“Give me a sec to explain.” Kari tilted his head, waiting for Kodi, who waved a hand for him to continue. “Dash doesn’t know, as far as Dad’s investigator can tell, what Rex is doing. Dash is funding Rex’s business because the asshole is inept. It took very little to discover that he is all showboating and has no genuine talent. He uses people who do have talent, then claims their work as his own. There are several action suits against him. All from disgruntled, previous employees. He makes out they’re all useless and he had to fire them.”
Rex had bought the apartment above Bowie’s, but it wasn’t his home because he lived in a posh house with the rich omega. The apartment was down as a business purchase for clients visiting town. They couldn’t say for sure that Rex had bought it after researching Bowie, but Kari suspected Rex choosing an apartment in Bowie’s building wasn’t a coincidence. There was just no evidence to support the theory.
Kodi plonked himself back in the seat, scowling. “A Grade sleazebag!Bowie needs a keeper.”
Kari agreed, nodding. He wanted to be Bowie’s keeper… on a more permanent basis. But he didn’t say that aloud because he needed to speak to Bowie first.
“I get what Jupiter was hinting at now. He’s always said you were my keeper.” Kodi’s chuckle was dry. “He’s not wrong, is he?”
Kari shrugged off the comment. “So, are we okay now?
“Yep. You know you could have told me.”
“And listen to you come up with more choice comments about Bowie? No thanks.”
Kodi wore a sheepish expression, blushing. “Sorry, you know what I’m like.”
“I do, but Bowie doesn’t. He’s soft hearted and doesn’t need your flippant rants hurting his feelings,” Kari stated firmly.
“I get it,” Kodi murmured, wearing a searching look. “You have feelings for Bowie.”
Kari didn’t deny it. “Please say nothing to the others.”
“Is this why you didn’t talk to me? Because you worried about me oversharing?”
Hearing how down in the mouth Kodi sounded left Kari out of sorts. “Not really. But you do have a habit of overreacting. And to be honest, I didn’t want to contend with thatandfigure out where things were heading with Bowie.”
“I see.” Kodi’s lips pursed, and he ran a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry I’m such a handful.”
“You’re my twin, and I love you. Being a handful is just who you are,” Kari joked, grinning at Kodi.
Kodi rolled his eyes, a smile appearing. “It’s fine, I don’t need to poke at you when I’ve got Taylin to poke at.” His laughter filled the room.
“You can add Silas to that as well,” Kari supplied, throwing his older brother under the bus with no qualms.
Kodi scratched his beard scruff. “What’s this?”
“He’s shagging Ziggy in the office… or he was. I haven’t seen Ziggy about much, after the swap with Wilder.”
The laughter increased. “I’ll have to poke at him and see what I can pry loose!”
“Just don’t let on that it was me who told you, I’ve enough to deal with.”
That brought the laughter to an end. “What are you and Dad gonna do about making sure Rex gets his just desserts?”
“Oh, he’ll get his alright.” Kari’s eyes glittered with danger. “Dad has spoken to a few of his contacts in the ad business. Rex will find it hard, if not impossible, to get new business, for starters. Dad is also adding some financial support to those who have filed suits against him, so they don’t give up. As for his current partner, I was thinking of sending an anonymous text when Rex is away on a work trip. I’m not sure if Dash knows exactly what a monster Rex really is. This will give him time to have a search through Rex’s stuff. I have the pictures I took of Bowie’s injuries so I’ll be sharing them with him. Then it’s up to him, isn’t it?”
“I’ll do it. That gives you some distance, and if there’s fallout, it’ll come my way and not yours. Just send me what you have. I’ll get a burner phone so it can’t be traced back to us.”
That he would offer made Kari smile. “Thanks, I’ll do that.”
A gentle tap at the door had Kodi stand and nod at Kari. “Don’t shut me out from now on, okay? I’ll always have your back, no matter what.”
Kari rose too, nodding at his brother as he went in for a hug. “Same goes, remember. When you’re ready to talk about what’s bothering you, I’ll be here for you too.”
Kodi groaned and pushed him away, rolling his eyes. “Will do.”
He strode to the door before Kari could say more and opened it. Bowie hovered outside and he eyed Kodi with unease.
