Page 68 of Possession

She extends a hand over the coffee table. “That’s what I want to talk to you about.”

I reluctantly go to her and sit.

“Landyn,” she starts. “This whole debacle started when your fatherlostthe Marinos product. However, the more he’s looked into it, he thinks he was set up.”

I sit back and lower my voice. “By whom?”

She lowers hers even more and leans in close. “By the Marinos.”

16

GOOD ONE

Brax

Ilean back in my desk chair and crank up the audio.

This is interesting.

“You think the Marinos tipped off the feds and took down their own load?”

Nellie tips her head and shoots her daughter a smug look. “That’s what your father thinks. He thinks he was set up.”

Well, fuck me. I do not hate this scenario.

“Why would they do that?” Landyn bites back. “And it’s not like Dad got caught. The driver took the fall, and he’s already out on bail. Dad proved he knew nothing about it.”

“Damian probably knew your father couldn’t repay the retail price of that load. It was big—bigger than normal—worth over fifty million dollars on the street.”

I can see my wife’s blue eyes widen from here. “Fifty?”

“Personally?” Nellie takes another sip. “I think Damian had his sights set on you the whole time. That horrid man. You know, now that he’s dead, people are talking.”

Landyn sits back and bites her lip. Good girl, chica. Keep your mouth shut. “I have no clue.”

Nellie scoots on the sofa and closes the distance between herself and my wife. I have to turn the audio up as high as it will go to pick up her words. “Well, you’re in the perfect position to find out. You can poke around, listen to conversations. See what you can find out.”

Landyn’s expression turns hard, and her glare is like a laser. “Why would I do that? Why would I help Dad after what he did to me?”

“Because he’s your father, and you’re an Alba.” Nellie’s words are razor sharp. I can see from here, they slice through Landyn and cut her deep. All of a sudden, Nellie’s expression takes a turn to the dark side. “Your father’s business is falling apart. When he lost that load, his reputation went down with it. No one will do business with him, and we all know the legitimate side of things is not enough to support our family.”

Landyn nods once. It’s slow and methodical, and I can see the shade of her fair skin turn with emotion over the camera. Her words are choked when she whispers, “Well, then it’s good you don’t have to worry about me ever again.”

That’s it.

I’m out of my chair and down the stairs.

By the time I hit the main level, I don’t need the surveillance to hear every word they’re saying. Voices are elevated, and Spencer is about to round the corner when he sees me.

I put my hand up to him. “I’ve got this.”

He nods and backs away but doesn’t disappear completely.

“I refuse to be anyone’s spy,” Landyn hisses.

When I round the corner, both women are standing, and Nellie has her daughter’s forearm tight in her grip.

I barely recognize my own voice. “Get your fucking hands off my wife.”

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