Page 195 of The Reluctant Hero

“Please,rakas,” he whispers like he’s begging me to give in.

“Cards on the table,” Shade says coldly. “They’re running a drug and sex trafficking ring. Amanda found an inactive site buried under the golf course, some drugs, a dead body, and cages where people were being kept. We’re trying to locate anyother sites that are in play and stonewall construction. If we have the account for the funds, we can lock everything up for a while.”

“And Blake had that information?” Cade asks quietly, his glare turning into horror as he watches my face pale. The description brings me right back to that torture room and the memory of thatsmell. Ace drops onto the couch next to Gabriel, wiping a hand over his mouth.

“Blake set it up somewhere. In Amanda’s name.”

I don’t look at anyone to take in reactions, my body freezing up as silence blooms around me. The news is another anchor that they can latch onto to kick me out for whoever finds and kills me. Mikael’s arms tighten around me and he takes a big breath.

“A play all along,” Jake mutters with narrowed eyes. “The purchases started six years ago. When did you get married?”

I stay stiff in Mikael’s arms. It’s one thing to think it, another to have someone ask if you’re still so fucking stupid you didn’t notice the last six years of your life were a lie. I was content. While people suffered in the background. My stomach rolls with nausea again.

“Amanda?” Jake asks with a dark expression.

“I repeat.Congratulationson your loss, Amanda. He’s no longer on the board.Move on.” Shade’s frosty death tone snaps everyone else back into action.

I can’t look at anyone as pain rolls through me. Rage follows very quickly to get locked inside to use later. It clears everything else out to make room for more questions.

I barely hear Shade rambling on as he fills them in.

Having one account in my name is stupid. There has to be more than that. It would take millions to build a place like that, not including any of theextrason offer. How would theyget money into the accounts without red flags waving all over the place?

My brain churns with Shade as background noise. Something is rattling around in my brain, but I haven’t shaken it all the way loose.

“Amanda?” Gabriel’s cold voice snaps me to awareness.

I’m talking to Shade before I know it. “I can’t be the only one. That place was decked out. You can’t have that kind of money in an account without getting a lot of attention. With the way that place was set up, there has to be money funneling in from several different people, too. A membership fee, a donation, something yuppy fucking stupid like that.”

“Spreading the money would be wise,” Shade agrees. “But are they wise?”

“If they aren’t, then emptying that account will stop things. Or at least slow them down. I want to see who comes looking for their money.” My hands tighten into fists.

“If they don’t have another site built already,” Shade says gently. The thought of it makes me want to gag.

“The golf course was the earliest property they bought, right?” I protest desperately. “It wasn’t finished. The golf course wasn’t set up to keep it hidden. That means if they have any more, they won’t be ready for business yet.”

“And every cent counts,” Jake adds, catching my attention. He gives me a solemn smile.

“You need a full team on this,” Shade says as if he’s dreading the results of his statement.

“I’ve already called,” Jake says smugly. “A few friends should be here soon.”

The glares he gets don’t faze him in the least.

“Anyone I know?” Shade asks tensely.

“No,” Jake scoffs and goes back to his computer. “As if I’d reward South for keeping Amanda hidden from me.”

“Good,” Shade grumbles with a relieved sigh. “And watch your mouth.”

Jake flips the phone off and continues typing on his laptop.

I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. One of them is going to latch onto the fact it’s all in my name. I’m surprised Mikael hasn’t shoved me to the floor yet.

“Amanda,” Gabriel’s cold voice brings my flat attention to him. He studies my pale face, and for a second, I see pain before he blanks out again. “You should get some sleep. You’re exhausted.”

I am. I’m basically running on fumes and wishing an energy drink would fall from the sky. I didn’t notice until he opened his fat mouth about it. I feel like I have a ton of things left to do and no time left to do them. I don’t want to walk away and give them room to plot a way to send me back to jail, either. I have no idea how to prove myself innocent in this. Videos can be faked, after all and they can get convinced easily. I’m sure Tera could come up with something, but this is beyond me.

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