Page 103 of Conquered

“Tell me about it. My guess is that’s the only woman the bastard could catch me with. As if Bella would believe the jerk. Good picture, I have to admit. The press might like it.”

“She’s ten years older and spends pretty much all her free time with her family at their lake house.”

“Yeah, I know. Emily got one too. They must think we don’t talk to our women. You might want to check in with Sara. This dude is on a roll.”

I hadn’t thought about that. “Where is Styx?”

“He has one more lead of the six we identified to track down. It would appear the dude is invisible.”

“Which could mean his guilt.”

Creed nodded. “Any luck on your end?”

I’d spent half the night after ravaging Sara all over again trying to find every detail on the two men, one a son and one a brother of two of my father’s old enemies. I’d been certain I could uncover a blockbuster of sorts. “The brother of Jack Culdair is living in Texas. He owns a cattle ranch and has for twenty years. He’s a grandfather, about to be a great-grandfather and has no ties to his brother’s former life.”

“And Ross Webber?”

I remembered Ross Webber, the man a real prick. I’d thought for certain he was the one given his ties to the current main prosecutor. “No. He’s been out of the country for two months, currently residing in Italy while his new house is renovated in Miami. Not possible.”

“We’re about to strike out.”

“Fuck. We cannot allow this to happen.” The phone call had resulted in nothing just like Creed had suspected. A whole lot of nothing.

“I know, brother. We’re trying. However, this guy will stop at nothing to take us down. I’ve already warned our clients we’re under siege, our two board members as well. And I’ve contacted my buddies in the press to put a squash on any other stories but the one our reporter friend released yesterday. You did read it, didn’t you?”

“I haven’t had a chance. I was a little busy last night.” At least I was able to grin.

“Allow me to show you an award-winning piece.” Creed was grinning like a kid as he pressed his finger down on the spacebar of his laptop. When he turned the computer around, I walked closer to his desk. Now I could smile. “At least the guy can follow rules.”

“Yeah, well, I have a feeling the timing of the article you wrote is a direct correlation to the latest attempts at destroying us. Which means…”

“He’s been pushed into a corner.”

“Exactly. Is Chase White safely secured?”

“Yeah. He’s in the islands with his family. Only a couple people know where he is.” I’d come through with my promise, the round the clock soldiers ensuring their safety.

“Good. I have a terrible feeling that things are about to get messy.”

“What about the investigation the senator initiated?”

“Unfortunately, that has been confirmed. I don’t know what has been found, but we need to push everything but our legitimate weapons contracts aside for now.”

I planted my hands on his desk. “No, we need to do that permanently. We all have lives we want to continue living that have nothing to do with violence or putting additional fear into our women.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Our women?”

I realized what I’d said and laughed. “Yeah, I feel strongly about her.”

“What does Sara feel?”

“Well, as long as she doesn’t buy into the bullshit flying around, then I think we have a chance.”

“And the book?”

“Let’s just say she’s an amazing author.”

Creed had always been a hard man, lashing out at anyone and everyone who pissed him off. I’d never known him to care about much of anything. Until Bella. But seeing the relief on his face, and what had to be as close to brotherly love as there was inside our family, I finally comprehended what I’d been missing in not allowing myself to care about someone.

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