Page 51 of Owned
The man who has threatened to ruin Dad, and has tried at every opportunity. They have been enemies since college. Apparently he had a thing for Mom but she only had eyes for Dad. But why the hell is he there with Ezra?
“He’s Dale’s son?” I shriek, making Jade jump, and Hunter nods. “But Ezra never mentioned his dad the whole time we were together.” My mind is racing trying to remember anything from our time together. But there’s nothing. It was always just him and his mom; they said his dad had left them.
“His dad walked away…” I whisper. My fingers shake as I page through the file.
“It seems that Ezra was the result of an affair from when he would visit London on business.” Deacon places a coffee next to me. “Dale’s wife didn’t want it getting out that he had been unfaithful; they kept him hidden. Paid Ezra’s mum well for her discretion and told her to stay in London.” He points at the financial report showing substantial funds being placed in accounts with Ezra’s mom’s name. “But he was a huge part of his life, just in the shadows. It wasn’t until Ezra was older and graduated with his master’s degree that he moved to New York.That’s when he started spending more time with Mr. Lucas. But again, they kept it quiet and were never photographed together except for this one time.” He points to a picture of the two men laughing, Mr. Lucas’s arm slung around his shoulder and looking so proud. Checking the date stamp on the picture, bile rises in my throat. It was the day he ran. The day he left me, crumpled and broken, and he was smiling.
A warm palm slips into mine, and my muscles start to uncoil as Leo pulls me into him. Looking up at him, I see the understanding swimming in his eyes. He’s noticed the date too. Falling into his embrace, I wrap my arm around his waist and he eclipses me, dropping a gentle kiss to the top of my head.
Silence fills the room, and I’m suddenly aware that all eyes are on us as Deacon clears his throat. Reluctantly, I go to move, but Leo holds me tighter and I’m grateful for his touch. “And now he’s part owner of Peak Investments.” Deacon flicks to the last page of the report showing me the contract for the takeover of Peak. And there it is in black and white.
“What the hell is he playing at?” I whisper.
“Dale is using Ezra to bring down Bright. It’s the only explanation,” Hunter muses as he moves around the island and reaches for Jade.
“You’re seriously in the doghouse for this, Stone. Your sister is in charge here, not you.” She keeps her arms crossed and her guard up.
“I know, Tink.” He kisses her forehead, and I see her resolve melt as her arms loosen and she runs her hands across his chest.
“Something still feels off,” Deacon says, rubbing his hand across his jaw as he continues. “I’m nowhere near done looking into these two. But I thought you would be interested in what I have found so far.”
“Thank you,” I say quietly, nodding slowly as my eyes trail back down to look at the photograph.What the hell is he playing at?
“Now that you have this information, what are you going to do?” Hunter peers over Jade’s head, assessing me, concern etched in his sharp blue eyes and a slight frown set in his brow at how I’m holding on to Leo.
“It explains a lot, but it doesn’t show he’s doing anything wrong,” I muse. “There has to be something in here.” I slowly untangle myself from Leo and pick up the documents.
“What if there isn’t?” Jade asks. “What if it’s all legit and he wants to just do something nice for his son?”
“Then why hide who his son is from the world?”
“Good point.”
“Do you think Trixie knows?” Leo asks.
“I doubt it. She would have said something,” Jade says.
“You sure about that?” Deacon raises his brow at her. “He seems to have her under tight control.”
“I hope you’re wrong,” Jade murmurs.
“I’ve got someone keeping an eye on her.”
“You do?” Jade and I say in unison.
“I didn’t like how he treated her in Vegas, so I’ve got subtle eyes on her.” He shrugs. “If he slips up I’ll know.” Reaching into his pants pocket, he scans his phone before muttering out a string of curses and furiously typing out a message. “Look, I’ve given you everything I have for now, and I’ll update you when I find anything else out, but I need to get back. Olive has to be at school in an hour.” He moves toward the door, not looking up. He wasn't always this way—blunt and distant. It makes my heart ache for what he’s been through. But there is only one person who will melt his frozen heart and that’s his daughter, Olive.
My office door opens slowly, and a white napkin is waved through the gap. I can’t help the giggle that bubbles out of me at the gesture. “You’re safe, Leo.”
“Oh, thank God.” Leo comes into view, dabbing the napkin against his brow. “I thought I might have to bring out the big guns.” He perches on the edge of my desk, his signature lopsided smile plastered on his face.
“And what would they be?” I question, raising my eyebrow at him.
“Well, these, of course.” He proceeds to take off his suit jacket, roll up his sleeves, and flex, treating me to a show of his impressive forearms as I shamelessly track his movements. Tampering down the inappropriate thoughts running through my head, I roll my eyes and throw the shoe-shaped stress ball Jade gave me as a stocking stuffer for Christmas at him. “Stop preening, pretty boy.”
“You think I’m pretty, Ri Ri?” He flutters his eyelashes at me, and I push my chair back to stand, picking up my water spray for my plants.
“No, you think you’re pretty.” I spritz the large yucca plant I keep next to my bookcase, trying to rid myself of the thoughts of what Leo could do with those arms. Clearing my throat as I pluck a stray browning leaf, I ask, “What can I do for you?”
