Page 147 of Redeemed

As he continues, an image of soft brown eyes fills my mind. A light laugh comes next, followed by a flash of a sundress blowing in the summer breeze. Roses, the fading light, her soft lips against mine.

“More,”she whispered.

And of course I gave it to her.

Back then, she had me so wrapped around her finger, she could’ve told me to do anything, and I would’ve.

My father clears his throat, and I’m wrenched back to the meeting.

“Charlotte, care to update us on the bank robbery?” he asks.

I’ve known Charlotte long enough to pick up on her subtle emotional cues. They’re hidden to just about everyone in this room, but I’ve spent more time with her than most. After my mom died, she had a significant hand in raising me.

So I don’t miss when Charlotte makes a tiny shift in her seat. The movement is barely perceptible, but it has me on high alert.

Something is wrong.

“For those who aren’t aware, I got my hands on some intel of a group who was planning on robbing a couple banks,” Charlotte says. “We let them do the dirty work for us, and then we intercepted them without incident. None of our people were on scene, so none of us are suspects. The original thieves were taken care of, their bodies have been disposed of, and the money has been recovered.”

“How much did we make?” Greg asks.

Charlotte glances at the paper in her hands. “Around $500K.”

“Wait, who was on this job?” someone else asks. “I don’t remember hearing about this.”

“Some… newer recruits,” Mark answers.

I narrow my eyes. “Names?”

His shoulders get imperceptibly tighter, but he plasters on an unbothered face. “Their names are Wesley Carver, Kellan Ambrose, and Calidore Graham.”

Oh, for fuck’s sake.Those idiots are in the Rooks? When did that happen, and why the hell didn’t my dad tell me about it?”

“Mark, I’m curious, what’s the plan for that money?” Charlotte asks.

“It goes into the general fund to be used when we need extra cash to pull off a job. That was always the plan for it.”

I frown. Mark hasn’t ever let me get a close look into the Rooks’ finances. I’ve always assumed it was because he was skimming from the top, but this is him practically admitting it to everyone.

As a million thoughts whir through my head, my eyes flit to Charlotte. She’s staring straight ahead, face grim, and I have a feeling she’s thinking the exact same thing I am.

We don’t have proof, but we know Mark is skimming off the top of the general fund. My father, while he garners a lot of respect in the organization, isn’t all-powerful. If he were to be exposed, I’m sure he thinks it would blow over in a week or so, but I disagree. I think it would be his undoing.

“How much is in the general fund?” I ask, gesturing to the folder in front of me that everyone got. It has some statistics and more general updates in it. “The amount isn’t listed in here. Actually, it never is.”

“What are you getting at?” Mark asks calmly—toocalmly.

I shrug, plastering on an innocent expression. “Just curious. Heard a couple members were having some financial issues. That’s one of the purposes of the general fund, isn’t it? Helping out our members?”

“It is, and we have proper channels that those members can go through to request financial help.”

“Right. Sorry, I forgot.” I make a show of shuffling through the folder in front of me. “Remind me, who’s in charge of those channels again?”

A man farther down the table—Roger Bastwood—clears his throat. “That’s my responsibility. Apologies, I’ve gotten behind, but I’ll look into it immediately.”

“Thank you, Roger,” Mark says. “Mind if we continue, Colton?”

I lean back in my chair and raise my hands, catching the amused glint in Charlotte’s eyes as I do. “By all means, Dad. Just trying to help.”

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