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Everything she said tonight had a ring of truth to it. Hence, why I couldn’t lie to her anymore? Although, I wasn’t sure I could tell her the truth. The niggle of worry she too hid something important always sat at the back of my mind. What, I wasn’t sure. I could have told her about the cut oil line. I could have told her about the trackers, but I didn’t. Perhaps I was going about this all wrong. If I offered her my help, she’d take it. I was sure of it. There was an equal chance she’d run too.
An hour later, my phone dinged with the video I requested, and a photo of the jewelry Brooke had been wearing. I transferred the bonus to Robbie’s account, because I realized, sitting there, waiting for a response, I’d treated him as if he were a piece of meat. Not a person and certainly not as my friend. Jealousy wrapped it slimy green tendrils around me the minute I found Collins and Robbie. I hadn’t stopped to think or be rational. Now, sitting there in my office, guilt devoured the envy.
Neither he nor Collins did anything wrong tonight.
When he returned, I apologized. Then I gave him a few days off. Not for any other reason, but he deserved them. My men were family to me. When I started treating them more like personal servants, I knew I needed to step back, admit my faults, and apologize.
As I started up the stairs, I stared at the ring Brooke had on her finger. I’d taken the offering from a contract. A way to show the job was finished. The man who had it, the same man who was about to give it to his mistress right before I blew his brains out, had bought the gaudy object using his wife’s trust funds—another reason I’d been hired to begin with.
The contract holder gave me the ring as a bonus. I’d kept it in a safe for years now. The ring was worth over two million dollars, more on the street. I never looked at it until tonight. The piece was tainted, as far as I was concerned. I’d probably sell it and put the funds into Rocca’s trust. No reason to keep it after the spectacle tonight had turned into.
In the morning, I would send the video of Brooke and Robbie to her, and inform her, her services were no longer required. I’d ban her from all of my properties, and make sure she was blackballed from any events she might weasel her way into, because I knew she’d cause a scene. She’d been paid handsomely over the years, so she hadn’t a need to worry about money or finances.
Sure, I was sweeping her under the rug along with all of my transgressions, but in order to make amends, I had to break old habits. Having Brooke anywhere near Collins or myself invited trouble I didn’t need, and I suspected neither did Collins. With that thought, I showered and went to bed.
Tomorrow, Collins and I needed to have a serious conversation. One where I apologized and earned her trust.
Be damned the consequences.
