“Tobias David Land,” Toby answered quickly, settling back against the couch cushions, his expression that of a man who was tired of running.
“Then who’s Patrick O’Brien?”
Toby’s eyebrow quirked slightly. “A myth, a figment of my imagination. Take your pick. I made him up to protect myself.”
Ah, hell. It was getting weirder by the second.
Brantley frowned. “Protect yourself? From who? Moroso?”
He shook his head. “From Hartwood. And then, yes, ultimately Sabrina. Although, I got in over my head on that one.” He sighed. “I didn’t mean for it to go this far, but the more I fabricated, the more interesting the imaginary O’Brien became. At least to them.”
Reese would have to agree, considering even the Adorites believed that O’Brien was real, that he was an Irish mobster working with Sabrina Moroso to take over Adorite territory.
“I pretended to be O’Brien’s front man when I realized it offered me some protection. The last thing Hartwood wanted to do was piss off the Irish Mob, so he believed me. Sabrina, not so much.”
“The rumor is Sabrina’s sleepin’ with O’Brien,” Reese told him, recalling what Max had said.
“That’s all it is,” Toby admitted. “A rumor. Fabricated by me when Hartwood started asking questions. Bought me a little time.”
“Let me guess,” Brantley mused, “he suspected you were lyin’, but then he figured out the truth the night you stole his car and wrecked it.”
Toby leaned forward, dropping his head in his hands. “It was so fuckin’ stupid. I know it.” His tone was tormented. “And yes, he figured it out that night. Vowed to eliminate me when he thought I was arrested. I told his goons I wouldn’t talk.” His eyes lifted. “And I didn’t. I swear it. I didn’t tell the cops anything.”
Reese narrowed his eyes. “Did you have somethin’ to tell?”
Toby shrugged. “I might know some things.”
“Somethin’ pertinent enough to take him down?” Brantley inquired.
“Probably.”
Reese shook his head. How in the fuck could one man get himself in so much damn trouble? All from a lie?
Then again, based on what JJ had uncovered about Toby’s past business dealings, he was starting to believe the man’s entire life was a lie. He wasn’t a salesman or an entrepreneur like Cindy and Thomas had always led Reese to believe. No, Toby Land was a con man.
And based on the hot water he’d landed himself in, he was a pretty fucking shitty one at that.
***
Cindy could understand why Brantley and Reesewere staring at Toby like he’d sprouted a third eyeball or maybe a second set of ears. She’d felt the same disbelief when he’d revealed the truth to her. She still didn’t understand why a man would be compelled to create a fictional life for himself in order to impress others.
Then again, there wasn’t much about Toby Land that she believed was real. She couldn’t help but wonder how he’d managed to snow Thomas all those years. Had her husband known? Had Thomas realized Toby’s entire existence was built on a fictional house of cards? They’d been close growing up. Wouldn’t he have seen it? Cindy had heard the stories of their childhood, which was the only reason she knew there was some good deep inside Toby, even if it was wrapped in lies and deceit.
“What’s your plan?” Reese prompted Toby as all eyes remained locked on the man who was practically cowering into the sofa cushion.
His gaze lifted and his brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“You can’t run forever. Hell, I’m sure the bounty hunter y’all knocked out earlier will be back sooner or later.”
Cindy’s eyes widened as she stared at her son. “Bounty hunter?”
Reese nodded. “Atticus James. Came to take Toby in and collect his money.”
Oh, dear.
Toby had told her that man was coming to kill them, which was the only reason she’d hit him the way she had. It had been a natural survival instinct that had caused her to grab the nearest object—in this case a bat—and whack him over the head with it.
“Is he all right?” she asked.
