Page 118 of Beautiful Revenge
I cringe. “Dammit, Cole. I left Harlow asleep in bed, like everyone on the west coast at this hour. Get to it.”
He does notgettoit. “I can’t wait for the little family reunion and the big introduction to the woman who was recently someone else’s bride. Speaking of, thanks a billion for putting up the Monroes for their honeymoon. I haven’t heard from Rocco, but Teagan texts Bella daily thanking her. You did something special for those youngins. We appreciate it.”
I would not describe Rocco Monroe as ayoungin, but whatever.
“Focus, Cole, or I’m hanging up.”
He continues to run his mouth. “You’re the second person I know who hooked up with a billionaire heiress. What are the odds? I doubt most people know even one, which just goes to show you how exceptional I am. Though Ozzy married an actual princess. Yours was only hailed as one by American tabloids. Liyah has actual royal blood running through her. That means Ozzy still has one up on you.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I want you to know that until the shit show of a wedding that never happened, I was hitting the weight room daily. If you don’t get to the point, I will take you down the minute you step foot into Winslet. I have no time for this shit.”
I can actually hear him recline in his chair when his tone changes. “You can keep your bloody British hands to yourself, bro-in-law, because I’m about to make you one happy bloke ... mostly. I’ve got good news and bad news.”
I tip my head back and stare at the wood paneled ceiling. “I’m waiting.”
“Jett Parker Cross. That is a good name. I’m almost jealous. The second T really does it for me.”
“Fuck me,” I mutter.
“Jett Cross,” he rattles off faster this time. “I’ll tell you what he’s not. He is not a terrorist, sex offender, and grand theft auto is not on his very short list of offenses. He did, however, go through a phase of street racing in high school which resulted in four tickets. Two of those were dismissed, which means they didn’t suspend his license. Of course, that all happened before he turned eighteen, and even though those records are supposed to be sealed, I’m the C-I-fucking-A, so I know everything. You’re welcome.”
I stare across the lake toward the mountain range. “So he is who he says he is?”
“Yep.” Cole enunciates the P. “Everything I found matches the lowdown you gave me—down to his email and home address. He rents an old house in small town Iowa. Not that he’s farming—the man has seen more than his fair share of troubles.”
“No shit? Send me the report. I want to read it. I do remember something about life and death. But these days, everything seems like life and death.”
“Yeah, Bella told me about the shooting. Exciting times.”
“Harlow has a brother,” I mutter aloud.
“You’re going to have to take it from here. I’m a CIA officer, not a phlebotomist.”
“Did you really just come up with that word on the fly?” I ask.
“I’m gifted, fucker. Don’t forget it.”
I sigh. “Hit me with the bad news so I can end this call.”
“I say it’s bad because it’s fucking bad, but any information is good, right? Hugh Bancroft, the dead friend who isn’t so dead ... well, sorry to say, everything you thought about him is true. Ozzy confirmed it through voice analysis, but I took the numbers you gave me and performed my wizardry. Not only on Bancroft, but also Turner. Those two were in cahoots for years before the rest of us grieved his fake death. From what I found, this guy was into some bad, bad shit when he was still at SIS. And I’ve got to tell you, this takes me backto your sister’s drama, and the assholes who were trying to do me in all those years ago.”
“Fuck.” I drag a hand down my face. “That bad?”
“May I venture to say worse? Ozzy is going to send you the transcripts. Sorry, man, but this is something you need to digest on your own.”
“Probably so,” I agree. “Is that all?”
“A-fucking-gain, you are welcome.”
“You know I’m grateful.”
“I know you are, but I did not know you turned into sleeping beauty. Go back to your billionairess. Bella has read every single thing she could find on Harlow. She’s a real philanthropist, huh?”
“Yeah, so much it breaks her heart to waste food. I learned that the hard way.”
“Good for her. Everyone has their thing, right?”
“Is that it? I could still get another couple hours of sleep if I can turn my brain off.”
