Ethan sat straighter. “You obviously know more about what’s going on than us.”
Jay ran his thumb over the cold bottle, a deep line between his brows. “Do you remember that day at the park when Chris got a phone call about his adoptive parents’ deaths?”
Ethan nodded. “I remember.”
“They left him their money—all of it. Chris told the lawyer he didn’t want it, but turns out that the money won’t officially be his for the next two years. Waiving the inheritance would give all the money to charity.”
“Why didn’t they leave the money to their biological children?” Anthony asked.
“We don’t know for sure, but Trevor’s apparently in debt, and he needed that money yesterday.” Jay rubbed his eyes, looking more drained with every passing minute.
“What is it?” Anthony hesitantly asked.
Jay exhaled. “If Chris dies during the next two years,all the money goes straight to Trevor and Andy. They have no other way of getting it.”
Tense silence filled the room. Anthony processed Jay’s words, realizing the implications.
Ethan shifted on the couch. “Did Trevor threaten Chris?”
“Yes, but subtly. Nothing on record that we can take to the police.”
“Is that why Chris convinced Melissa to stay at her parents’, and why you’ve been staying at his house?” Anthony asked.
“Yes. I’ve been staying there as backup. Chris has been trying to figure out a way to legally get out of that damn will, and Mickey’s been helping as well. Last I heard, it wasn’t looking promising.”
“Did you and Chris believe he was in danger?” Anthony asked, his anger growing underneath his skin. He could have watched Chris’s back as well.We promised no more secrets.
“Yes, we believed he was in danger. The brothers are pretending to be in Florida and building an alibi, but we knew it was an act.” Jay cleared his throat. “That was why we went to ask Oscar for help.”
“Oscar?” Ethan and Anthony said together.
“Relax, he’s on our side. He gave us Dima as a bodyguard when I wasn’t able to be with Chris during work hours.”
Anthony’s anger flared. “You gotDimainvolvedinstead of telling Ethan and me?”
“Chris didn’t want to tell you two, and I—”
“Preferred to get help from the man who’d tortured me!”
Ethan put his hand on Anthony’s trembling leg. “You’re right; they were idiots, but it’s too late to change that now.” He turned to Jay. “What happened?”
Jay wouldn’t meet Anthony’s eyes. “Dima claimed he was attacked while he and Chris arrived at a shooting range. Someone allegedly jumped him in the parking lot, hit his car, and then took off with Chris. He said that there were two attackers, both wearing masks.”
“Shit.” Ethan buried his face in his hands.
Anthony’s anger was overshadowed by cold numbness and fear.I would have told you never to trust that man.
“Do you think that Dima’s lying?” Ethan asked, doing a remarkable job of keeping himself composed, although Anthony could tell it was a fragile act.
“Yeah, I think he’s lying,” Jay said. “But someonedidbeat him up, so I can’t be completely sure. I mean, why would he risk going against Oscar? He doesn’t even know Trevor or Andy.”
“Dima was Tobias’s man,” Anthony said, remembering how close the two of them had been, in and out of the club. “Chris is one of the reasons Tobias is dead, and you two have given him a golden opportunity to get even.”
Anthony could see the effect of his words in Jay’s eyes,but that didn’t change the truth.
“Is there a way to question Dima?” Ethan asked. “I’m sure you tried, but—”
“Oh, I’m not done trying. I got Oscar to send him with his busted car to my garage tomorrow. I’m going to give that car a thorough look and poke Dima with questions until something slips out.”
