Page 98 of The Boss

I sensed he didn’t want my help with anything. “Look, Greg. I’m sorry about your brother and his wife. About Willow being here.”

He nodded several times. “I know you are, Dimitrios, but that doesn’t make things any easier. Any information on my nephew?”

How the hell was I supposed to tell him that his own niece and best friend were about to enter into a situation that would expose Shane as a possible assassin? “Not yet. Just the one return call to Willow. He could be in danger, Greg. I need to find him.”

He took a gulp of his drink, almost draining the entire glass. He was shaky as hell. “Yeah, I don’t doubt it. I tried calling him. Hell, I blew up his phone one night, but he never returned my calls and didn’t read my damn texts. What the fuck happened to that kid?”

“We can’t assume he’s behind the deaths.”

“Oh, yeah,” he barked. “You seemed pretty certain my entire family suddenly followed in your footsteps.”

I allowed the comment to pass. He was hurting. He was angry.

And he also knew more than he was telling me.

“I can’t rule anything out, Greg. You know that. That’s what I do.”

“No, Dimitrios. That’s why it makes you a successful, arrogant asshole. You stepped into your father’s footsteps pretty damn nicely.”

He’d known how much I wanted to do anything else but become the heir apparent. “Sometimes we don’t have a choice in what we do.”

“Sometimes we do but choose not to.” His counter included a hard gaze into my eyes.

“Yes, you’re right.”

He took another gulp and headed to the bar himself, refilling his drink. I moved next to the desk, sitting down on the edge.

“I’m escorting their bodies back to the States,” he said. God, how I hated the sound of his voice.

“That’s good.”

His entire body remained tense enough his left leg was twitching. “Willow should come home with me. She’ll need to sort out the house and other finances.”

When he looked me directly in the eyes, what was left of the decent man inside of me was prepared to tell him about the deal. The more notorious side knew it would do nothing but drag us into a fight. “It’s best she remain with me until I know what we’re really dealing with.”

“You mean Shane.”

“Yes.”

He nodded. “Then you need to know that my brother was likely into something he couldn’t get himself out of.”

“Meaning what?” I asked. The dip in his tone indicated just how worried he was.

“I don’t know all the details. I’d spent hours on the phone, talking to various individuals about Winslow and what he could be into. All I can tell you is that whatever it was allowed him to cross the line.”

“I know he was in significant debt.”

“Yeah, which is odd. He was always so careful. He was the ultimate saver. But I think there was a recent sizable cash payment.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because I’d loaned him money about six months ago and I found a check in my mailbox the day after you and I talked.”

“How much are we talking about?”

He seemed hesitant and closed his eyes. “Two hundred thousand. He was behind on bills and was about ready to lose the house. The second mortgage he took out had a heavy interest payment due. At least that’s what he told me. He paid me the original sum and fifty grand in interest. Do you believe that? His own brother. I don’t know what to think.”

It was a good question and thought. It would seem Winslow had come into another money source. That presented a serious red flag. “I’ll make some calls. I have friends in New York who might have an inkling of what Winslow was into. Anything else that leads you to believe he was no longer on the straight and narrow?”

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