Page 131 of Without a Hitch
“Dude,” Colton says. “He’s in the hospital, stuck in a bed with a tube sticking out of his gut. It isn’t like he could just run to the jeweler and have something made. Plus, you know Lochlan. Even making a promise like that is huge. He’s in for the long haul, and you know it.”
I’ve never been more thankful for Colton Westbrook in my life.
“He should have told us his intentions.” Preston grunts. Actually grunts, then kicks a chair before sitting down. The man is usually unflappable, so seeing him worked up on my behalf warms my chest.
The door bursts open, and a mountain of a man with a full beard and tattooed arms strolls in. I inch behind Colton, but he just stands there and smiles.
“He lives.” Colton laughs. “Blake Kingston, it’s good to see you, man.”
“If I’d known there was a fucking assembly, I never would have gotten on the damn plane.”
“But you’re here now, for your friend. It means a lot.” Colton leans in and wraps the stranger in a bro hug.
“I’m here. What are we going to do?”
“Well, lucky for us, my brother Ashton is a genius and can do some really scary shit with computers.” Colton beams with pride as he tosses a folder onto the table.
Nova reaches it first and flips it open.
“Christine and Paul are con artists. The Bryer-Blaine was their crown jewel, or it was supposed to be. They spent four times the amount of resources working your family than any of the other jobs they’ve pulled, combined.”
Nova collapses into the chair beside Kitty, who’s gone pale. Her words a breathy whisper. “I let him in. I…”
“Mrs. Blaine? They’re very good at what they do. There’s no way you could have known,” Preston says gently.
My stomach turns as Colton explains, “They spent an entire year watching you. Targeting you all. It wasn’t their first job, but they’d hoped it would be their last. I’m guessing that’s why they came at you as hard as they did. Christine meticulously planned it, and Paul is basically her gofer. He’s by no means innocent, but she was certainly the brains of their operation.”
“How do we stop them?” Kitty asks, but her voice is monotone, and Nova takes her hand.
“Should I get Ollie?” I ask, suddenly regretting having him sit by Lochlan’s side.
“No, but thank you,” Nova responds. “Just tell us what to do.”
“Well.” Colton’s eyes shine as he turns up the charm. “I don’t think there is anything for you to do. The two of us,” Blake grunts, and Colton flashes him an award-winning smile. “Excuse me, the three of us—”
“Hey.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. We’ll all go.” Colton grins, and I realize that was the plan all along. “We’ll offer them a deal. They wouldn’t sell to Blake because of his connection to Loch. They won’t even take a meeting with us for the same reason.”
I stare at him in confusion as dread settles in my gut. “How will this plan work if they won’t even meet with us?”
Colton’s eyes dance as he glances around the room. “We have shell companies, well, our brother has shell companies that can’t be traced back to The Westbrook Group. We’re using one of those. They’ll never see us coming.”
Nova stares between the two Westbrooks and Blake, then shakes her head. “This is a whole lotta testosterone wrapped up in dollar signs.”
Colton and Preston laugh with matching full-body chuckles, and even Blake grunts with a grin.
“We’ll offer them a deal, but it won’t matter if they take it or not—the FBI will close in as soon as we’re done. Our brother has connections that will allow you to say your piece to the con artists, but their fate is already sealed,” Preston explains.
“Do you think they’re dangerous?” My nerves force me to ask the question.
“We wouldn’t let you anywhere near them if we thought for even a second that they’d harm you, Till.” Preston commands the room when he speaks. He reminds me of Lochlan in that way.
“It’s settled. We’ll head to their office first thing in the morning. They’re expecting a suit, but it’s us they’ll get. Hopefully, Blake will keep his tats on display. You’re a little scary like this, man.” Blake doesn’t respond, but I see his lip twitch. “I knew you’d show,” Colton adds cockily.
“Fuck off. I’m only here because Loch deserves better than—than what he’s been dealt.”
“He’s not the only one,” Colton says gently. He crosses the room and pats Blake on the shoulder.
