by LK Shaw
I sat back and waited for the explosion I knew was about to erupt. And I waited some more. Oh, shit. This was worse than I thought.
“Please tell me I heard wrong. Because I know that you wouldn’t be so stupid as to do what you’ve just told me you’ve been doing.”
I abruptly stood, my voice shaking with rage. “Don’t speak to her like that.”
“Miles, please return to your seat.” Josie’s voice was completely calm. Not even the hint of a quiver could be noted. She remained still, nonplussed by Connor’s harsh words. She made me proud to be hers. Reluctantly, I took my place on the love seat again, but the frozen death-stare never left my face.
“Do you feel better now?” The sneered expression on Josie’s face even had me flinching.
Connor’s chest expanded and collapsed as he breathed deeply. With eyes closed, he rubbed his broad forehead with his fingers as though rubbing away a tension headache. His eyes opened, and he returned his gaze to Josie, contrition clearly evident in his eyes.
“I apologize, Josie. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. I know how evil your father is. The fact that he knows you’ve been watching him is bad enough. Once he finds out you’re going to turn everything you have over to the Feds, he’s going to go ballistic. If he is the one behind the attacks, he won’t stop until you’re dead. The thought of what might happen to you when he finds out what you’re doing terrifies me. You and I both know what he’s capable of.”
She didn’t answer, but gave a small nod of acceptance. With a chagrined smile and an awkward cough, Connor spoke again.
“I have a few connections with the FBI, but I also think we need to bring someone local in. Someone we can trust completely. Who will be fully on our side through this mess. And it’s going to be a shit show. We’re going to need a protection detail on you once your father gets word that he’s under investigation. He’ll be aiming for your ass. There is also your father having leverage over you to consider. We need to figure out a way to keep that between us.”
When Connor had spoken of a protection detail, I perked to attention. I would be the one protecting her. There was no one on this earth, besides Connor, I’d trust Josie’s life with than me. If anyone was going to make sure she stayed safe, I was.
“I’ll be there to protect her.” My voice brooked no argument.
Connor scoffed at my pronouncement. “You’ve just barely got your shit together. How are you going to protect her when you’ve been on the verge of a mental breakdown for months? Josie needs someone whose brain isn’t muddled with other bullshit. That’s what this whole company was built on: protecting people. I’m sure I can find a suitable outfit for her.”
For the first time in all these years, I almost hated Connor. He was my best friend. Who the fuck did he think he was? Without regard to my job or any consequences to me whatsoever, I rose from the couch and stalked over to the desk Connor sat behind. I leaned forward, bracing my hands on the top of the wood, until our noses almost touched.
“Don’t fuck with me on this Connor. You have no idea what I’m capable of doing to protect Josephine. I will protect her to my dying breath even if I have to kill someone to do it. There would be no hesitation on my part. No guilt. No remorse. Death will come to anyone who dares attempt to hurt her in any way. My fury will reign death and destruction on anyone who gets in my way of doing my duty to make sure that no harm comes to her. She is my everything, and I will fuck up anyone who tries to take her away from me. You got me?”
Charged tension crackled between us, neither of us bending in the slightest. I maintained controlled eye contact, and not a muscle twitched as we stared each other down. Slowly, crinkles began in the corners of Connor’s eyes, and his expression transformed from one of serious anger to one of satisfaction. He slowly sat back in his chair, and his smile widened, exposing white, even teeth.
“There you are. I was wondering when you’d finally grow another set of balls and show up. It’s about time, Miles. Welcome back.”
A sense of befuddlement filled me, and I blinked before stepping back and glancing down at Josephine. She only smiled and shrugged her shoulders. I turned back to Connor and waited expectantly for an explanation.
“We all know you’ve been fucked in the head since killing Malcolm, Miles. I also know that you’ve changed since being with Josie. Even so, you’ve been holding back that last bit of power I knew was inside you. We saw it before what happened with Malcolm, but you continued to keep it on a short leash. You needed that final push to regain control. Realizing that you would do whatever it took to protect someone you love was that push. Now you understand the wasted regrets you felt at killing Malcolm. We do what we have to in order to protect the ones we love with no need for guilt or self-recriminations. I think you finally understand that now.”
His words struck a chord with me. All those months wasted on something I would do over and over again, if only to protect Connor. That was who I was: a protector. It’s what I did. There was no need to let the guilt consume me like it had. Connor was right. I finally understood now.
“Holy shit, that was a lot of testosterone being slung around.” This came from Josie, who just shook her head.
Josie
Watching Miles face off with Connor had me squirming in my seat with arousal. Even in his submission, he radiated power. Outside the bedroom he was alpha all the way. And it was a total turn on, especially knowing that once we got in bed, I controlled that power. Harnessed it, fed off it. Damn, he was sexy and all mine.
“Seriously, guys, tone that shit down. At least until I get out of the room. Then you both can compare dick sizes all you want. Until then, if you don’t mind, can we get back to business? I don’t know who you have in mind that is local. There is no one I trust in the Pinegrove Police to take something of this magnitude to. For all I know, my father has the whole department in his pocket.”
Instead of returning to the couch, Miles sat down in the chair next to me. As though putting us on equal ground where this topic was concerned. He refused to be relegated to the background this time. I didn’t mind. In fact, he was just as much a part of this now as I was.
“I have a —” Connor paused, as though searching for the right word. “I know someone on the force that I can guarantee is not on your father’s payroll.”
“Do you trust him?” With Connor’s hesitancy, I was leery of going local.
“He may be an occasional fuck-up, but as much as I hate to admit it, I would trust him with my life. He’s one of the good guys. I can promise you that. I think we need to bring him in on this.”
“If you trust him, then I’m okay with it. Can you call him?”
With only a nod, Connor pulled out his phone and tapped the screen a few times. He put it on speakerphone, and the tinny sound of ringing echoed in the air.
“I want no part of whatever the fuck it is you’re calling me about, Black.”
“Hello to you too, Webber. And I think you’re definitely going to want in on what could be one of the biggest takedowns in your shitty career. Are you sure you’re still not interested?”
There was such a long pause on the line, for a moment I thought the officer had hung up. The silence was broken by a disgusted sigh.
“Fine, talk to me.”
“Not over the phone. Why don’t you come to my office? See you in an hour.”
Webber’s response was cut short when Connor disconnected the call. He only shrugged when I just stared at him.
“Go find something to occupy your time until Webber arrives. Margaret will page you when he gets here.”
Taking that as a dismissal, Miles and I left Connor’s office and headed back to mine. He and I went over my files on my father again with a fine-toothed comb, making sure everything was clear and concise and that no mistakes could be found. My phone beeped, and Margaret, Connor’s secretary, notified us that a Detective Daniel Webber had arrived. A quick glance confirmed that fifty minutes had passed
since we’d left Connor’s office. At least this Webber guy was prompt.
And pissed if his expression as we entered Connor’s office was any indication.
“Close the door.”
Miles shut the door behind him, and we both headed to the couch, with Miles stopping at the mini bar first. He poured four shots of Jameson and passed one to Connor, me, and with a whispered, “You look like you’re gonna need this,” he handed one to Detective Webber. Who, sure enough, looked ready to explode.
Miles took a seat next to me, but when Connor indicated for Webber to take a seat, he refused.
“Next time, you can fuck off. I can’t just drop everything I’m doing and come running when you call. It’s not always all about you Black.”
Connor shrugged, seemingly unconcerned. “Charles Santiago. Name ring a bell?”
Webber stopped his pacing, and his gaze shifted between Connor and Miles and me, as though trying to judge how much to say. Connor sat back, waiting patiently for a response.
Webber’s response was hesitant. “Yeah, I know of Mr. Santiago.”
He didn’t elaborate.
“Charles Santiago is one of this city’s most well-known criminals,” Connor said as though it wasn’t already common knowledge.
“Purely supposition. There is no evidence that points to any wrongdoing. The Pinegrove Police don’t go around arresting men on supposition. We’ve had this discussion before.”
Connor steepled his fingers under his chin and rocked back in his chair. “And like last time, my intuition was correct about the bad guy being bad. Which is neither here nor there. What if I tell you we have indisputable proof linking Mr. Santiago to various crime organizations around the world? Proof that links Mr. Santiago to a local drug dealing ring, gun traffickers, and most recently sex traffickers? That’s certainly no longer supposition.” He said the last word with air quotes.
“I’d want to know where this so-called evidence came from. And why someone hasn’t come forward with this proof beforehand.”
I cleared my throat and rose from my perch next to Miles.
“It came from me.” I stood proudly with my shoulders back.
Webber turned and looked me up and down, more in a calculating way than a sexual one. I heard the growl that came from Miles. This was the part of the plan he hated. Without looking, my hand unerringly found the back of his head. My fingers softly caressed him in an effort to calm him given the information I was about to disclose. He needed my Dominance to keep him grounded. He felt it was his job to protect me. Webber’s eyes followed my movement, and from the knowing glance he shot me, he understood my relationship with Miles. Or thought he understood.
“No disrespect, ma’am, but you are?” He left the question dangling.
“My name is Josephine Bishop. Charles Santiago is my father. I’ve been collecting bits of information regarding my father’s criminal activities over the past several years, including his connections to the drug underworld and gun smuggling, just to name a few. When I stumbled across a new venture, human flesh peddling, I could no longer keep quiet about what I’d found, and I let it slip that I knew what he was doing. Since then, there have been two attempts made on my life. He’ll continue to send people after me until I’m dead. I’ve never known who to trust with the intel I have, so I’ve continued to collect it in hopes that eventually, I’d figure out who was willing to take him on. Another reason I haven’t come out with the information sooner is because he also has information on me. Information I previously did not want made known.”
“Josie.” Miles’ muscles tensed. He made to stand, but I dropped my hand to his shoulder and squeezed.
“Don’t move again, Miles.”
Another glance at Miles and me, and Webber’s eyes widened a little in shock. Something clicked in his eyes, and I knew that he now fully recognized the dynamic between Miles and me. Slowly, Miles sank the short distance back onto the couch, but didn’t relax his posture. He remained rigid under my hand. I knew he was nervous. So was I. I was about to confess to murder to a police officer. A move that could have dire consequences.
“And why do you now, suddenly, want this information known?”
I laughed without humor. “I don’t. But with two attacks against me, it’s time for this to end. I can’t move forward with my life until my father pays for his crimes. Even if that means exposing mine. Connor trusts you; I hope I can too.”
I snuck a quick peek at Connor, but he remained seated in his chair. A look passed between us. His eyes were full of pride. It was what gave me the strength to tell my story. If Connor trusted this guy, then I would as well. Now, I just prayed it didn’t come back and bite me in the ass.
“You should probably have a seat now.” I waited until Webber finally dropped into the chair before beginning my tale.
Josie
“I have no idea how he was able to explain the missing body or cover up the fact that I killed Mr. Childress. At this point, it doesn’t really matter. He needs to be locked up and his crimes exposed. I just want him to pay for what he’s done. Not only to Casey, but to other families.”
Webber hadn’t said anything during my recitation. He’d merely pulled out a notepad and pen from his inside suit coat pocket and scribbled as I spoke. He paused on occasion to look up at me, but otherwise he didn’t make a peep.
“So, you never saw what he did with the body?”
“No. After I checked to make sure Mr. Childress was dead, I quickly cleaned myself up and called my father. Within fifteen minutes, he was home. I went upstairs to check on Casey, clean her up, and change her clothes. After that, I put her to bed. My father called me down to his study. On my way there, I passed by the kitchen. I peered in, but the body was gone and floor was cleaned of any blood. The wine bottle, glass, and paper I had seen on the counter were missing. It was as though nothing happened.”
“You mentioned this note before. Do you remember what it said?”
My mind flashed back to that day, my memory as vivid now as it was ten years ago.
Shocked, I stared at the body of the man on the floor in front of me. The sound of the knife clattering on the tile startled me to awareness. Slowly, I crept over to Mr. Childress. His chest remained still, but blood continued to spread across the sparkling white marble floor. I reached down and checked for a pulse. Nothing. I stepped carefully over the body and picked up the piece of paper that lay on the counter.
Please enjoy the gift I left you upstairs.
You have one hour to use your gift as you see fit,
like the last time. If, in the future,
you’d like access to your gift again,
don’t hesitate to call on me.
Bile churned in my stomach when I spotted my father’s initials at the bottom of the page. I dropped the paper and raced to the bathroom, where I emptied my stomach of its meager contents. Oh, God, Casey.
Webber stopped writing when I disclosed the contents of the note. He raised his head and stared at me with horror in his eyes.
“Jesus. Your dad allowed this man to rape his thirteen-year-old daughter more than once? You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”
Sadly, I wished I were. “My father had been ‘gifting’ Casey to Mr. Childress, and others I believe, but could never confirm, for over a year. I confronted him about it, and he slapped me across the face. He told me I’d just cost him millions of dollars. He then went on to explain that I was now indebted to him since he had to clean up my mess. He told me to keep that in mind the next time I decided to stick my nose in someone else’s business. That with a single phone call and the murder weapon, I’d go to prison. Then, he dismissed me. It was at that moment I started hacking into every one of my father’s business accounts, computers, security systems, everything I could possibly think of. There was no way I was ever going to be indebted to that son of a bitch. Especially not after what he’d done to Casey.”
A new expression crossed Webber’s face. One I c
ould only define as determination. As though my mission to bring down my father had now become his.
“You’ve said that there are city officials who work for your father. Do you have evidence on who these officials are? Payoffs, bribes, blackmail information? Anything?”
Webber went back to looking at his notepad with his questions.
“Of course. Mayor Owens and your boss, Chief Stockton, are the two major players. There are also a few beat cops, but I’d have to look up their names. Those are the only ones I have solid proof of a connection to my father.”
At my pronouncement of two of the most prominent civil servants in all of Pinegrove, Webber stopped scratching on his pad as his head shot up to look at me.
“You’re telling me that the mayor and the chief of police are involved in all of this?” His voice reeked of disbelief. I didn’t give a shit what he thought. I had sound bytes of phone calls, emails, and video feed of personal meetings between them. I’d seen money exchange hands. I had all of their bank records and records of offshore accounts. A person didn’t make seven figures as a civil servant unless they were dirty. Instead of answering, I only continued to stare at him.
Webber rubbed his hands over his head, clutching his hair in a fist in evident frustration.
“Jesus Christ. This is a fucking nightmare you’ve just dragged me into Black.”