Page 114 of Jagger

“Yes, but the sheriff has been nosing around, threatening both of us,” I told them.

Shephard hissed. “And you didn’t fucking tell us? That’s police harassment. The judge won’t like that in the least.”

“You damn well know the judges in this area are partial to law enforcement.”

“Not always,” Denise piped in. “They’ve learned a few lessons. It’s who Sheriff Young knows in the rest of the state, including Richmond. Or beyond. Baltimore isn’t that far away. Didn’t you say the Brockfords have a long sordid history with various criminal activity?”

“Not proven, but yes.” I shifted my attention to Bella, my heart aching.

“Well, we can’t put anything past Joel at this point I guess.”

I’d been forced to relay the story. There’d been no other choice since it had been made public. Bella hadn’t objected, but she hadn’t said anything either. That’s why I was surprised when she rose from the couch, her arms folded as she headed in our direction. She was still in the same emerald green dress she’d purchased for the event, her long hair framing a haunted face yet her eyes remained bright.

At that moment, I thought she was the most beautiful woman alive, even in sadness.

“Joel sent me a text on the new burner phone seconds before the sheriff attempted to destroy us. I think with the sheriff obviously asking questions, trying to find out who I was so I could be used against Jagger, the two had a conversation, Joel releasing the video to him.”

“I think she’s onto something,” Hunter said as he moved closer. “Take a look at a piece on the front page of the largest newspaper in Baltimore.”

He handed me his iPad first. The headline said it all.

Is the Brockford Empire Funded by Criminal Activity?

I didn’t even need to read the article to know the truth had started coming light. Where my source would take it from there, I wasn’t certain. But we would find out soon enough.

Bella took a deep breath. “Who is Joel Brockford really?”

There were too many details about her life that she needed to fully comprehend, but I was hesitant to add to the night’s horrible experience. Just seeing the look on the locals’ faces had torn her apart.

I was angry with them too for not rallying around us.

People loved a loser more than they did a winner. I’d learned that the hard way.

“A very bad man with even worse intentions,” Denise answered for me. “With both your blessings, I’m going to do some investigation of my own. I have buddies that will provide me with every ugly scrap of information about suspicions involving that family. Maybe they’ve yet to be proven, but it’s obvious someone else is out to get them.”

I glanced at Bella and she nodded. “Fine. Go for it.” She’d never find out anything about my source or that I was behind the method of destruction. Not that I gave a damn right now.

Bella crowded closer, Xena suddenly realizing her new mommy dog wasn’t right by her side. As she rushed over to Bella, I could tell the woman I adored softened. Enough she leaned into me.

“Now, what about the goddamn elephant in the room, bro?” Shephard pushed. “Why the hell does Sheriff Young think you killed his daughter?”

“Because I did.” The words hung in the air and both brothers looked at each other.

“How? Line of duty?” Hunter asked. There was no animosity in his voice, only disbelief.

“She was captured off the base because of me,” I told them and it was difficult to change positions so I could look in Bella’s eyes. However, her breathing was no more labored than before.

“How is that your fault?” Hunter pressed.

“Because I went against orders. I knew the area surrounding us was considered dangerous, but we hadn’t seen any insurgents in almost a week. We’d just gotten engaged and I didn’t have a ring. I knew a guy in the small town near our camp I’d talked to dozens of times. He had a beautiful diamond that had been in his family for years. He was willing to sell it to me because the war had nearly destroyed every possession. I made a mistake. We were captured together. I had intel and the bastards wanted it.”

“And you couldn’t give it to them,” Shephard stated. It wasn’t a question. Both my brothers knew the score. We’d given our oath to the military.

“No. If I had, the entire operation that eventually led to their defeat would have led to the destruction of our base. I couldn’tallow that to happen. Sheila knew that. She was an army nurse and well aware of the danger.”

Bella placed her hand on my arm, squeezing in solidarity.

The sudden silence in the room brought yet another ache to my system.

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