Xavier and Hunt share a look.
“What’s that look for?” I ask.
“Jase has an older brother,” Hunt says. “That could be him.”
“I’d suggest you call Ares and ask him about this,” Keven says, scrubbing a hand over his smooth jawline, “but given what happened to Ezra, we need to think carefully about our next move.”
“What line of business is this asshole in?” I ask, crossing one ankle over my knee.
“He is an asshole, but he’s one of the good guys,” Xavier says. “He works for his family business though I’m not sure exactly what he does. The business is vast, encompassing many companies though their main business is finance. His mom is the CEO. You’ll know her, Charlie. She’s Daphne Salinger.”
“Salinger Finance and Investment Banking Limited is one of our main competitors,” Charlie says. “I’ve met Daphne several times, but I’ve never met her son. If he works there, he mustn’t have a key role.”
“At least you have additional incentive for taking this guy out.” I crack my knuckles.
Xavier jabs his finger in my face. “No one is taking Ares out.”
“He’s out for my blood,” I say in a clipped tone.
“We don’t know that for sure,” Hunt coolly says. “All we have right now is a connection to Athena and proof he’s someone important.”
“Someoneextremelypowerful,” Keven corrects, eyeballing all of us. “Someone who I’m guessing is involved in a lot more than just the family business.”
“What are you thinking?” I ask.
“Remember when I was running the FBI investigation after the Parkhurst bombing?” he says, and we all nod. It’s not like any of us have ever forgotten the events of that day. “I shared my frustrations with you at the time. I hated how a few men were made scapegoats while most got away scot-free. We knew they were being protected by higher-ups, and I always got a sense there was something else at play. That this was bigger than the elite.”
I sit up straighter in my chair. “There’s another entity, and they’re the ones really calling the shots.” Keven nods as a few things click into place in my head. “We know there was someone working with Charlie’s dad and Anderson’s dad back in the day, someone we were never able to identify, but we assumed it was Mathers or Hamilton or both of them, but what if it wasn’t? What if it was this group?”
“And what if they’re the same ones who warned you off seven years ago?” Charlie says. “Could these men be part of that crew who ambushed you?”
“I wouldn’t rule anything out at this point.” I claw a hand through my hair as excitement skates through my veins. We’re onto something. I feel it in my bones.
“My dad said something strange to me once,” Charlie adds. “It was during senior year. He referenced how the elite were a global organization, which isn’t true because our history confirms it’s strictly restricted to the US. I presumed he meant the elite had global connections and this could be it. Whatever or whoever this group is, if they are more powerful, it would stand to reason their network is worldwide.”
“And if your dad was mentioning this at a time when he was working to take down my father and return order to the elite, it makes sense that their silent partner was a part of this organization.”
“I’m not discounting those theories,” Hunt says, “but it’s all supposition. We could be forcing square pegs in round holes.”
“It feels right though,” Charlie says, and I’m nodding even though he can’t see me.
“I agree. This feels like we’re on the right track, but how can we prove it?” My gaze bounces between the three men around the table.
Xavier looks at Sawyer. “We’re long overdue a catch-up with Ares. Let me call him and tell him we’re coming to Lowell with the kids.”
All the blood drains from my face, and Kennedy notices.
“What is it, Manning?”
Xavier and Hunt whip their heads around.
“The last sighting I have of the Ford family was in northern California. In a place called Prestwick, which is only a few miles from Lowell.”
ChapterTwenty-Six
Drew
You could hear a pin drop in the room until Charlie speaks. “It can’t be a coincidence. You were warned off shortly after you made that connection. Ares must be involved. He knows what happened to Jane and her family, and maybe he told you to drop it out of courtesy to Daniels instead of putting a bullet in your skull.”
