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“Good,” Nick said, setting his unopened can on the small table in front of the sofa. “Because we’re running out of options here.”
“I know,” Ben nodded.
“Do you?” Nick stepped closer. “Do you really? Because we need answers. Who the fuck is behind this and how the hell do we get them to stop?”
If there had been anything kind in Ben’s eyes, it died away…leaving something menacing behind.
“Was today The Order?” Nick’s stare was fixed on the older man.
“I’m not sure.” Ben shook his head, earning a snarl from Tobias. He winced at the sound, glancing at T before he continued. “I have men watching the compound, and more on the ground listening for anything that sounds even remotely like they’re hunting. For all we know, it could be Killion. The bastard is ruthless and sneaky.”
I flinched at that name, my blood running cold.
“What I do know is that this is no longer business.” His voice turned colder. “It’s now personal for those men. If they can’t get Ryth back, then they’ll set an example of her. Make sure no one else tries to take what they feel belongs to them.”
“I’ll fucking kill them before they come anywhere near her.” Tobias’ words were devoid of emotion. But I knew the rage that burned under the surface, and so did everyone else in the room.
“You said Ryth’s father was working for you.” Nick tried to find some sense in the mess of threads we had. “All the information we’ve found said he stole a shipment of drugs.”
“Lies.”
I flinched, my heart thundering as Ben met my gaze. “Yes, your father worked for me and had done for years. He was loyal, to a goddamn fault, and I consider him one of my closest friends. I need you to understand that…all of you.”He sounded almost desperate. “Because he didnotsteal from me. Not a fucking dollar, not a gram of cocaine. That weekend he left to go south, he wasn’t working for me.”
I stiffened as a phantom sting lashed my cheek, still burning from the imprint of a hand. “So, everything my mom told me…”
“More lies.” Ben’s gaze was fixed on me.
“And every time I saw your man drive past our house?” I whispered as pieces started to fall into place.
Ben’s voice softened. “And at school. We were trying keeping an eye on you, making sure you were safe…until your mom…”
“Burned down our house,” I responded, the truth finally hitting home.
He didn’t answer, because he didn’t need to.
“What was her father involved with?” Caleb enquired.
“I don’t know. He was handling private matters.” Ben looked away. “Ones he didn’t confide to me.”
“Are you saying he was working for someone else?” Caleb tried to read between the lines.
“Working for, or with.”
“Who?” Nick asked.
Ben just shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“Mr. King,” Caleb whispered, staring at nothing.
But the name alone made Benjamin Rossi flinch and scowl. “What did you say?”
There was a second, one where Caleb tried to think. “That night…when he saved my goddamn life, he called those bastards at The Order and he said a name…Mr. King.He said,I’ll have the FBI and the CIA on your doorstep by morning, well before Mr. King can get to you.”
Caleb narrowed in on Ben, we all did.
“Who the fuck is King?” Nick asked.
Ben shook his head slowly. “I don’t—”
