Page 15 of Sean Collins

I just nod again, afraid that my voice will crack if I say anything aloud. It has been a long journey; to know I might be nearing the end of it is scary. I want the answers that I have been seeking, but once I get them, I will have to decide what to do with my life.

Today has been a whirlwind. S.C. came with me back to the rental unit, and I returned all my loot. The notes have already been uploaded into my encrypted system, and I have no need for the money or the other valuable items.

“Welcome to our home,” a gorgeous woman greets us, pulling me out of my thoughts. I haven’t realized that she is already standing in front of me until she has spoken.

The woman’s smile seems very reassuring, so I return it and say, “You must be Chelsea. Thank you for allowing me to meet you.”

Chelsea’s eyes are kind, and I see empathy there but not pity. This is a woman who knows what a hard life is like. “Anything we can do to help,” she replies, leading us to a sitting room. It is elegant with pale lavender walls, Tiffany lamps, and plush chairs around a massive fireplace. “This is my reading room,” she adds. “The rest of the house is taken over by the children, but Marshall and I each carved out our own little spaces.”

“It is beautiful,” I tell her and feel the tension leave my shoulders. The room is calming, as is the mafia princess.

S.C. sits down next to me, taking my hand in his. All this time, Marshall has been standing there, and I see his eyes narrow at the gesture. Unlike his wife, there is nothing calming about the hulking biker. With his muscled frames, tattoos, and fierce stare, there is no doubt that he is not to be messed with.

“S.C. filled us in on your past, and I am not sure how I can help you. My father was only one of the many mafia bosses in the States, so I am not quite sure how to know if he was involved in the death of your parents. I’m sorry,” Chelsea utters.

I nod and swallow hard. “I found a reference to something called Sandcastle in the notes and journals that my parents left behind. Do you know what that is?” I ask and flinch at the hard stare I get from Marshall when Chelsea goes pale.

“You know about Operation Sandcastle?” she asks.

I nod. “I know my parents were involved in it somehow, but I am having a hard time finding information about it online or anywhere else.”

Chelsea rubs her arms. “I was young when I first heard about it. The crime in New Mexico was getting out of control, and it was too much for the police to handle. So, this group of wealthy philanthropists created a group called the Guardians. They helped small towns all around the U.S. that were being overrun by the mob, bikers, or other terrorizing organizations.”

“Yes, my parents were part of that group,” I confirm. “But I had no idea that they went to New Mexico until I found a mention of the Steel Kings and Truth and Consequences in their journal. That’s what brought me here.”

“It brought you here to steal from us,” Marshall interjects, practically growling at me.

I feel my anxiety rise. I did my research on all the key players of the club, and Marshall was one of the most dangerous of them all. Trained by the military to fight and torture people, I didn’t want to find myself on the wrong side of him.

Just then, S.C. puts an arm around me protectively. I appreciate the gesture, and it makes me feel gooey inside. That has given me the courage to meet the hulky biker’s gaze. “Yes, you are right, Marshall. I did steal from you, and that wasn’t right. I judged you more harshly than I should have. I apologize for that.”

Chelsea rolls her eyes at her husband. “Anyway, back to Operation Sandcastle. It was meant to start cleaning up the gangs and mafia dealings in New Mexico. One of the targeted towns was Truth and Consequences, but it never got that far. My father came home one day with a huge grin on his face and said that Operation Sandcastle was dead and that we wouldn’t have to worry about the Guardians anymore. I learned not to ask questions, but he wanted to share his victory with someone, and I was the only one there. He said he had taken out two of its main leaders, and it had sent a warning to the others.”

“Your father ordered the hit on my parents?” I ask, digging my nails into my palms.

Chelsea turns red and gives me a sympathetic smile. “It looks that way. I am not sure who actually killed them, but he ordered it.”

My chest tight, I stand up and wipe my sweaty hands down my jeans. “Thank you so much, Chelsea. You have no idea how much this means to me.”

The woman also stands up and hugs me tight. “Of course, if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call or come by. Don’t worry about Marshall – he is all bark and no bite,” she whispers sincerely.

Chelsea releases me, and I look over at her husband. I doubt her last statement, but it is obvious that he is a marshmallow for his wife and kids. I give him a small smile and walk out with Chelsea. S.C. trails behind us, murmuring with Marshall.

I need to get back to my team and have them investigate the information that Chelsea just gave me. If it’s true, I finally have the man who had my parents killed. From there, I can find out who did the actual killing. I should feel elated at the news, but I am numb all over.

Chapter Eighteen

Sean

I need to devise a way to keep Elora from rabbiting on me. I can see her head spinning, thinking of ways to find the Russian killers as I pull out of Marshall and Chelsea’s driveway.

“Hey, do you want to go back to my place? I can help you get this all sorted,” I offer.

Elora doesn’t answer right away, lost in her thoughts. I just let her be and drive a little farther. At this point, I have two options: let her go or lock her up. If I go with my second choice, she will hate me forever, but she will still be alive.

This is a tough decision for me. We have a truce with the Russians, but it is an uneasy one. If Elora goes poking around, and they connect her back to the Steel Kings, there could be an all-out war. In war, there are causalities, and most of my guys are family men now. They would fight, but I don’t want to go to any of my friends and give them the news about their husbands’ passing. Worse, the Russians will kill Elora without thinking twice about it.

“Hey, sweetheart, are you in there?” I ask, tapping her shoulder lightly.

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