“He was in too deep with the money laundering,” Gage fills in for her. “Dimitri Makarov had spent two years searching for Niko when he decided someone was going to fucking pay. By that time, if Shane had given you up, he’d have looked too guilty. He’d laundered the money and lied when initially questionedabout the last time he’d seen Niko. It was too late. Once things heated up, he steered his grandfather toward you guys.”
“When we had our heart-to-heart with Shane,” Liam starts, coffee in hand and his gaze set on me, “he informed us that his grandfather wasn’t convinced of your guilt, but when you and Cash showed up at Hunter’s house, Shane knew you were close to uncovering his part in it. He came somewhat clean with his grandfather, specifically describing you and a girl matching Tessa’s description.”
That’s why those contract enforcers—Lund’s men—chased us down the morning of July Fourth. Damage control. When he wasn’t successful at eliminating us, he must have figured he needed Dimitri Makarov to back him up, which was what we heard on that tapped phone call.
“Hunter squealed?” I croak out.
“Nah.” Cash blows that off. “Shane had been nervous and watching Hunter’s every move. Hunter’s lucky he’s still alive though. They would’ve gone after him eventually.”
Tessa strokes her forehead, struggling with something. “I’m still a little confused. Shane recognized me through the window that night?”
“He said he’d seen you earlier that day, and when Niko asked where he could blow off some steam, he pointed him in your direction.” Gage tears off a piece of his beignet. “He claimed he didn’t know what Niko would do, which might have some fucking merit, but anyone who knew who that fucker was knew what he was capable of. When Niko didn’t return, Shane snuck down there, saw what had happened, and celebrated being a million dollars richer.”
Tessa shakes her head, riled up like a firecracker. “It still doesn’t make sense. I guess Shane knew who I was, but that was when I was fifteen. I looked different. And even at that, he’dnever seen me up close. Was this some sort of revenge because I’d stolen his car all those years ago?”
The thought of that, of Violet suffering because of it, is probably killing her.
Axel takes that one. “The reason he recognized you was because of his association with Hunter in college. They’d been frat buddies, so he connected your name with pictures Hunter had. But you hadn’t stolen Shane’s car. The reason the DA kept trying to get you to turn in your accomplices was because they thought you were part of a car theft ring. The teacher hadn’t called the cops. He actually came clean about what he’d done, though it was never exposed because Eden was an adult and he resigned.”
Tessa straightens, her face stony. “Who called the police then?”
“No one.” Axel slants his head, silently instructing her not to jump to conclusions. “The department was on high alert for certain vehicles, including the one you took. That’s why you were caught so quickly. The DA mentioned Shane’s name to you to gauge your reaction. But after a while, it was clear you were just a kid who’d stolen a car for a stupid reason, which is why they went a bit lighter.”
“Shane was bitter about that.” Liam sips his coffee, relaxed with his ankle resting on his knee as he elaborates. “You stealing that car caused a ripple effect. The police force seized the rest of the vehicles from that warehouse and cracked down on the area, so his grandfather had to shut down that operation. It was the first job Shane had been given, and because his grandfather faulted him, it was also the last one. Until he was asked to deliver the money to Niko. Seeing you that day was an unfortunate coincidence, one he decided to cash in on.”
Fumes waft from my girl. “What happened to Shane?”
“Neutralized,” Gage says, swilling his coffee.
Tessa exhales and snuggles up to me. She’s fully immersed in our world now. Ryker studies Mercy, but it seems his wife is good with that outcome too.
Moving on, they show me the decimation of Lund headquarters. They hit them during a strategy meeting, so the entire hierarchy of that organization is gone.
Liam stands, plainly ready to get back to his family. “As planned, the Makarovs heard the story about the hit and know we’re coming for them. What they don’t know is that their safe house is wired to explode”—he glances at his phone—“in about an hour. Dimitri, his executive staff, and his prominent foot soldiers have already fled. They are due to arrive in twenty minutes, so it’s just about done.”
“And the family members?” Mercy asks, and Tessa’s ears perk up too.
He smiles, probably used to fielding these inquiries with his own wife. “They have a separate safe house used for loved ones and their guard detail. That is in part for this exact scenario, but also because the Makarovs don’t allow their wives in any part of the business. Anywhere dealings could be discussed is off-limits. We have eyes on the house though. No innocents will be harmed.”
Gage rises to join him, hovering in the doorway. “The only question left is, how much ownership do you want over it?”
“All of it.” Axel stands, too, eager to wrap things up. “We’ll call a mandatory assembly of all members. Violence was brought upon us with insufficient evidence. Our response should be understood.” He peers at my girl, a proud smile blooming on his face. “And while she’s already been claimed, it’s a good opportunity for us to announce Tessa as the newest Noire queen.”
“Solid decisions,” I commend them. “Now get the fuck out so I can grope my fiancée in peace.”
The room erupts with smart-ass barbs, boisterous laughs, the squeaks of chairs, and muffled conversations, but all I see and hear and feel is her.
Fuck, she’s pretty.
She shimmies onto the edge of the bed, lying with me, so careful not to cause me any discomfort. I want her to slather herself on top of me like a wetsuit, submerging me in her ocean intoxication, but my body would likely protest that.
Instead, since she’s banged up herself, I check in with her. “How’s your head?”
She bats her lashes, alerting me to her impending snark. “Better than your chest.”
I chuckle, then moan because laughing sucks. “Not a competition, baby girl.”
“If it were, I’d win.” She beams before her face falls, her lip wobbling and uncharacteristic tears sliding down her cheeks. “I would have done anything to switch places. By the time I got you here, you looked …”
