Page 55 of Ruthless Vengeance

“It’s what we wanted people to believe. I’m just sorry that little old me caused such a rift between you all. And I’m sorry that it hurt the people I love.”

“We had no idea that he’d kept her safe and knew where she was. And we obviously had no fucking idea what he was doing regarding Rogers. Son of a bitch kept so much from us.”

“For very good reason, Zak,” Kavanagh says. “Look, I don’t know what’s in this envelope, but I do know that he put into place many things that are now coming together, some have worked well and others not so much.” He slides the envelope to me, but before he lifts his hand, he adds, “Don’t react without thought or cause, Maddox.”

He releases it, and I pick it up, tearing it open and feeling every eye in the room on me. There is a thick stack of papers, which I pull free and set on the table. Upending the envelope, I empty out the remaining contents, which comprise of another envelope addressed to me and Zak and a USB stick. I set them aside and begin looking through the papers.

There are details of dozens of auctions, all involving children, some as young as four and five, and my stomach clenches. A list of names and addresses, some of which have been highlighted, and a stack of photos.

As I scan through what looks like some sort of statement or journal account, my eyes land on a name that has my head lifting and eyes snapping to Kavanagh, who raises his brows and looks to the side of me where I can feel Roxanne reading over my shoulder. The audible gasp that leaves her not a minute later tells me she’s just seen what I did.

She reaches over and takes the top sheet from me, and I don’t stop her. The room is silent while she reads, and I watch as she finishes then goes back to read again.

“You’re sure?” she asks, looking to Kavanagh, who after a moment, nods. “Fuck!” she exclaims, slamming the paper to the table and pushing up from her chair. She turns away, hands clenched tight as she paces the kitchen.

Zak snatches up the sheet Roxanne slammed down and reads over it as she did. I watch as his nostrils flare when he reaches the part that’s caused Roxanne such distress.

“How the fuck did I miss this? How…how…just how the fuck is it that I didn’t know about this?” Roxanne stammers.

I’ve held back going to her because she’s not a fucking damsel in distress and wouldn’t appreciate me treating her like a fragile flower. She’s a fucking force. But no more. There’s no way she’s going to torture herself over this.

Getting to my feet, I cut off her pacing and cup her chin, gripping it with my fingers and thumb and force her to look at me. “Stop, Roxanne. Don’t you dare go down that path. The man is the law for fuck’s sake, so there’s no way you could possibly have known any of this.” My words must trigger something because she pulls away and points straight at Kavanagh.

“Where has this information come from? Who?”

“That even I don’t know, Roxy.”

She shakes her head as though she doesn’t believe him. “Maybe not, but you have your suspicions, right?”

“I do, yes. Theo kept this person’s identity a secret from everyone, even my father. Given that we’re talking about James Whitmore, I should think the reason for such secrecy would be obvious. For now, we need to focus on what we do know.”

“I’ll tell you what we know, that you need to explain to me why you have a warehouse full of our gear, and how it is that Bonner thinks you’re getting our territory? Care to explain that now since we have a dead employee and a missing friend too.”

“What are you talking about? Who’s dead and who’s missing?” Roxanne asks, looking back and forth between Zak and me. And now I’m cursing not telling her before because the mood she’s in could mean certain death.

Zak rises from his seat and guides her back to the table, whispering to her as they both sit back down.

“Rogers needed to think I was on side, so I aided him in stashing all the coke he stole from your warehouses. As for the girl, I imagine she knew too much and had served her purpose. Rogers isn’t in the business of keeping people around without good reason. And I’m afraid that your man will most likely meet the same end if Rogers doesn’t get what he wants.”

“He wants me, right?” Star asks from across the table. “Then let’s give him me—” The words have barely left her mouth when the whole room descends into a chorus of no’s along with varying curses.

I watch as Star rolls her eyes, just like Roxanne does, before she sticks her fingers in her mouth and wolf whistles, bringing the room to attention.

“Would you hear me out before you shut me down. I’ve spent the last ten years of my life in hiding.” She looks to Kavanagh. “It’s been a good life, don’t get me wrong, Aide, but no more. I don’t want to hide anymore. I want the fucker dead, just as you all do. Then I can live my life like any other eighteen-year-old.” There’s a grumbled “Hell no” from Kavanagh, which Star ignores. However, she can’t ignore Roxanne.

“Fuck that. You think I’m just going to hand you over to that…those vile fucks, then you’re out of your mind.”

Star laughs. “I didn’t mean literally, Roxy.”

This is going to cost me later, but Star could be on to something if she’s thinking what I’m thinking.

“What do you have in mind, Star?” Kavanagh and Roxanne immediately look my way, even Zak raises a brow as if to say ‘what the fuck?’, and I can almost see my own death reflected back at me.

“I don’t know. Use me as bait or something. That’s for you to figure out, but whatever you decide, I’m in.” She rises from her chair, making her way round to Roxanne who is back on her feet and looking murderous, but she’s silent. And that speaks volumes.

After a hug for Roxanne, she heads upstairs leaving us all to deal with the fallout out of her suggestion.

As soon as she’s disappeared, Roxanne turns to Kavanagh. “You’re not seriously considering this, are you?”

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