Page 8 of Demo

Demo tried to recall how old Paige was from his research on her. She was thirty-three to his thirty-one, which would place Clifton at forty-one.

“The Barringtons come from old money. They’re like Detroit Royalty, but the cost of living in the city as well as some recent bad investments has significantly depleted their funds in recent generations. They tried to buy into the pharmaceutical industry and gambled on the wrong drug to back. When it did not get FDA approval and was rejected, the Barringtons lost millions. Their business is buying and selling Fortune 500 companies, rebranding and remarketing them, and then selling them for profit. They’re like professional house flippers but with mega companies.”

Pictures of different company logos and buildings came across their tablet screens as Keys spoke.

“As a stepdaughter, Paige was not welcomed into the family business or fold. Unlike her stepbrother, Paige did not go to private schools or an Ivy League college. Thad paid the bare minimum for her nearly her entire childhood. The exceptions were, of course, to appease the public eye. When Paige married Richard Hannigan, Thad would only pay for the wedding if he controlled everything, from her dress to the guest list.”

A picture of Paige and Richard Hannigan’s wedding appeared on the screen. Demo rubbed his shoulder as he stared at the picture. She looked happier in this one than she had in the family photo, her hair just as unruly as ever. A teenage Harper, dressed in a long burgundy gown, stood in line with Paige’s seven bridesmaids. Richard Hannigan, the bastard, looked like he’d just won the lottery with his chest out and a smug smile on his face. The only groomsman Demo recognized was a younger Clifton immediately to Richard’s left, indicating he had stood up as best man.

“Richard Hannigan’s first job out of college was atBarrington Holdings, which is where he met Clifton. The two men became friends and, years later, he married Paige. Richard was on the fast track to becoming CFO ofBarrington Holdingsuntil his gambling habits became a problem. Actually, we can thank Clifton Barrington for introducing Richard Hannigan to Mateo Castillo, who owned and operated out of Clifton’s favorite casino. About eighteen months before the Hannigan clan moved from Detroit to our fair town, Richard was let go due to an accusation of mishandling funds. No charges were brought against him, nor was anything proven, but the accusation was enough for Thad Barrington to let his stepson-in-law go.”

The tablet screen switched to what looked like an internal email fromBarrington Holdingsinforming the company staff that Richard Hannigan was taking an extended leave of absence to spend time with his family. It did not say anything regarding misappropriation of company funds, which made Demo wonder how Keys knew the real reason behind Richard’s termination.

“Sounds like the Barringtons are rich assholes,” Bulldog said in a bored voice. “What does any of this have to do with Paige or Hannigan’s fear of them?”

“Patience, grasshopper,” Keys scolded with an eye roll.

Their tablets went black but for a silver arrow in the middle of the screen. However, when Keys pressed play, the recording did not come from their multitude of tablets but the surround sound speakers throughout the room.

“…listen here, bitch. If your fucked-up husband does not return the money he owes, I will call every lawyer at my disposal and have them take those fucking brats from you. Have them work off their loser of a father’s debt on their hands and knees scrubbing my floors like the fuckingservantyou were…”

There was a smallclickfollowed by another recording.

“…you think a measlythousand dollarseven comes close to paying off your debt?! I wipe my ass with that after taking a shit. You have six months, bitch. Your husband might be able to run from his problems, but I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth. GET ME MY FUCKING MONEY!...”

The tablets went blank after that.

“Was that the father or the son?” Steel’s voice held a dangerous tone that said no matter what, he would stand between Paige and the Barringtons. From the faces on the men around the table, he would not be the only one.

“Father,” Keys replied. “There are others from the son, though. Just as nasty and just as threatening.”

“How much does Hannigan owe them?” Demo asked the computer nerd, trying to keep a leash on his own anger. There was no way in hell Demo would stand back and allow her stepfamily to take her sons away from Paige and force them into servitude to pay off their father’s debt. He’d pay it back himself if he had to.

Keys’ jaw was tight as he admitted, “Over seven hundred thousand.”

Jaws dropped at the number. With Hannigan’s debt of three hundred thousand to the cartel, the man owed a million dollars in gambling debts.

“We killed him too quickly,” Lucky growled.

Demo agreed. So much for his thought of paying it back himself to clear Paige’s debt. He had savings, but not that sort of savings.

“Even with the checks she’s saving, she’ll never get the amount she needs to pay off the debt becausewedon’t have that sort of money,” Demo reminded the room. Clearly, Paige was using the money she thought was coming from the insurance company to help pay her debt by the six month deadline.

Steel demanded. “When’s the deadline? The message said six months, but how long ago was it sent?”

Keys did not look happy as he said, “She has less than two months.” Meaning, she needed seven hundred thousand by the end of March and she only had fifteen thousand.

“Like fuck am I going to allow that dirtbag take her kids away,” Steel snapped. “We failed Paige by not taking her under our wing more. She’s family,” he repeated, nodding to Lucky, “and we failed her.”

Turning to the table at large, Steel said louder, “From this moment on, I don’t care if you need treatment or not, you are going to make an appointment at her clinic. Buy your friends, family, anyone you can think of gift certificates for her clinic. Most of all, though, you spread the word: Paige isours.”

“We can offer discounts at the dealership if they provide a receipt from her clinic,” Demo suggested.

Steel nodded. “Speaking of which, you’re going to be her firstVia Daemoniacustomer.” His eyes narrowed as he added, “Get your fucking shoulder looked at.”

Demo swallowed audibly. “I’m fi?—”

“You are not fuckingfine,” Steel snapped, speaking over him. “You’re slouched over in pain. You think I can’t see it? You’re not that good an actor. Get your ass to her clinic first thing on Monday or I will drag you there by your ear myself.”

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