Page 100 of Dark Horse

“Glad to hear it.” I watch him take another sip. “Now tell us what we don’t know.”

“I don’t know much about what you do know, so it’s hard to say what you don’t.”

“Tell us why you and our father agreed to steal this relic in the first place,” Levi instructs him, constantly watching where he puts his hands and how he moves. He has zero interest in trust, but we’re going to have to learn to make it work.

“Abbott approached us years ago. Before he even started putting his plan in motion. He wanted these relics, said it was the key to getting something he needed. That the kind of money and power it would bring if he did would change his life, and in exchange, he’d change ours.”

“Well, it definitely changed lives,” Levi mutters.

“It was supposed to get us both out of this life. Give our family a fresh start. We could start over, settle old debts, and take things legitimate if we wanted,” Jay continues to explain.

“I don’t recall Dad ever wanting to go legit. He never mentioned it to me.” I raise a brow.

“We didn’t have any real guarantees on that front. I think your dad just hoped he could hold true to his promises. Obviously, he didn’t.” He takes another sip, clearing his throat. “But now he has the relic. I don’t know how he got it, but he has the second one that you were meant to steal. All these years, he thought you had it. I did too. Your dad said you boys had done all right despite the botched robbery and the chaos. I thought when you took me to the vault, you were going to tell me that someone had stolen it.”

“Is that why he wants us dead because he thinks we had it?” I ask because, even if I’m trying to trust him, I’m not giving my hand away. I need those aces for later.

“In part. Mostly he wants you dead because he ordered his people to go after your dad, and you all won’t let sleeping dogs lie.”

“I don’t know many people who would let their parents’ execution be written off into a cold-case file.” Levi looks our uncle over with disdain.

“I don’t blame you. I’m just telling you the way he looks at it. If you were ever able to prove that he was a party to their murder, he’d lose everything. But right now, there’s no weapon, no motive, not anything to connect the two that he doesn’t have control over. The only hitch is the people who helped carry it out have disappeared, and he’s furious he can’t find them.”

“And the relic would only further connect the dots,” Levi adds helpfully, glancing over at me.

Jay nods and looks back and forth between us slowly,waiting for us to move the negotiations forward. I’m stuck in my head, processing exactly how fucked we are.

Abbott doesn’t know that we’ve already taken care of his witnesses for him. A thing I would’ve avoided if possible, but my youngest brother’s rage and trauma had conspired to make other decisions for us. We’ve also handed over the relic via the black market, the only thing that might have been evidence as a motive, and the chances we ever find a murder weapon are damn near impossible. The only silver lining is the fact that we sold the relic on the black market, and it led us to him. It at least makes it look like the Flanagans had taken the goods and run, selling the item on the market as a means to make their money and get away from Abbott in the process.

“But you could link him too.” I look at my uncle.

“We all could, together with what we know. Not enough to take it to a prosecutor. Not without more evidence or more witnesses. It would be our word against his, and he has an untarnished reputation and the support of half the state of Colorado. Not to mention all his connections in Washington and the corrupt underbelly that’s supported his rise thus far.” Jay’s brow creases with doubt. “Trust me. I’ve thought about it.”

Levi looks at me. “He has a half dozen billionaires who supported his last run. Ones who are still advising him. The kind who make it look like he’s gunning for the presidency after he finishes this term.”

“Do you know how many relics he needs? More than two, I assume if he’s still out there looking.” I ask because I can’t worry about the future. I can only worry about right now.

“I always heard him talk about three. I don’t know if it was only three or if that’s just where he started.” Jay shrugs.

“Where do the relics lead? Why does he want them?” I ask because I still can’t make sense of it. Other than the historical or cultural value, there was nothing particularly special aboutit. According to Charlotte, the price was inflated because of the buyer, not because of its actual value. So why the willingness to do anything to get them?

“I don’t know more than what I’ve told you right now.” Jay shrugs.

Levi gives him a skeptical look in return, irritated that we’re not getting more answers and instead coming up with a bigger list of problems than we started with.

“I don’t fucking know. I’d tell you if I knew. I’ve already fucking told you enough to get me killed three times over,” Jay snaps at Levi, his face growing red with the force of his words.

“Do you know what they have in common?” Levi asks.

“Not a damn clue.”

“Helpful.” Levi looks at me. “So all we know after all this is that he wants relics. He’s still looking for at least one. He wants us dead, and he put our own uncle up to killing us to make it happen. Oh, and he has a daughter we didn’t know existed whose life is more important than dozens of ours.”

“Lev…” I say his name like a warning because antagonizing our uncle won’t help our cause.

“One who needs your help. She’s your family too, and she’s fucking innocent in all of this.” Jay glares at Levi and then turns to me. “This doesn’t work if you’re not gonna help her.”

“This works because if you don’t help us, we’ll make sure that she never gets any help. From anyone,” Levi threatens.

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