Page 93 of Royal Flush

Braxton

“I don’t give a fuck,” I hissed. “I am going to bring that man down.” My statement was full of anger, more so than when she’d told me what she’d endured. To think a man would allow his child to continue having nightmares, daring not to believe her story was blasphemous. Disgusting. I didn’t care what it took or how much money I spent, I would bring the fucker down and his entire world.

Jack eyed me cautiously. “Every man has an ugly secret, you included.”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t place my child in harm’s way.”

“Do you want to tell me what happened?”

I’d promised her that her secret would stay safe with me and the last thing I wanted to do was to betray her confidence. It had taken a lot for Jasmine to admit what she’d endured. I refused to betray her like her family had.

“I can’t. Just know that it’s obvious fame and fortune mean more to him than anything else.”

“There was a time I could have said that about you. As a matter of fact, up until recently.”

“Fuck you!” I was in the security room, my outburst finally drawing the attention of others in the room. They squirmed as if uncomfortable as hell.

I backed away, moving to the single window in the room. It had a beautiful view of the resort, the ocean in the background. What I hated almost as much as what she’d told me was that I felt helpless. Not a good look on me at all.

“Look, I’ll do what I can, but Ambassador Sinclair has a strong network of people doing nothing but keeping him and his secrets protected. He’s hosting a party tonight, glorifying his position and appearance in DC. Everyone who’s anyone will be there.”

I heard Jack. I understood his concern. The few times I’d gone off the rails hadn’t occurred without some damaging results. But what good was having all the money in the world when it couldn’t be used for the greater good?

“I don’t give a shit. Not a single shit. Find a way and let me know when you do.”

“What about Santini? Rumor is he’s planning something. What, I haven’t found out.”

I mulled over his question. “Keep at it. If word on the street is that his former bride to be is alive and that I was the one who saved her, then he won’t take it lightly.”

“Testosterone and all that?”

At least he could grin about it. “Something like that. I need to go.”

He touched my arm as he’d done before and I had to fight not to take out my rage on my buddy. “Just don’t go off halfcocked. One thing we did learn overnight was that there’s chatter about her being alive.”

“Did her father even make inquiries with the authorities?”

His shrug told me everything I didn’t want to know. “Yeah, but I don’t think it went anywhere since he wasn’t around her. Just try and calm down. She’s here. She’s safe and I know you want to keep it that way. Do yourself a favor and take a breath. Okay? As soon as I learn anything that might be useful, I’ll give you a call.”

I rubbed my eyes, unable to sleep a wink the night before. I’d held her in my arms, feeling closer to her than I had to anyone yet distanced from her life all the same. It bothered the hell out of me. “Fine. But find something. And find this Maggie.”

As I walked out, I could hear a collective sigh of relief from all the men. I wasn’t in the mood to be challenged by anyone, especially those I paid damn well to discover what I needed to know.

The resort was busy, our occupancy full and while I was happy the business was doing well, I’d give everything to be able to change her past.

As I strode out the front entrance, yanking my sunglasses from my coat pocket, I tried to take a deep breath. It was almost impossible. The moment I jumped into the Jeep, I smashed my fist against the steering wheel. I wanted to tell her I had plans for revenge, but I could feel she still had loyalty to her parents, which shouldn’t surprise me but it did.

I shoved my foot onto the accelerator, allowing my anger to continue flowing as I headed back to the villa. I’d left her sleeping, at least attaching a note that I’d return. I only hoped her admittance hadn’t driven her back into the protected state she’d placed around herself before.

As I drove, my mind drifted to the night before and not just learning her secret. She’d felt so close, our connection so intense that I’d experienced the kind of emotions I’d never felt before. I wanted them to continue. I needed to be with her, to explore the world with laughter.

Shit. Was I asking too much at this point of either one of us?

I sped down the heavily foliaged roads, fighting the demons lurking inside of me. I’d been the brother to care about animals, trying to save every critter from certain death. I’d shoved that part of me inside when I’d become a ruthless bastard, but I’d never forgotten how it had felt when I’d tried to save a goddamn puppy who’d been hit by a car.

I’d insisted on using my own money for surgery, thankfully saving his life but for all the begging I’d done to adopt him when he was on the mend, my father had refused to allow it. It had been the single time I’d sobbed like a baby. But it had also been the catalyst to keep my emotions in check, to never get attached to anyone. Having the single girl I’d dared care about years later walk out on me had brought it all back in force.

I’d shut down, determined never to be awakened again.

---