“Jacques. I’m glad you finally returned my phone call,” I said casually as I stepped from my vehicle.
The afternoon sun bore down, the day warmer than usual.
“Sorry about the delay,” the family Consigliere said. “I was checking on our good buddy Marcus. He certainly went to great lengths to try and hide the financial details regarding the purchase of the Strathmore property.”
“Apparently. What did you discover?”
“While there are several smaller investors, he managed to get himself in bed with Mark Zuckerman. Does the name sound familiar?”
How interesting. Zuckerman, the man at the restaurant who’d come right up to greet me, gloating because he’d thought he had reason to. A man of means and some connections. Perhaps he’d been gloating when he’d dared mention the transaction.
Squinting, I glanced at my brother’s house, the sun providing the perfect halo style backdrop. Since he’d married Catherine, the place had taken on a softer look with flowers in pots, pillows on a swing hanging from the front porch, and two decorative flags positioned on the house, more in the flower garden out back.
I wondered what my house would look like with some vivid colors both inside and out. I could imagine Josette’s touch with everything. A smile crossed my face. I’d had no understanding of her level of bravery.
She’d insisted on being a part of whatever I had planned. Only she had no idea that it had nothing to do with bringing him to justice with the law. Unless you considered my act one of judge and jury.
However, she deserved to face her attacker. Perhaps she’d be useful. But only if she obeyed my every rule.
The men involved in the Brotherhood were powerful and controlled several companies worldwide. While they weren’t involved per se in politics, they certainly had control over certain prominent members of various law agencies and even a few inside the Senate. All under the radar. One connection I rarely used, an old college buddy of mine in a high-ranking position in the military, had discovered they had several offshore bank accounts and had strong-armed their way into various land deals.
Their claim to fame.
They were rich and powerful.
But in an entirely different way than the Prince family.
Land acquisition by way of contractual force using whatever method necessary.
They had various building contractors on their payroll and had been the silent investor in hundreds of profitable land deals. Resorts. Hotel chains. Housing developments. Given they also hadn’t concentrated their operations to one location in the country, no one had been the wiser it was a group working in tandem.
Brilliant if you ask me.
That was the reason for muscling in on the Strathmore property. Whatever was built would make money, the prime piece highly sought after for years. No wonder the Johnsons were willing to go against our family. Or they’d simply been threatened. It was entirely possible the Brotherhood hadn’t needed muscle to the tune of the Las Riveras up until now. But they’d known they would come up against the Prince family by coming into New Orleans, which had prompted their decision to hire muscle.
Who wouldn’t take the deal going south without exacting revenge.
The death of Vincent hadn’t been on their game plan. That had created a sense of urgency. Perhaps the assassination attempt on my life had been all about sending a warning. We’d look toward the Las Riveras while the Brotherhood swooped in and we’d be none the wiser.
Only they hadn’t counted on the accidental meeting I’d had with an object of Zane’s lust. If there was one thing I knew aboutpossessive men, it was that they didn’t like to lose in business or in pleasure. His discovery of our affair had likely set him off.
If I allowed Josette’s assistance, I could easily bring him out in the open sooner. However, doing so was risky, especially since she was so vulnerable. The names of the members had been a best kept secret.
Until now.
But I had to admit having her by my side was appealing. As long as there wasn’t additional bloodshed.
Whatever happened, Zane would be hunted and killed. Period.
“Anyway,” Jacques continued, pulling me from the images rushing through my mind.
I’d learned more about what had occurred on that late night eight years before and in doing so, for the first time in my life, I’d felt guilt. I’d manhandled her. Yes, we’d had a connection. Yes, we’d enjoyed passion only a couple of times before, but I’d reacted as a monster instead of a man.
“I don’t see how I can get the Johnsons to budge, Sinclair. They were offered twice our price. Unless you want to triple the offer.”
“Do it.” He was shocked I’d agreed, his voice a testament to annoyance. “Go through Greg to make it happen.”
“Don’t you want to run this by Alexander?”
