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“Her name is Madisen Roderick; her father was Oscar Roderick, a crime lord in Florida,” Bear stated.
Levi blinked. Shit, even he recognised that name. There’d been a big deal in the papers about the asshole’s death and his will surprising everyone. There had also been a follow-up story about how the brother had attacked his younger sister at the will reading, was arrested, and then got pinched for drug running.
“She’s that Madisen Roderick?” Levi asked, astounded. How he hadn’t put it together before, he didn’t know and felt rather stupid. Before Chance had said she was Roderick’s daughter and it had gone over his head. Nothing dumber than a man thinking with his dick!
“Yeah. Her cousins all check out, too. The four of them were brought up in that household, yet they seemed to keep themselves clean. None of them wanted anything to do with the father’s enterprises,” Bear confirmed.
“You sure she’s good?” Levi questioned.
“As sure as one can be. Bear did a deep dive, and so did Hawthorne. Needed to know if we had the mob moving in opposite, came back negative. Girl dismantled her father’s empire within months, sold everything, and moved. It was made very clear by all four girls they wanted nothing to do with it. With the son locked up and not in control of his dad’s fortune, their sycophants soon drifted away,” Chance confirmed.
“So Madisen is sitting pretty?” Levi inquired.
“Anyone would think so, but no. From what we could tell, they are determined to make their own way in the world. Each of them has their own business. Brandy is in charge of the father’s billions and appears to be having a ball, giving his dirty cash away to charities. From what I can see, Madisen must have her father spinning in his coffin, and there’s no doubt she’s relishing pissing on his grave,” Bear added.
“Damn, didn’t see any of this coming,” Levi muttered, scratching his goatee. He idly noted it needed a trim.
“Interested in her?” Bear asked.
“We met after two shitty dates, and we kind of swapped partners. Had a blast with her and was intending to contact her, but been busy. Seeing her today was a shock. Especially with bullets flying. But wanted to know her history before making a move,” Levi admitted. He leaned back against the doorjamb.
“Don’t think those girls are hit it and quit it,” Bear warned.
“Know for a fact two are fucking each other. Probably a serious relationship by the way they look at each other,” Levi replied.
“That reminds me. There were rumours Oscar had sold the four girls into marriages. Two took offence, as they were lesbians and in a committed relationship. The two you mentioned,” Chance said.
Levi narrowed his gaze. His brain worked overtime as he put together what Chance wasn’t saying.
“You think the girls whacked Oscar?”
“Yeah. I do. Madisen coming into control of the fortune? Being left everything? And the old man dies before he officially announces the weddings? Too much co-incidence. Same as the brother going down for assault and drug running. I think one or all four of them planned it out and then sat back and watched Oscar topple. Even betting one of them whispered sweet nothings in his ear as he died,” Chance said.
“Shit. So she’s a stone-cold killer?”
“Dunno. She looks clean to me, protective of her cousins, but if they are all each other has, that would make sense. Madisen strikes me as a person who’d cross lines to protect her own. And I believe she has. Those girls got nobody to call family but each other. Imagine watching your father forcing two lesbian cousins into a fake marriage where rape and beatings would take place… yeah, that shit didn’t go down well. Can easily see Madisen making moves,” Bear agreed.
“But no proof?” Levi pushed.
“None. If Madisen planned it or the cousins, they kept it quiet. There’s been no contact with any crime family since they left home. Madisen met four families in public once, and they were the four who were linked to marry the girls. After that, they all went their own way.”
“And no comeback?” Levi exclaimed incredulously.
“None,” Chance confirmed.
Levi ran his hands through his hair.
“Girl growing up in that household, knowing who her father and brother were? No doubt Madisen knows how to handle shit. What’s the betting Madisen has something on each of them to make them stand down? Girl’s gotta have something, or they’d have been taken as wives, willing or not,” Levi said slowly.
“Agreed. And whatever it is, is fuckin’ powerful. Those families treat women as second-class citizens to be bartered and bought. The fact Madisen brought Oscar to his knees and dismantled his empire. Remember, that’s something that should have taken years but only took a few months. Yeah, she’s got some serious shit on them. None of them would have backed off for anything less,” Bear added.
“You want this woman, Levi?” Chance asked.
Levi pondered the question. He’d enjoyed his time with her the other night. But did Madisen have baggage he did not know about? He remembered her reaction to her cousin’s call and how she changed. Levi had his own stuff to deal with; he didn’t need someone else’s crap. But then again, he had honestly liked the date.
“Dunno,” Levi finally said with a shrug.
“If you’re gonna get involved with her, and she is a decent person, you need your own shit squared away. Got no doubt there’s something in Madisen’s past that will trigger you. You need to be certain you can handle your problems when she dumps hers on you. If you can’t, brother… let her go and move on. Madisen’s a good-looking woman, but there’s no doubt she has a suitcase full of skeletons, and the most recent is her father,” Chance warned.
