Once I’d sucked him dry, I rested my head on his thigh, the sound of our breathing echoing in the large bedroom.
“Damn.” Penn sighed.
Eventually I got up, cleaned us, and slid into bed, where I wrapped my arms around him and fell into a deep sleep.
“I’m sorry,Mr. Hendrix. You have to understand I did my best, but when my boss heard Mr. Calvern’s offer and the estate holder as well, they told me to close. What was I to do?”
It had taken a week and a half for Hank Ribb, the real estate agent who’d sold Benito the Marion Estate, to return my call.
“You’re telling me you didn’t have thirty seconds to message me asking if I wanted to counter?”
“Sir, I really didn’t. My boss knew the two of you were battling and said he didn’t want this to go on forever. Gretchen Marion wanted her parents’ house sold and well, I’m sorry.”
I gripped my unlit cigar so hard, it crumbled. “Your boss knows who I am, and he still sided with Benito over me?”
“I didn’t ask. But, sir, I can tell you he and Mr. Calvern have had quite a few lunches together and…” Hank cleared his throatand lowered his voice. “I noticed my boss drive in yesterday in a brand-new Mercedes. And Lisa, one of the receptionists, told me he and his wife are taking a two-week vacation to St. Barts, and he was staying in afriend’shouse.”
“I’m guessing this sudden overflow of wealth is a surprise?”
Hank snorted. “It’s not a booming business right now. Just last month I heard him complaining about his son’s private school tuition, and now he has a two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar car and is planning a trip that I’d need to sell like ten houses to afford. Yeah, I’m guessing his pockets have been filled.”
Hank was actually a good man. Loyal. I was sure if he could have contacted me, he would have. But the delay in calling was bothering me.
“What took you so long to return my call, Hank?”
There was a pregnant pause. “Fear, sir.”
I almost laughed, but I didn’t want to break the moment. Some fear was good but in this case, it wasn’t warranted.
“Thank you for your honesty. Next time you message me with news and always return or answer when I call.”
“I will, sir.”
I disconnected the call and sent a text to Alex, Toni, and Danny to come into my office. Five minutes later they stood in front of my desk, and I explained what Hank had told me.
“What do you want to do?” Alex asked.
“I want you to get this boss of Hank’s to the crate.” I looked at Toni. “How’d you miss that the new commissioner was Monica’s cousin? Have you figured out how this got past you?”
“I still don’t know. I’ve dug and dug and nothing. It’s like he was erased from the family tree or something.”
I sighed. “How’s my family?” I regarded Danny.
“All good, sir, having a great time.”
I nodded. “You two help Alex get the boss to the crate. Contact me once you have him, and I’ll meet you there. I have a few questions for him.”
“Yes, Boss,” they said in unison and left.
Benito Calvern was driving me mad. He was steps ahead of me, and it felt like every time I thought I was making progress, he would pull off magic tricks. I had to figure out how to stop him and do it fast. Elections would be here soon enough and if he won—which seemed very likely, it would make all of this a fuckton harder.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Penn
“You takeme to the nicest places.” My gaze swept over the shipping yard.
Gideon snorted. “You wanted to come with me.”
