Page 40 of Redemption

Chapter 32

WatchingMiles face off with Connor had me squirming in my seat with arousal. Even in his submission, he radiated power. Outside the bedroom he was alpha all the way. And it was a total turn on, especially knowing that once we got in bed, I controlled that power. Harnessed it, fed off it. Damn, he was sexy and all mine.

“Seriously, guys, tone that shit down. At least until I get out of the room. Then you both can compare dick sizes all you want. Until then, if you don’t mind, can we get back to business? I don’t know who you have in mind that is local. There is no one I trust in the Pinegrove Police to take something of this magnitude to. For all I know, my father has the whole department in his pocket.”

Instead of returning to the couch, Miles sat down in the chair next to me. As though putting us on equal ground where this topic was concerned. He refused to be relegated to the background this time. I didn’t mind. In fact, he was just as much a part of this now as I was.

“I have a —” Connor paused, as though searching for the right word. “I know someone on the force that I can guarantee is not on your father’s payroll.”

“Do you trust him?” With Connor’s hesitancy, I was leery of going local.

“He may be an occasional fuck-up, but as much as I hate to admit it, I would trust him with my life. He’s one of the good guys. I can promise you that. I think we need to bring him in on this.”

“If you trust him, then I’m okay with it. Can you call him?”

With only a nod, Connor pulled out his phone and tapped the screen a few times. He put it on speakerphone, and the tinny sound of ringing echoed in the air.

“I want no part of whatever the fuck it is you’re calling me about, Black.”

“Hello to you too, Webber. And I think you’re definitely going to want in on what could be one of the biggest takedowns in your shitty career. Are you sure you’re still not interested?”

There was such a long pause on the line, for a moment I thought the officer had hung up. The silence was broken by a disgusted sigh.

“Fine, talk to me.”

“Not over the phone. Why don’t you come to my office? See you in an hour.”

Webber’s response was cut short when Connor disconnected the call. He only shrugged when I just stared at him.

“Go find something to occupy your time until Webber arrives. Margaret will page you when he gets here.”

Taking that as a dismissal, Miles and I left Connor’s office and headed back to mine. He and I went over my files on my father again with a fine-toothed comb, making sure everything was clear and concise and that no mistakes could be found. My phone beeped, and Margaret, Connor’s secretary, notified us that a Detective Daniel Webber had arrived. A quick glance confirmed that fifty minutes had passed since we’d left Connor’s office. At least this Webber guy was prompt.

And pissed if his expression as we entered Connor’s office was any indication.

“Close the door.”

Miles shut the door behind him, and we both headed to the couch, with Miles stopping at the mini bar first. He poured four shots of Jameson and passed one to Connor, me, and with a whispered, “You look like you’re gonna need this,” he handed one to Detective Webber. Who, sure enough, looked ready to explode.

Miles took a seat next to me, but when Connor indicated for Webber to take a seat, he refused.

“Next time, you can fuck off. I can’t just drop everything I’m doing and come running when you call. It’s not always all about you Black.”

Connor shrugged, seemingly unconcerned. “Charles Santiago. Name ring a bell?”

Webber stopped his pacing, and his gaze shifted between Connor and Miles and me, as though trying to judge how much to say. Connor sat back, waiting patiently for a response.

Webber’s response was hesitant. “Yeah, I know of Mr. Santiago.”

He didn’t elaborate.

“Charles Santiago is one of this city’s most well-known criminals,” Connor said as though it wasn’t already common knowledge.

“Purely supposition. There is no evidence that points to any wrongdoing. The Pinegrove Police don’t go around arresting men on supposition. We’ve had this discussion before.”

Connor steepled his fingers under his chin and rocked back in his chair. “And like last time, my intuition was correct about the bad guy being bad. Which is neither here nor there. What if I tell you we have indisputable proof linking Mr. Santiago to various crime organizations around the world? Proof that links Mr. Santiago to a local drug dealing ring, gun traffickers, and most recently sex traffickers? That’s certainly no longer supposition.” He said the last word with air quotes.

“I’d want to know where this so-called evidence came from. And why someone hasn’t come forward with this proof beforehand.”

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