The suggestion is enough to make my hatred of Gage burn even hotter through my blood.
Gage offers Mom a contrite look. “I was sent here with two goals—to figure out if you were in bed with him or if you were just innocent bystanders, and to determine if I could lure McDonald out of hiding by letting him know I was in town and could help him get to Satriano.”
Fuck.
Isaac begins pacing, rubbing at the back of his head. Cass and Kennedy exchange a look, and he keeps his arm around her, ensuring she doesn’t go after Gage like she clearly wants to.
Cass scans the room. “Why not just approach the Hawkes?”
Something dark crosses over Gage’s gaze. “Because if you were in bed with him, then you’d be just as dangerous as he is. There have been rumors for years about the Hawkes, and debate within the FBI about whether or not you were a criminal organization. If I had found anything incriminating, the FBI would have started trying to make a case against you while we continued to try to deal with Satriano and McDonald.”
A muscle in Dad’s jaw tics as he glares at Gage. “Have you been feeding McDonald information about us?”
I hold my breath, but I can already tell by the fear in Gage’s eyes what his answer will be.
“No. I…” His gaze flicks to me. “I couldn’t—” He swallows his words, the plea in his eyes forcing me to close my own. “I’ve been sending information back to my people and the FBI that you’re not involved with Satriano, that you’re not a threat, and that Hawke Enterprises is a legitimate business entity. I explained that you all got unwittingly wrapped up with Satriano. As far as McDonald goes, I haven’t seen him in person since he arrived in town, and I had no idea he was going to target you, that he was even aware of the ongoing issues between you and Satriano at all.”
Dad crosses his arms. “Why did you have all the bomb making materials?”
“Because I was trying to figure out what he used in the bomb at the club, what triggering mechanism was utilized and the frequency, so I could determine if there was a way to ensure it couldn’t happen again. I was trying to develop a way to block the signal in case he sets another one.”
It was sophisticated.
In the time it took for me to explain what I had found in Gage’s secret room, I convinced Dad to reveal everything they had developed since the explosion.
And that bomb didn’t go off randomly.
It didn’t go off until we were all standing together right near that car, which means McDonald was watching.
“How did he get to Gabe’s car?” Kennedy doesn’t sound any calmer than she did earlier, despite the efforts of Cass to calm her. “You are the only one who would’ve had access.”
Gage shakes his head, his jaw hardening. “No, I’m not. Someone on your security team has been paid off by McDonald. I was able to confirm that just today through my handler. He gained access to McDonald’s banking records and saw a massive cash withdrawal only days before the explosion. He paid someone. It’s the only explanation.” He locks gazes with Dad. “You need to gut your entire team. Figure out who McDonald approached. Someone who would’ve had access to the surveillance feeds who could have cut them or looped them when he planted the bomb.”
Dad turns and locks his gaze with mine. “Bishop? Who could it be?”
My legs are trembling, my knees threatening to give out, and not just because we have another traitor in the Hawke house, but because I think I actually believe the one in front of us.
There’s a plea in his gaze, a look that begs me to see the truth behind all the lies, even if I don’t trust him.
“I didn’t just join your security team to get close to you. I did it because I know how Satriano and McDonald work, and I knew one or both of them would figure out a way to infiltrate you for their own purposes. I was looking for the spy even before I had confirmation there was one.”
“You!”
I can’t take it anymore and shove off the wall, stalking across the room toward him with all the fury that’s been boiling inside me ready to blow. Stopping just in front of Dad and Mom, I glare at the man who broke through my walls, built me back up, only to shatter me completely.
“You’re right about there being a spy. I’m looking at him. I don’t care if every single word you just said is true, that doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t make what you did right, and it doesn’t mean any of us could ever forgive you or trust you again.”
He flinches at my words.
Good.
I storm toward the door, which unfortunately also means toward him.
“Bishop, what are you doing?” Dad’s voice doesn’t stop me. “Shit.”
He probably thinks I’m going to kill Gage with my bare hands.
God knows I could with the rage simmering inside me.
