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Chapter 13
Ethan
The man, Grey, nodded. “Elliott figured out Robert was his father when we took DNA tests. From what we could find, Melinda was with Robert before she married John, and Elliott was the result. She had an affair with him a few years later, resulting in me, but she insisted she was too old for another baby and gave me up.”
“How did John not know?” Joey asked.
“I’m not sure he didn’t know,” Grey said. “From what Elliott observed, John and Melinda were close but not as close as she and Robert whenever he came to visit.”
“If Melinda was in love with Robert, why didn’t she leave John and marry him?” Joey asked.
Ethan had an idea about that, but it wasn’t his place to say because he didn’t know anyone.
“Robert is not one to be trifled with. He’s involved in some shady shit…um, stuff.” Grey’s cheeks flushed.
Ethan rested a hand on Joey’s back. “Was Elliott the kind of person to push Robert somehow?” he asked gently.
Joey shook his head, paused and frowned. He sighed. “Yes. I don’t want to say it about him, but yes. If he felt something or someone was wronged, he would fight to help rectify it. It was something we butted heads about several times.”
Ethan glanced at Grey. “Do you know if he was trying to right a wrong, Grey?”
Grey rocked on his heels and bit his lip. “He was.”
Joey sank into a chair, rubbing his hands over his face. “I feel like I didn’t know him,” he whispered.
Ethan settled beside him, arm around his shoulders. “You knew him better than anyone, Joey. It’s not your fault he kept secrets.” He peered at Grey again. “What do you know?”
Tears shimmered in Elliott’s brother’s eyes. “He was trying to get me free of Robert.”
“Why? If Melinda gave you up for adoption, Robert would have nothing to do with you.”
“Except Robert instigated the adoption process. Melinda didn’t know that the woman who adopted me was under Robert’s thumb. The moment they finalised the adoption, Robert was basically my father figure.”
“Jesus.” Joey sighed and sat back, dislodging Ethan’s arm. “Do you think this had something to do with him…”
Everyone knew what Joey couldn’t say, and Grey shrugged. “I really don’t know. I honestly just came here to get a tattoo done. I didn’t think I’d see you.” He held up his hands. “Not that I didn’t want to, but I didn’t want to spill Elliott’s secrets. Though, fat lot of good that did me because the minute you asked, I told you everything.” He sniffed and wiped his face. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to bring this down on you. I’ll find somewhere else to do the tattoo.”
“No!” Joey stood. “No. You’re one of us. If Elliott was helping you, we’ll help you.”
Ethan’s heart poured out to the man. He deserved the best of everything, but he had the feeling Joey was going to end up on the wrong side of a dangerous man.
“Did this have something to do with the bruises Elliott sported a few months back? He said he’d had a drunken brawl with someone, but I was never convinced,” Ani asked.
Grey crossed his arms over his chest and looked at the floor. “Yes. Robert’s men gave him a warning. He knew a lot about Robert’s businesses, and Robert had become aware of it. It was to persuade him to look the other way.”
“But he wasn’t going to, was he?” Joey said.
Grey shook his head.
“Bloody hell!” Joey said, slamming his palms on the counter, rattling the contents before leaning his forehead on it. “You should’ve stepped back, Ell.”
“I told him that time and time again, but he wouldn’t listen. He insisted on freeing me from Robert’s control.” Grey stepped back towards the door. “I should go. I don’t want to put you in the firing line, too.”
Ethan moved closer. “Let me give you my number. If you need anything at all, call. Okay?”
Grey shook his head. “He checks my phone. He’ll ask about the number.”
“Say that I flirted with you at the supermarket or the coffee shop, somewhere you go a lot. He won’t know.”
