Page 236 of Enigma: The Complete Collection
My rules.
MINE.
But first, I need to guide her through the minefield she's precariously tiptoeing through. Once the landmines have been annihilated, my focus will shift to a more personal endeavor.
I lay a piece of paper on my desk. “Mr. Marco’s bank accounts, although not as pitiful as some I’ve seen, are less than stellar, so how can he afford a Cartier Diver watch?” I lift the surveillance photo of Lucas that shows the expensive timepiece encircling his wrist off my desk. “They sell for eight to twenty thousand dollars each. A new DA would be lucky to take home sixty thousand a year, let alone the fact he has three young children to provide for.” My gaze shifts to Hunter. “Does he have family money, an inheritance?”
Without glancing at the documents, Hunter shakes his head. “He still has student loans in the thousands. His mom was a primary school teacher, and his dad was a car salesman before he was laid off at the end of last year. Lucas’s past fiscal year tax return was for fifty-eight thousand.”
“His wife?”
Hunter shrugs. “She's a stay-at-home mom, and although her family is better off than Lucas’s, they wouldn’t gift such an expensive item.”
I’m not surprised by his revelations. I’ve always had a knack for reading people, and even through a computer monitor, I had a feeling Mr. Marco wasn’t quite the saint he’s portraying with his family-man image. He's often photographed at charity events with his wife on his arm, and in local newspapers he's reported as a well-respected member of the community, but there's something dark in his eyes.
That's why for the past two weeks, I shifted my focus from having the evidence in Isabelle’s case squashed to unearthing the man who’s campaigning for her false conviction. It wasn’t just Mr. Marco’s inaccurate description of Isabelle the morning of her arraignment that piqued my interest. It’s the fact I read him as a sly, underhanded man, a wolf wearing sheep’s clothing. I see an evil man hiding beneath a reputable job description. Those are the people you should be wary of. The quiet, calculating men are often the ones who create the biggest ripple.
Hunter’s tattoo-covered hand ruffles through the documents on my desk. “Watches aren’t the most elaborate purchases he likes to fiddle in. Expensive, high-caliber hookers are his pleasure of choice.”
My head shifts to the side as my lips tug high. Although my empire doesn’t dabble in the prostitution conglomerate, I have a close connection to the man I allow to run the one and only high-priced brothel in my town—Henry Gottle, Sr.
“I contacted Henry on your behalf. He gave me access to his security servers,” Hunter advises, reading my thoughts. “We have some noteworthy pictures that will create a spark from Lucas.” His broad grin peeks out from behind his scraggly beard. “If not, I’m sure his wife will be more than appreciative to find out the information I have unearthed.”
He hands me a collection of photos of Mr. Marco in compromising positions with various members of the personnel from Henry’s brothel, Kiki’s Kinks. My smirk merges into a full smile. Bribery has never been a forte of mine. Not a soul receives a penny from me or my empire unless they have rightfully earned it, but blackmail is an entirely different story.
Although it’s evident Mr. Marco is a man happy to accept a golden handshake under the table, he will soon learn that isn’t how things are run in Ravenshoe. Even with Ryan being confident Isabelle’s charges will be dropped tomorrow morning, I'll follow through with ensuring Mr. Marco is displayed as the wolf he is to the community, shamed and exposed for all to see.
“Call Regan and request contact information for Mr. Marco. I need to schedule a meeting with the soon-to-be ex-District Attorney of Ravenshoe.”
“Your meeting is at four tomorrow afternoon,” Hunter interrupts, grinning.
My eyes snap to his. Even with a broad smile etched on his face, he looks exhausted. His work ethic the past three weeks has been tenacious. Very rarely does he leave my side as we continue to evaluate every viable threat to Isabelle. Although my staff is compensated well for their loyalty, Hunter isn’t here seeking a larger bonus check. He’s here because of the burden of guilt he carries over the ‘Megan’ incident.
Hunter, although reserved, shouldered the blame for my security team’s lack of knowledge regarding Megan’s personal records. Instead of thoroughly evaluating the situation, they brushed it off as a side effect of fame. Even though he’s taking the blame, it doesn’t lessen my anger. I appreciate that he had the gall to admit his error, and considering it’s been his only lapse in judgment the past four years, I don’t see the need to further reprimand him. He’s punishing himself enough. He doesn’t need additional guilt on his already-weighed-down shoulders.
My eyes drop to my Rolex. It’s a little after two in the afternoon. “Why don’t you head home, and we’ll reconvene our compilation about Mr. Marco’s indiscretions after Isabelle’s court hearing tomorrow morning?”
Hunter scrubs his hand over his weary eyes before nodding. “I have a few back programs running on my home servers I should probably go and check, anyway.”
I shoot him a sardonic look. “I wasn’t suggesting you go home to continue working. Go rest and revive. Maybe even give Kiki a call and see if she can send someone over to help get thosekinksout of your shoulders.”
His rumbling chuckle barrels around the quiet of my office. “Thanks for the offer, but I don’t require the services of an establishment like Kiki’s to unkink mytension.” His shimmering eyes float up from the desk to glare at me. “But if I do, I’ll be sure to ask for afamilydiscount since you have a recurring tab there.”
I grin, but I don’t attempt to refute his accusation, as everything he said is accurate. I have used Kiki’s services before but not for what you're thinking. Tatiana and the many other women I dated those four weeks after Isabelle and I returned from the McGregor’s residence were employees of Kiki’s. I figured if I used a paid service instead of the regular women who approached me daily, the chances of them expecting something more after the date would be significantly reduced.
Although most were overly friendly like Tatiana, their disappointment at not being invited into my bed was eased when I handed them the envelope with their five-thousand-dollar paycheck inside. I did occasionally get caught unaware when ushering them back to my town car after our date. One, at the very beginning, even managed to sneak in a brazen kiss on my mouth after I refused her third attempt at seducing me by offering her services free of charge.
Before Isabelle, I wouldn’t have hesitated, but after I tasted her in the office of my nightclub, 57, no other woman has aroused the slightest bit of interest from me. One taste was all it took for my obsession with her to surge to levels I’d never experienced before.
The shrill of a phone distracts Hunter’s steps to my office door. He freezes, knowing the only time my untraceable cell has rung the past few weeks is to deliver bad news. Relief scuttles through me when I discover it’s Hugo calling. For the past two weeks, he makes contact a minimum of three times a day to give me updates on Isabelle.
The strain hampering Hunter’s face relaxes when he too notices the call is from Hugo. He lifts his chin in farewell as I flip the screen on the cell phone and press it to my ear.
Heavy stomping comes down the line. Hugo sounds like he's chasing somethingor someone.“They have her. They’ve taken Izzy.” His words are barely audible in his breathless state.
Fear grips my heart. “Who has her?”
“I don’t know. They pulled her into a white Range Rover at the bottom of St. Thomas Street,” he informs me. “Fuck, boss, I’m sorry, I only left her for a minute.”
