head. “Man, you’ve been waiting since I opened the door to say that, haven’t you?”

  “Does that make the point any less relevant?”

  Smug bastard. But he wasn’t wrong. “I’m dating Harper Fox. That has nothing to do with what’s happened apart from someone using her as a way to strike against me.” If only one of the men in this room kn
ew her like he did, saw the vulnerability under the smart one-liners, the way her face lit up when she talked about something passionate to her, they’d see the reason why she fascinated him.

  The agent lifted a brow. “Sure of that?”

  “What have you got that says differently?” Seth took a step closer. Bugger this. Enough of this arsehole throwing out innuendo with nothing to back it up. “You’ve got nothing to arrest me for. I’ve committed no crime. Even my deal with Brooke-Porter is not directly tied to Stanton Fox. He’s the CEO, but not the sole owner of the company. So either fire your big guns or leave me and my brothers to our day.”

  The agent’s face broke into a smile.

  What the hell?

  “You’re right.” Tollison turned toward Adam at the end of the counter. “He doesn’t scare easy.”

  “It’s a family trait.” Adam stood.

  Dillion stood as well and leaned forward, chin out. “Nothing we’ve done in these negotiations has been illegal or improper. Our legal team will be all over your ass if you harass Seth or anyone connected to Shazad.”

  The room stayed quiet as the agent turned to stare out the window before finally giving his attention to Dillon. “You’re right, but I wanted to see how Seth would react.”

  Dillon glared at the agent, jaw clenched.

  Adam remained silent, his expression impassive. Seth understood. Tollison’s actions made sense. Let the combatants know you were a big enough bastard that threats like Dillon’s washed off like yesterday’s dust.

  Tollison straightened from the counter and faced Seth. “I have no right to ask this of you Seth, but I’m going to anyway—not the least because Adam’s in danger, but also Harper could be, too. You’re in a position to advise me of anything you see or hear from Fox or his daughter that could help my investigation.” He looked over his shoulder to Adam, and back to Seth. “Some small detail may seem nothing more than general information to you, but could end up being the breakthrough we’ve been waiting for.”

  Seth went still. “You want me to be an informer of some kind?”

  “I’m not talking about wearing a wire. More if you hear something useful, we’d appreciate you passing that along.” He studied Seth. “I realize your business interests count here, Seth, and whatever you have planned with Brooke-Porter Digital is separate from Fox. But the fact is, he’s a criminal. And he could be behind your troubles. Assisting my team could help you in the end. Just think it over, that’s all I ask.” He nodded to Adam and walked down the hallway.

  Seconds later, the sound of the entry door’s click signaled he’d left.

  Adam sat back on the stool. “Dane’s not a bastard. He needed to get a read on you, Seth. Yes, he wants to use you to get possible information, but let’s not forget he’s taken a risk sharing even the broad strokes of his case with us—all of which is to our advantage. Information equals power. Dane took the biggest risk with this meeting. That was because of his and my friendship.”

  “I’d heard rumors about Fox, but nothing like what Tollison shared.” Heath moved to the counter and glanced at Seth. “I wish you’d spoken to us first before signing that fucking statement with Fox.”

  Seth couldn’t believe his ears. “You just said you didn’t know about Fox’s alleged crimes, so what the hell would you have said?”

  A muscle ticked in Heath’s jaw. “I didn’t know about all of them, more rumors, but enough to at least sound a warning. And while Fox’s crimes are alleged, you can bet the DHS didn’t send Tollison on a wild goose chase to occupy his time.”

  “Fox is guilty, Seth.” Adam’s deadpan voice cut through the group. “I found transactions he’d carried out, but often they were only shadows, the vapor of banking deposits that were through multiple shell companies, one after the other. Same with companies he’d buy and shed like dirty underwear. There’s also his meetings where he takes two cars and has his driver circle the block in neighborhoods someone of Fox’s wealth would never normally frequent.”

  “Jesus.” Dillon tipped his head back and looked toward the ceiling.

  “Innocent people leave trails. They don’t have business dealings that dematerialize into nothing. They don’t purposely aim to evade any possible tail. He’s got connections that stretch wide. And here’s the thing: I got the impression he’s not at the top of the food chain. That tells me that whoever he’s in with, it’s fucking big.”

  “We can’t take on an organization like that.” Seth focused on Adam and saw the way his brother’s back straightened. “You can’t take that on.”

  Adam shrugged. “I don’t have to. Dane and whoever else, and let’s be clear, there’s no way he’s the only government agency looking into something this big, will do their thing.”

  Seth rested a fist on his hip and used his other hand to grip the back of his neck. Talk about complicated. What about…“Fox’s family—”

  “You don’t say a fucking thing.” One moment Adam was sitting on the stool, the next he was right in front of Seth. “Not one word.”

  Seth didn’t back down. “I wasn’t planning to.” Jesus, give him some credit.

  “If you do, not only will you risk the work Tollison’s done, but you could put Harper in danger,” Heath warned as if Seth hadn’t spoken.

  “Like I said, it wasn’t on my agenda.” Seth glared at Heath before facing Adam. “You think her dad would hurt her if she confronted him?”

  Adam shrugged. “No idea, but I’m sure whoever he’s tied up with wouldn’t blink at threatening Fox’s family—if they haven’t already—as a way of keeping him and others like him in line.”

  Dillon pulled out his phone from his back pocket and ran his thumb over his screen. “Going by what Tollison and Adam have shared, nothing would be past consideration. And we need to think about our position. Even with Fox’s lower offer, it’s still above any figure submitted by other interested parties. And Seth, what you said to Tollison is true. Fox is the CEO, but regardless of who fills that role, we signed a Letter of Intent to begin negotiations with Brooke-Porter.”

  And according to that document, they had three weeks to go before the deal was final. “We continue on as normal.” Seth glanced at Dillon first then the others. “I’m flying out to Las Vegas tonight. Tomorrow, I’m the keynote speaker at a tech convention.” His team had spent weeks organizing everything. “Plus, I’ve got meetings lined up. I’m not due back until late Sunday.”

  Roughly forty-eight hours away from Seattle. And Harper. During all this mess.

  “Go.” Heath shoved his hands in the back pockets of his jeans. “Do what you’d normally do. Adam and I will continue our analysis of the posts. Dillon’s here. He’ll help with anything we need, and you’re a phone call away.”

  Adam switched his gaze between Dillon and Seth. “But be mindful. Fox knows he’s being investigated. But he’s still taking meetings and doing whatever shit is part of his deal, although it seems less regularly than before. He’s going to notice if you suddenly avoid him or act spooked when you’re in contact. Who knows where Tollison’s work will take him or how long until it’s finalized. Could be months, a year.”

  Christ he hadn’t thought of that. And he couldn’t say a thing to Harper.

  He had to keep her safe. Speaking of which…

  “Did you get the cameras fitted at Harper’s place?” he asked Adam.

  “Yeah, at around two this morning. Nice and quiet. No disruptions. The front door was a cinch to manipulate with a hacking card on the reader. But cameras are locked and loaded with sound for the foyer, stairs, and all entry doors, front and back and the alley,” Adam stated. “The feeds go back to my laptop with a back-up to Heath’s and our phones.”

  “Good.” At least he could fly to Las Vegas knowing Harper had some cover. “I’ll have to talk to her about overall security and upgrading the door.”

  “And the fact she now has cameras on the property.” Heath’s eyes crinkled at the edges. “That should be interes
ting since the last time I saw her she threatened to serve Seth arsenic on toast.” He chuckled, either having eased up on his frustration from earlier or amused at the prospect of Seth’s imminent demise. With the tension between him and his brothers this week, it could go either way.

  Dillon raised a brow. “When did this happen? I thought your bedside manner normally had women purring, not spitting.”

  “Last Thursday afternoon at Seven Dishes.” Seth grinned at the memory. “And yes, that conversation about cameras will be interesting, but I’m up to the task.” He should wait until he had the little spitfire otherwise occupied, like say, tied to the bed.

  Adam grunted as he moved to the doorway, signifying their meeting had come to an end. “I did another check of the wifi around your apartment. Couldn’t access yours. So everything’s still tight. Your neighbor, the weird little guy with thinning hair?” He shook his head at Seth. “Jesus, his browser history read like pornucopia.”

  Seth hardly knew his neighbor, but he’d basically used this apartment as a place to sleep since he’d moved in a year ago.

  “I’ll hold off asking him for that cup of sugar when I’m next baking.”

  Adam rolled his eyes and walked to the entry. Heath followed with Dillon.

  “I’ll see you in the office.” Dillon nodded as he followed Adam out the door, but Heath lingered, his hand on the door handle as he faced Seth.

  “Look, about before, with Fox. I didn’t mean you fucked up by not telling us.”

  Seth stared back. That was exactly what Heath meant.

  His brother sighed. “Okay, yeah, that came out wrong, too, but I’m trying to say I spoke out of turn. You’re good at what you do. This time, forces beyond your control were at work. I let a moment of frustration get the better of me. I’m sorry.”

  Seth breathed out slowly, feeling tension ease from his body like a deflating balloon—stretched to bursting point one minute and emptied the next.

  “We’re all caught up in this together. Some in more ways than others.” Seth slapped his brother on the back. “We’re going to laugh about this over a beer one day.”

  Heath didn’t smile back, but studied Seth. “You’re worried about Harper. How she’s going to cope with everything and how you’re going to keep secrets from her.”