Chapter 17 - Simon
Back in the city, I can only think about one thing.
The story that Blair told me about what her stepbrother did to her is haunting me like a bad dream. That asshole almost destroyed her life. He forced her out of her hometown and ruined her reputation there. Not to mention that because of him, the guys in that town were constantly harassing her. He put her in danger.
Nothing in me is willing to just brush this off as okay.
It’s not fucking okay.
“Hey, yeah, I need you to find out some information for me,” I say quietly into the phone pressed against my ear as I type on my laptop.
“What is it?” The voice on the other end of the line is only half away. Groggy and rough.
It’s past three in the morning. I thought I might be able to track down her stepbrother’s name on social media, but it looks like she blocked all connections to him.
“Blair Reynolds. Her mother remarried, and that man has a son. I need the son’s name. Her stepbrother. I want to know who he is, where he is, what he’s doing… everything you can give me.”
“Is he in the life?”
“No, a civilian. This is confidential. Keep the report away from my brothers. This is a personal matter.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Is it urgent? Can it wait till morning?”
I glance at my watch. I could let the man sleep. It’s not as though the asshole stepbrother is going anywhere.No. Track him down. Find him now. he doesn’t deserve another moment of peace in his life.
“It’s urgent,” I reply.
On the other end of the line, I hear my private investigator sigh and the shuffling sounds of him climbing out of bed. “I’ll start on it right away.”
“Thanks. Call me as soon as you have his name.”
After the phone call, I should feel satisfied that things are being handled, but my mind is still a mess of anger and determination. Blair deserves vengeance for what the man did to her. How could she let it go? Has she? I don’t think so. I think it’s eaten away at parts of her, and she isn’t even aware of the damage it’s done in her life.
I will find him. I will hunt him down.
And I will make him pay.
Sighing, I push away from my laptop to try and get a couple of hours’ sleep before the day starts.
The house is silent as I make my way to bed, thinking that once the PI has found her stepbrother’s name, I will ask him to find the names of his close friends, the ones that’s hounded her. If I had my way, I’d have him hunt down the name of every man in that city who tried to take advantage of her, but it’s unrealistic. but him and his friends… they are on my list now.
***
My alarm goes off, and I hardly register it. My dream warps, and the sound filters through again and again until, finally, it drags me from sleep enough to wake me.
I reach over and grab my phone, silencing the alarm and instantly checking for a reply from the PI.
Sitting up in bed, I read his message.
Anthony Milton. The rest of the report will follow shortly.
Her stepbrother!
The message was sent about thirty minutes ago.
I type a quick reply.
ETA on report?
