He found the Free Pen Project website and followed the link from her name to a list of her published works. It was smaller than he expected, but shehadmentioned sometimes giving away stories to journalists with a larger reach.
Still, why would she spend all the time and effort investigating and lining up sources, only to let someone else take all the credit?
If he didn’t know better, he’d think the FPP and her job were just a cover.
His phone vibrated with a call from Todd and he answered immediately, glad for the distraction. “Hey, man, what’s up?”
They made small talk for a minute, and then Todd said, “So, um, I know you’ve probably been trying to ignore everything, but did you see the news about the Feds seizing Warner’s offshore accounts?”
“No, but I’m glad the plan worked.”
Emma had turned over her account number to the police, explaining again why she had access to such a thing, and that the money had been donated already. Her colleague had redirected it to charities that worked to prevent human trafficking and help its victims. The Feds had decided to let that go.
Jason was fine with it.
“Well,” Todd said, “apparently, they only found about a hundred thousand in the account he used for the payoff.”
“Really?” Jason sat up. Warner had acted like the ten million was a drop in the bucket. “No way our hush money cleaned him out. He must have had other accounts.”
“He did,” Todd said. “Several. All mostly empty. And according to bank records, a large transfer followed shortly on the heels of yours. We’re talkingnine figures. He could’ve done it himself, but considering that he accused your brother of stealing his money just minutes later…”
Jason’s back stiffened. “Are you saying Byron actually stole the money?” His brother had seemed genuinely confused by the accusation, but given the life he’d been leading, he was probably a master at deception.
Todd swore and let out a deep sigh. “Don’t hate me, but based on the timing, I don’t think it was your brother.”
“Then who?” Wait. Jason shook his head as his friend’s insinuation became clear. “No,” he said firmly.
“Dude, I’m sorry, but look at the facts.”
“No.” He stood. “It wasn’t her.”
“You don’t think it’s weird that she not only had some secret bank account ready to go, but also a ‘friend’ who could essentially launder the money? Or that Warner didn’t seem bothered by his account balance until after your transfer went through? I mean, do you even have proof that the charities were paid?”
“But…” Jason’s lungs constricted. As much as he didn’t want to admit it—didn’t want to have doubts about Emma—Todd’s arguments made sense. If he were talking about anyone else, Jason wouldn’t hesitate to agree with him.Shit. “Wouldn’t the Feds be able to trace where the money went?”
“They’re working on it, but apparently it’s a labyrinth of anonymous companies and accounts.”
Jason rubbed the back of his neck. Had he been wrong to trust Emma with his heart again? He needed to think. Or, better yet, talk to her. “I’ll call you back.”
He considered calling Emma, but Natalie’s service was this morning, so she wouldn’t answer anyway.
A boulder settled in his gut as he tossed his phone on the table next to the ashtray. If Emmahadduped him into helping her steal Warner’s money, then she was even worse than Lauren, who’d not only wanted to flaunt him in front of her ex, but had ultimately wanted access to one of his famous friends, A-list actor Brandon Marlowe. Lauren had hoped Brandon would either hire her events company, or refer her to one of his big-name friends for their next major function, securing her position on the Hollywood scene.
Brandon had done a few favors for Jason over the years, using his star power, and even his home on St. Isidore to help protect people in danger. And Jason had paid back the actor with reliable, discreet bodyguards and regular security evaluations for him and his close family.
Lauren learned of their connection from a tabloid photo of Brandon being shadowed at a charity event by one of Steele’s close protection specialists. When Jason refused to make the introduction, she’d dropped him cold. The saddest part was, eventually, he probably would have been willing to use any of his connections to help her. Maybe he’d held back because deep down he suspected she wanted something from him.
Didn’t they always?
A betrayal by Emma would hit far worse than Lauren’s, because he’d fallen in love with her again, and he could’ve sworn she felt...somethingin return.
Or maybe he’d been fooling himself. Hell, maybe she’d been setting him up as revenge for failing to protect her from Trey. Or for the way he’d treated her afterward.
Even if he deserved it, he didn’t want to believe she could be that cruel. But now he was seeing every moment—every tender fucking second they’d spent together—in a different light.
Fuck. Jason folded over and rested his face in his palms and tried to slow his breathing.
Stop this. What are you doing?
