“Can’t say I blame you.”
“Do you think that’s a wise decision?” Trevor asked from beside him. “You seem pretty keyed up. With good reason,” he added quickly. “I’d want to beat the hell out of the man, too, if I were you.”
“I don’t plan on beating Thomas Marsh up. That would only give him more ammunition to use against me. The last thing I want is for the bastard to have more leverage to hold over my head.”
“So what is your plan?” Jake eyed him closely.
Matt shrugged. “Just want to talk. Confirm what Kat said was true.”
Trevor shook his head. “You realize he’ll probably never own up to it.”
“Actually, I think that’s exactly what he’ll do.”
Gabe’s brows turned inward. “What makes you say that?”
He pictured Marsh’s smug face with his perpetually turned-up nose. “Kat’s dad is a textbook narcissist with major control issues. Especially when it comes to his daughter. He’s also arrogant as fuck. The bastard got what he wanted, so in his mind, he won.” Matt shook his head. “No way he passes up on the chance to rub that shit in my face.”
“You think that’ll bring you closure?” Jake asked pointedly.
“Partial closure. Yes.” Matt nodded. “A five-minute conversation. That’s all I need. I know it probably sounds stupid, but I need Marsh to know I know. Once that happens, I think I’ll finally be able to move forward.”
“With Katherine?” his boss asked, sounding hopeful. Damn, the man really was a romantic at heart.
Matt thought for a second. If he’d been asked that question a day ago—hell, twohoursago—his answer would’ve been an immediate and unquestionable ‘fuck no’.
Her earlier words still rang loudly behind his ears.
I did love you. I still…
She’d tried to tell him she still loved him, but he wouldn’t listen. Suddenly, Matt wished he’d have shut the fuck up and let her finish.
“Maybe.” Turning to Gabe, he added, “If she’ll still have me.”
All three men smiled back at him. Then, after sharing a look with Trevor, Jake stood from the couch and made his way around the coffee table. He extended his hand.
“I’ll make sure the jet is fueled and ready to go. I’ll stay behind to assist Derek with whatever he needs until you get back. Take Trevor and Gabe with you, in case Marsh decides to grow a wild hair and try something stupid.”
“Thanks, Jake.”
With a nod, the man walked to the front door and pulled it open. Before he left, he turned back around and told Matt, “Say what needs to be said, and get your ass back here. We’ve got work to do.”
A while later, as Gabe flew them to California, Matt thought about his conversation with Jake once more. Not only had the man not fired him, he was actually letting him use the company jet for personal business…while in the middle of a job.
His personal life may be a jumbled mess of shit, but damn. As far as the professional side of things went, Matt couldn’t ask for a better boss—or team—to work with.
After the three-plus hour flight into Long Beach, Matt found himself standing across the street, staring at the ornate, wrought-iron gate. He’d gone through it a handful of times with Kat when they were younger.
Back then, his gut had tightened with anxiety every time they came here. And, if he were being completely honest, a little fear. As he stared at the man’s ridiculously large house now, the only thing Matt felt was fury.
He was pissed at what Kat’s dad had threatened to do to him, but he was even more upset by what the man had done to her.
“You ready?” Gabe asked beside him.
Matt nodded. “More than you know.”
“Just remember,” Trevor said, presenting himself as the voice of reason. “Guy like this probably has security cameras in every room. Let him make the first contact.”
With nothing more than a tip of his head, Matt checked for traffic before starting across the paved road. The other two men followed, having his back as all R.I.S.C. operatives did.
