“So,” Leland said, “this Frederick guy, how much money does he have access to right now? And what kind of connections does he have?”
Drakos looked confused.
Leland rephrased the question like he was questioning a small child. “Does the bad man have enough money to hire thugs to come after us?”
Drakos grimaced at his tone, then sighed. “Yes, he has plenty of money now. He did get access to his father’s accounts. So, if he hasn’t wasted it, he has enough to hire whoever he needs.” His head snapped up. “But I honestly never suspected he would try to harm me to access his father’s things. When he learned I took possession of all this, he threw a childish tantrum. He yelled. And literally stomped his feet. But I didn’t think he’d become violent.”
Jason leveled a hard glare at Drakos. “Until we get this sorted, you stay out of sight. Don’t go back to yourresidence at the hotel or anywhere someone would expect to find you. Don’t tell anyone where you are. Have your staff tell guests you left town, or you’re ill, or whatever you want.” He tossed Drakos a burner phone. “I’ll keep in touch with you on that. Don’t share the number.”
He addressed Drakos’ bodyguards. “Stick close to him at all times. And make sure he keeps his head down.” They both nodded.
“I will do what you say,” Drakos said. Jason didn’t feel bad that the man looked scared. His fear might help him stay alive.
Jason marched across the gravel parking area, slid behind the steering wheel, and slammed his door. Tayla climbed in the passenger side and Leland retook his seat in the back. Jason met his gaze in the rearview mirror. “I don’t like protecting a guy so he can sit on his stash of stolen goods.”
“Me either,” Leland said. “But we have to find the person who killed Gus. This Frederick guy seems the most likely to be involved. So, we start there.”
They watched Drakos’ SUV leave the parking area.
“Do you think his security can protect him?” Leland asked.
“I checked into them this morning. Yeah, I think they’re good to run defense. We need to handle the offense. If this guy is determined, they won’t be able to hold him off forever.”
“He sent men to Houston for Leland and sent those men to your suite today. He sounds determined to me,” Tayla said.
A loud pop sounded nearby—accompanied by a thud against their SUV.
Seriously? That sounded like—
Jason’s hand pushed her head down to her knees. “Stay down!”
The SUV roared to life. And raced through the loose-gravel parking area.
Another thud. And this time she clearly registered the report of a gun. Tayla tried to keep her head low while grabbing onto the edge of the console to steady herself. She couldn’t see the backseat from her hunched position. “Leland!”
“I’m fine. Stay down!”
Hearing his voice kept her from completely panicking. She stayed low, but turned her head to watch Jason. He was laser-focused, with an intense sort of calm about him. Two more thuds. She shrieked and shrank deeper into her seat. Jason’s eyes darted to hers. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Fine.” Which wasn’t really true. But she hadn’t been shot. And that’s probably what he meant.
“Everybody hold on.”
She watched him jerk the wheel and all her insides flew to the left.
Chapter 6
Jason made another hard turn, and Tayla’s body slammed into her door. She wished she had her seatbelt on. Staying practically folded in half, she felt around for the seatbelt and pulled it across her lap.
She heard Jason say, “Yeah, good idea.”
She tugged it to the opposite side to click it in place, but the SUV’s movements and her awkward position made it difficult. She felt Jason jerk the seatbelt out of her hand and shove it into the buckle. “Thanks.”
“No problem.”
He jerked the wheel again, forcing the lap belt deep in her gut. She would probably have bruises tomorrow.
“Leland? You still okay?” She asked.
