Page 23 of Winter's End

“Georgio Carlos is a plague on your town. He has held you all against your will for many choices that didn’t involve you. He is responsible for half of the addicts in this state. His operations help fund weapons procurement along the Western states. He works with my father to support sex trafficking in others. He is not a good man.”

Even the rats stopped scurrying; everyone in the room was frozen in place to finally hear this version of the story.

“Georgio’s been funneling money into Eccles and WAQ since both companies were formed. Your father’s firms have supported these criminal activities for decades by hiding and cleaning cash. Stanley Eccles has not only funneled more than $20 million dollars through Eccles Engineering, but an additional $5 million through his retail stores. WAQ has over $10 million in false partnerships over the years, and Camden’s involvement with Carlos Construction is also in the millions.”

When Kellan paused, he took the time to stare at each one of us individually; dark blue eyes stared into my soul. My skin crawled under their intensity.

“This was a set-up from the beginning, a carefully crafted narrative to lay the groundwork for a major opportunity like this tender.”

Winter’s face was ashen, almost green, as she processed this information. When she told us she had been used to turn Darren into an informant, I’d been shocked. I couldn’t believe the man who’d served us a world-class dinner and shook my hand with warmth and sincerity was a mastermind criminal.

I still struggled to believe that part, and I knew Winter did, too. There was more to this story.

“With this project, Georgio will dump millions more illegal cash and product into the market. We have evidence that he’ll be doubling down on the weapons and drugs side of the business, with my father’s help. This is not a small-town operation and it’ll affect thousands of lives.”

“I don’t have any assignments for you right now. I need you to keep your ears to the ground. If you hear anything out of the ordinary, tell us. If you see anything suspicious, tell us. If Georgio threatens you from now on, we need to know about it. He’s gotten very comfortable in Cascade Falls and is letting his guard down. We are going to use that to our advantage, and when it happens, we will have to act fast. That’s when we will need your help.”

I didn’t like that ominous statement. Not one bit.

“My identity needs to remain a secret. I’ve played on both sides of the field for a long time, but my time is getting short.”

“Are we going to be let go tonight free and clear, or will be we be blackmailed like we were by your brother?” Logan’s lip curled into a sneer; the disgust clear on his face.

Before Kellan could respond, Winter blew out a long breath beside me.

“I won’t be your pawn on a chessboard, Kellan.” She stepped forward, jutting her chin out in strong disobedience. “Turn my dad, or not, but you don’t get to use me again.”

“I’m out of the diner.” Drew’s smooth tenor spoke out beside me. “Mom and Dad aren’t laundering anymore, and I don’t have any connections that will be useful. But I’m in as a support to these guys.”

He nodded his head towards us and I smiled, appreciative he was still here when the only thing tethering him to Cascade Falls was Winter. Us. He could have run for the hills by now.

How far we had come.

Cam’s deep voice cut through the shifting sands next. “I need to know that all of our past sins aren’t going to land us in jail because of this.” He tilted his head, his stare so intense, he was looking through Kellan to the other side.

“Everything we did was out of desperation or coercion,” he continued, not backing down from Kellan’s equally impressive Viking stance. “I’m not sticking my neck out for you if you can’t guarantee me we have the same courtesy.”

It was like watching Muhammad Ali face off against Thor in a boxing ring. Mesmerizing.

The smaller man, who hadn’t said a word until now, walked up behind the would-be Thor and angrily snapped his jaw.

“Who do you?—”

Kellan up a hand in warning. The man shut his mouth as quickly as he’d opened it, but not before shooting Cam a savage look.

“You have my word,” Kellan said evenly, making eye contact with every one of us before continuing, “that whatever leverage Georgio has over you will be erased when this is all over. But until he has been taken down or taken out, I can’t follow through on that.”

“You’re asking us to help destroy our families, man.” Shane’s tone was laden with a melancholy I had never heard from him before. It was enough to make me reach over and squeeze his bicep in solidarity. A sad half-smile flickered across his lips in acknowledgment.

The formal expression dropped from Kellan’s face and his shoulders deflated on a long breath.

“If anyone knows about fucked up families, it’s me. Just know that none of this is your fault, and we’ll do our best to protect the innocents in the aftermath. That’s all we can do.”

He gestured to the man now standing beside him, with an open briefcase filled with flip-phones.

“Burners,” he said succinctly, tossing one to each of us. “My number is pre-programmed in there. This is your only way of contacting me, and I expect you to use it wisely.”

Great. Three phones to carry in my pocket. I’d better not get Georgio’s burner and this one confused. I’d mark one with an ‘X’ or something, since they looked like the same phone.

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