The Truest Thing: Hart's Boardwalk #4

by Samantha Young

  Jess shook herself out of whatever thoughts she was having as she gaped at me. “Anyway … Before Jack could tell Coop about Dana, this all happened with Rebecca. Cooper was on Jack’s case all the time about it, so Jack decided he needed to push Cooper away.”

  “Oh my God!” Bailey gasped loudly. “He set it up. He deliberately set it up so Cooper would walk in on him with Dana. Oh my God!”

  “Yes, exactly.”

  “That is fucked up.” Ivy shook her head, eyes wide with shock, even as she reached for another canapé.

  “He thought he was protecting Cooper,” I defended him.

  Bailey’s jaw dropped. “Okay, Jess, hurry up with your story because I am beginning to suspect that Emery Saunders is in love with Jack Devlin and I can barely contain myself.”

  I opened my mouth to deny the claim but Jess continued. “Well, Bails, you might not like the next part.”

  “Why?”

  “Jack did warn me about Cooper’s liquor license. He also did beat the shit out of Stu for hitting you.”

  Bailey’s expression softened. “I knew it.”

  “But …” Jess exhaled slowly. “He also slept with Vanessa to keep tabs on her. She was going to sell her shares to Devlin. Jack sweet-talked her into accepting Tremaine’s offer instead.”

  Bailey’s flushed cheeks paled. “What?”

  “I’m sorry.” Jess gave her a sympathetic look. “I thought you should know … you should know that Vanessa can’t be trusted.”

  Everyone was silent for a moment as Bailey glared at her lap.

  My heart hurt for her.

  When Vanessa approached Ian Devlin with the proposal that he buy her shares in Hart’s Inn, we all thought, by the fact that she ended up selling to Tremaine instead, that it had been her master plan all along to get Tremaine to step up for her sister. That she would never jeopardize Bailey’s inn by actually selling to Devlin.

  My heart also ached for Jack. I’d been so angry at him about Vanessa. I still was. But knowing he’d used her to protect Bailey shed new light over the situation.

  “Right. Well.” Bailey shrugged sadly. “I guess that shouldn’t surprise me … so … what happened between Jack and Cooper?”

  “Bailey—”

  Bailey cut Dahlia off. “I want to digest this news later, if that’s okay.”

  “Of course.”

  Jessica cleared her throat. “Right, well … Cooper.” She smiled softly. “Cooper told Jack that if he ever needed to talk, he should stop by the bar.”

  That was wonderful news! “Really?”

  Jessica smiled at me. “Cooper is a little confused by it all, but I talked it through with him … he’s forgiven Jack and I think he wants to see if their friendship can be salvaged. He missed Jack. He grieved him. I think they both grieved each other. They have a bond, a connection. They might never get back the easiness of before, but I think Cooper would like to try. He doesn’t want what happened with Dana to have power over his life. And as screwed up as Jack’s thinking was, I think Cooper’s trying to understand.”

  “That’s wonderful,” I said. I was so happy for Jack.

  “It is,” Bailey agreed, her expression sharpening. “So, Miss Saunders … why don’t you tell us about you and Jack and why all the longing looks I’ve witnessed over the last few years suddenly seem to be part of a deeper story?”

  I glanced around at my friends’ inquisitive faces. Ivy looked curious. Dahlia was frowning. Jess appeared concerned. And Bailey looked ready to pounce out of her seat with excitement.

  This was my own damn fault.

  No matter what my heart told me, I couldn’t seem to stop caring about Jack or wanting to protect him. What was wrong with me?

  I exhaled slowly. “Well … I think it began the moment Jack and I met …”

  19

  Jack

  “Jack, this is Agent Chen and Agent Underwood.” Sullivan introduced Jack as he stepped into his office.

  He’d called Jack to let him know that Ian’s racketeering charges were federal crimes, which meant the feds were taking over the case from Michael and they wanted to interview Jack.

  Agent Chen stepped forward. “Let’s take this to an interview room.”

  The guy’s demeanor was worryingly expressionless.

  Jack threw Sullivan look.

  The detective gave him a nod of reassurance.

  Minutes later, Jack sat across from the two agents, his reflection glowering at him from the two-way mirror behind the feds. They went through the formalities of starting the formal recording.

  Agent Underwood, a pretty, older woman with umber skin, leaned forward. “Mr. Devlin, we understand that you were promised immunity for your cooperation. Let me reassure you that the promise of immunity in exchange for your witness testimony still stands with the Bureau.”

  He relaxed ever so slightly. “Good to know.”

  From there he spent the next hour going over everything he’d already told Michael Sullivan. The experience wasn’t any less draining. When they released him, Jack wanted nothing more than to go to Cooper’s Bar and throw back a scotch. But he wasn’t sure if Cooper’s offer stood so soon after his confession.

  The sound of Jack’s name halted him just as he was about to open the door to leave. Turning, he watched Sullivan hurry down the steps.

  “You okay?” he asked gruffly.

  Jack nodded.

  “Just a heads-up.” Sullivan leaned in, lowering his voice. “The feds are working to freeze your father’s and brother’s assets, but for now, they posted bail.”

  Jack tensed. “What the fuck? I thought that bail would be set at an impossible amount.”

  Sullivan grimaced. “The bail judge was Judge Kent.”

  Anger coursed through him at the news. “I gave you evidence that Kent has been taking bribes from Ian for years. Why the hell would he be allowed to set bail?”

  “Because the feds can’t move on that evidence just yet. I’m sorry.”

  “How long until their assets are frozen?”

  “It should happen today. It might already have happened. Once it does, they can say goodbye to their fancy defense attorney.”

  “Even so … they’re still out until this goes to trial.” Jack bit back a curse. “How do I protect my mother now?”

  Rosalie had refused to move out of the mansion and into Jack’s place in South Hartwell, terrified of Ian. Jack had hope that once his father was behind bars, he’d be able to convince his mom to take that step.

  “Look, I’m not supposed to do this, but if your mom wants to leave that house, I can accompany you to get her. In an unofficial capacity. As a friend.”

  Jack appreciated the offer but he couldn’t put Sullivan in that position. “Thanks, but I … I’ll figure it out.”

  “Be careful, Jack,” Sullivan warned. “Ian knows the evidence is stacked against him and he seems like the kind of ruthless bastard that won’t take this lying down. He comes at you, I want you to call me immediately. Don’t deal with it yourself. Call me. I’ll come and slap some cuffs on him with pleasure.”

  Jack nodded goodbye, his heart racing a little faster as he marched to his car.

  “Fuck,” he bit out in frustration when he reached it. And then something occurred to him. “Rebecca.”

  Jack broke the speed limit driving to his house in North Hartwell where he and Rebecca were staying. They’d already moved there, hoping Rosalie and Jamie would move into the South Hartwell home.

  Practically flying out of the car, Jack took the porch steps three at a time and launched himself into the house. “Becs!” he yelled as he hurried through the lounge and into the kitchen. It was empty.

  “Becs!”

  No reply.

  Shit.

  Jack strode through the kitchen, planning to look upstairs, when a piece of paper pinned to the fridge caught his eye. He removed the tourist magnet holding it.

  Gone for a walk along the beach. I have my cell if y
ou need me.

  Becs xx

  Jack reached into his suit pocket for his phone. He wanted her back here where he could keep an eye on her.

  “Relax. There’s nothing we can do to little sister now that hasn’t already been done.”

  Rage, frustration, disappointment, all of it moved through him at the sound of his brother Kerr’s voice.

  Jack turned to face him.

  Kerr leaned against the doorway to the kitchen, a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes on his face. His fury was palpable.

  Jack didn’t care. Kerr was the eldest, the one who should have protected them from their father. But he was too like the old man. Selfish to the core. Probably why he’d never married. Thank God for that. Jack almost flinched at the sight of him. Of all of them, Kerr was almost the spitting image of Stu. And the memory of Stu filled Jack with guilt, regret, and confusion.

  “No, despite her fucking everything up, I feel like little Rebecca has been through enough. And to be fair, she will probably see some jail time for this, and anything that happens to her in prison will be worse than what we could ever do to her.” Kerr chuckled, pushing off the jamb. “Dad agreed.”

  Jack stared blankly at his brother, knowing his ability to not react pissed him off. “So? I’m supposed to be scared that you’ve come for me? The star witness in your case. Are you that fucking dumb?”

  “You know you’ve royally screwed us, right?” Kerr glared. “We got the call that they froze everything. Mick Rooney, that fucking slimy bastard, is leaving us to swing in the wind.”

  Mick Rooney was their high-powered defense attorney. Jack smirked. “If you don’t have the money to pay him, that’s kind of the deal.”

  “You smug cocksucker.” Malice flashed in Kerr’s eyes. “That means we have nothing left to lose. We’re going away for this. Probably for a long time … so we might as well take you down before we go.”

  “I’m not afraid of you, Kerr.”

  “No, I know that. Why do you think Dad hates you so much? He can’t stand that you’re not afraid of him, that you don’t respect him. I think you’ve finally pushed him over the edge, though, little bro. And since he knows you’re not afraid of anything that might happen to you … we decided to hit you where it’ll actually fucking hurt.”

  Fear flooded him. “Mom? Jamie?”

  Kerr grimaced. “Why would Dad hurt Mom or Jamie? He still loves them.”

  “He’s got a funny way of showing it.” Jack’s mind raced as he tried to figure out who Ian would go after. If he went after Cooper, Coop could take care of himself … but that wasn’t the point.

  “Look at you, scrambling to figure it out.” Kerr snorted. “Let me help you. You thought your feelings for her were a secret, but Dad’s PI caught you with her a few times over the years … and anybody with fucking eyes can see you mooning at her any chance you get. You big pussy.”

  Jack’s stomach roiled. No. They couldn’t possibly know about her.

  “Tall, legs forever, ass a man would pay a lot of money to ride. Blond hair. Owns a bookstore … ringing any bells?”

  He gave his brother no warning.

  Jack jumped and used the force of the lunge to bring his fist down across Kerr’s face. Blood sprayed out of his brother’s nose, his head juddering on his neck.

  Kerr fell to the ground with a sickening thud.

  Knocked out.

  Reaching for his cell, hands trembling, Jack dialed Cooper. He was nearer to Emery. It rang four times before his old buddy’s voice filled his ears. “Hello?”

  “Cooper, it’s Jack.” He huffed breathlessly as he ran out of the house to his car. “You need to get to Emery now. You’re closer than I am. Ian’s going after her to get back at me.”

  “Fuck!” Cooper growled. “On my way.” He hung up.

  Jack sped out of his driveway, fear unlike anything he’d ever felt before threatening to cripple him.

  20

  Emery

  After lunch, when the girls returned to work and Ivy followed Dahlia to her store (she’d started helping at the store when Dahlia was in her workshop), I closed the shop early. It wasn’t something I typically did, but my mind was reeling after telling my friends the truth about my relationship with Jack. I’d even told them about last summer.

  I could tell Bailey was dying to ask me a million questions, but she’d learned enough about me to know that an interrogation would only cause me to clam up. I told them what I was ready to share, and that was a surprising amount. Bailey, however, hinted at her curiosity about my experience with men.

  I think she was trying to ask if I was a virgin.

  I avoided those hinted questions because it would mean telling them about Tripp, and I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to talk about him.

  While Bailey seemed ecstatic about the idea of “Jack finding his redemption with Emery,” like we were living in a romance novel or something, my other friends were less enthused. Jess and Dahlia were both concerned about my connection to Jack and urged me to continue to be cautious with him. Even Ivy, who wasn’t as close to me, seemed a little perturbed and agreed. Bailey was annoyed with them all, especially when I promised them I was done with Jack Devlin for good.

  I said the words—and I wanted to mean them—but they still hurt. It still ached deep inside me to think of never kissing Jack again. Even if it was best for me. I needed to remind myself continually how much it hurt to see him with those other women.

  And I worried about him. I worried about his family’s tragic tale being splashed across newspapers, becoming fodder for this town’s gossips, of which there were many. Poor Rebecca. I didn’t know her. However, I didn’t want her to feel alone during all this. Perhaps I should talk to the girls about offering her support.

  Or was that too intrusive?

  Perhaps Jack’s sister just wished to be left alone.

  She might be like Cat, Cooper’s sister. Jessica, apparently, had tried to invite Cat to many of our gatherings but as a single working mom, she was busy and had little free time. Jessica also suspected Cat was kind of a loner and liked it that way.

  I sighed as I let myself into my house. This was why I closed shop early. My mind was so unfocused, jumping from one thought to the next.

  That’s also why I didn’t sense his presence until I’d already stepped inside and closed the door behind me.

  My heart lurched into my throat at the sight of the tall, distinguished, handsome older man standing on the edge of my kitchen, near my dining table.

  Ian Devlin.

  He had a gun pointed at me.

  The first thought that crossed my mind was how I could reach inside the top drawer of the side table to my left. Inside that drawer was my loaded Glock.

  My second thought was that Jack had been right all along. Ian was spying on Jack. Otherwise he wouldn’t be here, in my house, threatening me.

  In retaliation for what his son had done.

  Because that’s what this was.

  “You know why I’m here.” Devlin glared icily at me.

  “I-I know why. Although”—I let out a shaky exhale as I tentatively moved to the sideboard, pretending I merely wanted to put my purse down on it—“I don’t know how you think this will help matters.” I turned my back to him and sweat rolled down my spine beneath my dress.

  “She speaks.” Devlin snorted bitterly. “But she’s stupid enough to put her back to a loaded gun.”

  Anger suffused me as I concealed my movements with my body and slowly opened the drawer. I winced as it made a slight grating sound.

  “What are you doing? Turn around where I can see you.”

  God, he was such a cliché.

  As quickly as I could, I reached in, grabbed the gun, and whirled around, clasping it expertly before me, pointing it at Devlin’s chest.

  He let out a chuckle of surprise but kept his gun trained on me. Lazily. With one hand raised. “You even hold that thing like you know how to shoot it.”

 
I did know how to shoot it.

  I knew how to shoot extremely well.

  “A lady has to know how to protect herself,” I replied. “Now, Mr. Devlin, I think it might be best if you leave before you make things any worse for yourself.”

  Fury flared in his eyes. “You don’t get it. The feds took over the case against me. They froze all my assets. My attorney abandoned me. I’m fucked.” He waved the gun dangerously, but I refused to flinch. I was ready to shoot if I needed to, even though the thought made me sick to my stomach.

  “Mr. Devlin, stop waving the gun around or I will shoot you.”

  He gave a bark of laughter. “I’ll believe that when I see it.” Ian shook his head, despair leaching the anger from his face. “It’s over. Betrayed by my own fucking blood. Do you know what that feels like?” His eyes turned worryingly blank. “I want to hurt him like he hurt me.” His finger flexed on the trigger and mine twitched in retaliation.

  The front door opened. I gasped at the sight of Cooper letting himself into the house. He saw me and my gun and hesitated. “Emery?”

  I shook my head at him. “Get out, Cooper.”

  “Cooper!” Ian yelled viciously. “Get the fuck out of here or I will fucking shoot her!”

  To my despair, Cooper threw back his shoulders, his face mottled with anger, and he strode into view, stopping at the sight of Ian holding the gun pointed at me. “You know, until this point, you’ve been a vicious bastard, but you’ve never been this dumb.”

  Ian sneered at him. “I’ve got nothing left to lose. I’m going away for a long time, boy. I might as well do something that my son will never forget.”

  “Jack doesn’t care about Emery,” Cooper said.

  I tried not to flinch, wondering if he knew something I didn’t.

  “All you’ll do is hurt an innocent woman. For nothing.”

  “What would you know about Jack?” Ian huffed, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple. “He wants this one. I’ve got the photographic evidence.” He waved the gun at me. “Did you know she’s a billionaire? My son is playing the long game with her. He’s more like me than he wants to let on.”